The effects of non-pharmacological interventions on sleep quality and fatigue in patients recovering from a traumatic brain injury

Abstract

People recovering from a traumatic brain injury (TBI) have long and arduous rehabilitation periods. The effects of sleep on neurorehabilitation have been discussed within the literature because of the role it plays on structural and psychological outcomes. Non-pharmacological interventions have been examined in the literature because of their effect on sleep quality and fatigue for patients recovering from a TBI, as well as their ease of use and low financial burden. With the prevalence of TBI patients in the acute neurosurgical setting, the use of non-pharmacological interventions to improve the sleep quality of TBI patients was reviewed to facilitate evidence-based practice, as well as to highlight gaps in the literature to insight further research. There is a small body of randomised controlled trials relevant to this field, which, in-part, support the use of non-pharmacological interventions as treatment for sleep quality outcomes and fatigue. While these studies consistently highlight limitations in their design, they continuously support larger-scale research that optimises problematic limitations.