Research examines connection between healing and sleep

16 February 2011

(Edmonton) There's an Irish proverb that says, "A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book," and recent work by U of A researcher Cary Brown shows that there is merit to this idea.

Her most recent research includes finding non-pharmacological solutions for children with chronic health issues. In particular, Brown is looking at the effects of sleep problems on kids.

While getting a good night's sleep sounds like a straightforward solution to the healing process, it has not been widely studied. Brown says, "The lack of restorative sleep has not been fully examined in terms of its impact on children with chronic health conditions."

Occupational therapists across Canada were surveyed by Brown, an associate professor in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine's Department of Occupational Therapy. The results indicated that many in the profession have not considered the effects of sleep deprivation on children with chronic health conditions and if they have, there are few resources to assist the health care providers and parents with intervention strategies.

In response to that survey and her ongoing research in the areas of pain and sleep, Brown developed a website to arm occupational therapists, parents and even children with information about how sleep deprivation affects children with chronic health issues.

Strategies for intervention, health-care resources and assessment tools for providers are all available on the site: http://www.OThealthliteracy.ualberta.ca. Brown cites a number of resources on the Internet that are very valuable. Her aim was to pull these sources, along with her research, into one convenient location and empower health-care providers, parents and children to take control of their own issues, "because they know that they are not sleeping right."

"Health-care providers can't always guide people as to what they can do for themselves in terms of restorative sleep," says Brown. "The idea of sleep deprivation is not commonly imbedded in the health-care curriculum. Once you start to talk about the idea that restorative sleep is imperative to the healing process, it becomes evident that this factor, while often overlooked, can be used to assist in strategies for better health."

Brown also wants to dispel the myth that poor sleeping habits are a phase that all kids go through. She says that, "some kids progress out of it, but when a child has a health condition, it's difficult for he or she to grow out of it and the habits become more entrenched."

While it sounds simple, getting a good night's sleep may in some cases require intervention strategies.

For example, Brown notes a simple place to start is with proper sleep hygiene-the habits, environmental factors, and practices that may influence the length and quality of one's sleep, such as bedtime, nighttime rituals and disruptions to one's sleep.

Brown recommends parents consider factors like whether the environment is quiet enough to sleep and if there's a set bed time, to determine is something could be inhibiting their child's sleep. Other factors that can disrupt the sleep patterns include body temperature, light and noise.

For Brown, her hope is that the website will assist parents, children and therapists with non-pharmacological strategies for sleep-deprived children with chronic health concerns.

"If you don't attend to proper sleep, it doesn't matter what you do during the day, you won't be as effective," says Brown.

For resources on sleep and health literacy, visit http://www.OThealthliteracy.ualberta.ca

About the University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine
As the only free standing faculty of rehabilitation in North America, the University of Alberta Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine balances its activities among learning, discovery and citizenship (including clinical practice). A research leader in musculoskeletal health, spinal cord injuries, stuttering, seniors' health and common spinal disorders (back pain), the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine aims to improve the quality of life of citizens in our community. The three departments, Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT) and Speech Pathology and Audiology (SPA) offer professional entry programs.