Clayton Sleep Institute compares perceived sleep quality versus ideal sleep duration

ST. LOUIS (May 2008)—New findings from the Research Center at Clayton Sleep Institute, a St. Louis-based research center for sleep disorders and treatments, show that individuals who have a higher discrepancy between their perceived and ideal sleep duration report poorer sleep quality, independent of actual sleep duration or circadian factors.

“We studied healthcare professionals because as a group, their sleep patterns can be particularly irregular, which is a health issue facing a growing number of people each year,” said Eric Powell, Ph.D. Director of the Research Center at Clayton Sleep Institute. “Our findings show that people are more likely to feel less in control of their sleep habits, regardless of when their work shift starts.”

The study observed 59 participants, all of whom were healthcare professionals holding positions such as polysomnographic technicians, respiratory therapists, medical residents and physicians. The research showed that the more people vary how much they sleep per night, they more likely they are to feel as though their sleep is always low quality, even after a high quality sleep, as measured by levels of neuroticism and conscientiousness.

“This research emphasizes how patients’ perceptions of their health can impact their actual state of wellness,” said Dr. Joseph M. Ojile, Managing Director and Founder of Clayton Sleep Institute. “In medicine, especially sleep medicine, we cannot simply rely on either subjective or scientific information, so it is important to compare patients’ perceptions of their sleep to their test results.”

This is one of 12 abstracts submitted by the Research Center at Clayton Sleep Institute for presentation at the SLEEP 2008 Annual Meeting, which will be held in Baltimore from June 7-12. Each abstract is scored based on scientific merit and quality by three reviewers. SLEEP 2008 is an annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC—a joint venture of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and Sleep Research Society. For more information on the SLEEP 2008 Annual Meeting, please visit www.sleepmeeting.org.