Usefulness of the Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale (MISS) in elderly persons

• Sleep is found to be a fundamental part in experiencing health. Sleep is needed for memory consolidation, metabolic balance, immune functioning and alertness at day time and experiencing quality of life. Insomnia has also been found to be associated with cardiac disorders. Elderly people are especially vulnerable for poor sleep, why prevention of sleep disturbances should be of regard when caring for older persons. MISS is a 3 item questionnaire, with a total-score of 0-12 that could be used to find insomnia in elderly persons. Aim: To test of the measurement properties of the Minimal Insomnia Symptom Scale in an elderly sample ≥65 years in Sweden. Study sample Persons participating in the Swedish National Study on Ageing and Care – Blekinge were invited. ● 548 participated (response-rate 61.4%) ● Mean age 77.8 (SD 8.63) years ● Female 57.5% Results Reliability was found to be 0.81. ROC analysis where MISS was compared with self-reported insomnia criteria (i.e. day-time sleepiness, not feeling refreshed by sleep, experiencing sleep difficulties) identified optimal cut-off score as ≥7, and sensitivity 93%, specificity 84%. Area under curve = 0.93. Conclusion Data support the measurement properties of MISS as an insomnia screening instrument among elderly persons and its brevity makes it appealing. Through insomnia-screening, older persons at risk of health problems can be found and offered treatment and thereby health and quality of life can be restored.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Omvårdnad

Nursing

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

kon (ämneskategori)