The Effect of Eye Masks and Earplugs In Intensive Care Unit Patients

The Effect of Eye Masks and Earplugs on Sleep Quality and Life Findings In Intensive Care Unit Patients

This study was planned as a randomized controlled and experimental study to evaluate the effect of eye masks and earplugs on sleep quality and vital signs in intensive care patients.

The research will be conducted with 60 patients hospitalized in the intensive care units of a state hospital. Research data will be collected with a questionnaire, vital signs follow-up form, insomnia severity index, and Richards-Campbell Sleep Quality Scale. Patients will be divided into intervention and control groups. Eye mask and ear plugs will be applied to the intervention group for 3 days, and the control group will receive routine care. The study will be terminated after 3 days of follow-up for each patient.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 18 years and over,
• Able to answer all questions and communicate,
• Those who agreed to participate in the research
• Being in the category of insomnia, moderate insomnia, or severe insomnia according to the insomnia severity index,
• Not sedating
• Not connected to a ventilator
• No hearing problem
• Glasgow Coma Score of 15

Exclusion Criteria:

• Connecting to the ventilator during operation
• Sedation during the study
• Wanting to leave the research during the study
• Being in the intervention group and removing the eye patch or earplug during sleep
• GCS falling below 15