Optimising patient care, expectations and experiences: Healthcare providers’ experiences of delivering sleep medicine services within an Australian tertiary paediatric facility

Objective:
This research sought to understand the experiences of healthcare providers working at the coalface of paediatric sleep medicine in a large tertiary children’s hospital with a focus on the current service needs, challenges, and strategies.

Method:
This qualitative study utilised semi-structured focus groups undertaken in an Australian tertiary paediatric sleep medicine department. There were 17 participants, encompassing paediatric sleep medicine specialists, clinical nurses, sleep scientists and administrative staff. Focus group interviews were transcribed verbatim, and member checked. Thematic analysis was undertaken.

Results:
Three themes were identified: 1) Patient care optimisation, 2) Families’ unrealistic expectations for their child’s diagnostic testing and treatment adherence, 3) Families’ difficult experiences with diagnostic and specific sleep therapies.

Conclusion:
This study provides unique insights and perspectives of healthcare providers regarding the current challenges faced within the growing demand and complexity of patients accessing paediatric sleep medicine service. Despite clinicians optimising sleep medicine services, wait lists continue to grow, which in turn impact staff workload and patient care. Innovation in areas of sleep diagnostics, monitoring and therapy continue to be explored by tertiary services. Education and training for both primary healthcare providers and the public are still urgently required to optimise sleep and sleep disorders.