A descriptive study of patients' perceptions to sleep in a general practice was undertaken. The aim of the study was to describe the perceptions about sleep in the adult patient in a general practice environment. This included descriptions of demographic data, patient’s perceptions and expectations of sleep and their perceived seriousness and prevalence of sleep disorders. Differences in perceptions about sleep and sleep hygiene between patients with and without a sleep problem were also determined. A self-administered questionnaire with an accompanying subject information sheet was used for the research. The questionnaire was given to adult (over 18 years of age) patients,with prior informed consent, attending the author's practice in Port Elizabeth (Eastern Cape, South Africa), for completion in the waiting room. A sample of 400 patients was used. Simple descriptive statistics were used to discuss three main areas of the study: 1) demographics, 2) perceived prevalence and seriousness of sleep disorders and 3) perceptions of sleep hygiene. Analysis of the results revealed a population that was predominantly White (78.9% White,11.2% Coloured, 8.1% Black)), young (67.7% were less than 40 years of age),with equal male and female ratios, well-educated (69.5% passed Metric) and with a current job (over 90% were employed). Despite such a young population the incidence of self-reported sleep problems was markedly high and were of long duration (25.8% of patients had some sort of sleep disorder, while 23.5% admitted having a sleep problem) and compared favourably with overseas statistics. Long-term sleep problems were more common in the population studied. Males had more long-term sleep-problems than females. Black patients slept for more longer periods, woke up more often without going back to sleep and perceived their sleep problem as more serious than White, Coloured and Indian patients. Patients with a higher level of education were less likely to; have a sleep problem,feel worried about their sleep, see someone professional about their sleep and suffer from any medical or psychological condition than those with a lower level of education. Patients who perceived they had a sleep problem were; more worried about their sleep, suffering from more medical or psychological conditions, taking more medication to sleep, more sleepier during the day, not falling asleep easily, not waking up feeling refreshed, waking up too early, v/aking up and going back to sleep with more difficulty, consulting someone regarding their sleep more and were consulting someone professional regarding their sleep problem more than patients without a sleep problem. Underreporting of patients’ sleep problems to health professionals was encountered. Only 10 out of the 26 sleep hygiene questions were statistically significant. Perceptions of sleep hygiene did not correlate with having a sleep problem. People who had a sleep problem probably knew about correct sleeping hygiene, but were either not implementing it, or had some external factor accounting for their poor sleep. Certain inferences were made from this study highlighting important patient perceptions regarding the concept of sleep in general. These may be used as recommendations for family physicians to assist in management of patients complaining of sleep problems.

Sleep disordered breathing (SBD) in children ranges in severity from primary snoring to Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). SBD is known to impact on sleep and health and evidence also suggests negative impacts on neuropsychological and psychosocial performance. However, the prevalence of SBD in children remains to be clearly established. In addition, the degree of neuropsychological and psychosocial impairment in children with SBD and the severity of SBD is that it is necessary for this impairment to be evident, remain established. These questions were examined in the four studies that comprise this thesis.

Sleep research with adults with learning disabilities has been limited. This study considered the sleep problems experienced by adults with learning disabilities in two main sections, a survey and an intervention. The survey assessed the prevalence, nature and range of sleep problems experienced by adults with learning disabilities who live at home with their families, and investigated the relationship between sleep problems and daytime behaviour disturbance. The intervention part of the study considered whether daytime behaviour difficulties reduced following a successful sleep intervention, and whether carer stress was influenced by an improvement in sleep problems. Individuals with learning disabilities who live at home with their families had prevalence figures for sleep problems higher than those experienced by the general population. The relationship between sleep and behaviour problems was highly specific with settling problems predicting hyperactivity, lethargy, irritability and the overall score on behavioural measures. The interventions did not provide substantial evidence that sleep and behaviour were related, with only one of six participants demonstrating a decrease in behaviour problems following an improvement in sleep. Carer stress did not significantly reduce as a result of the intervention. The study has provided prevalence rates of sleep problems for a population which has not been previously studied. It concludes that the relationship between sleep and behaviour definitive conclusions can be drawn. The efficacy of behavioural interventions was demonstrated, and the clinical and theoretical implications of the results were considered.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1984. / Vita. Bibliography: leaves [73]-82.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

No description available.

No description available.

Over the last decade a substantial body of research has focused on the consequences of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children. This dissertation presents the results of two large laboratory-based studies. / Thesis (PhD)--University of South Australia, 2008.

Thesis (MPsych(Clin))--University of South Australia, 1998

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oregon, 2008. / Typescript. Includes vita and abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 99-111). Also available online in Scholars' Bank; and in ProQuest, free to University of Oregon users.