Prevalence And Experience Of Sleep Disturbances In Patients With Advanced Cancer On Best Supportive Care Referred To Specialist Palliative Medicine Clinic In A Tertiary Cancer Care Centre In India: A Mixed Methods Study Using The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Study And Semi-Structured Interviews

Many people with advanced cancer struggle with poor sleep, which can affect their quality of life and overall well-being. Sleep problems in these patients may include trouble falling asleep, frequent awakenings, or not feeling rested even after sleep. These issues are often overlooked in cancer care, especially in palliative settings, where the focus is usually on managing pain and other physical symptoms. This study aims to find out how common sleep disturbances are among adults with advanced cancer who are no longer receiving active cancer treatment and are instead receiving supportive care. It also seeks to understand their personal experiences of sleep issues what causes them, how they affect their lives, and what coping methods they use. The study is being carried out at Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai. It will use two approaches: Quantitative (numerical) data: Around 207 patients will be asked to complete a sleep questionnaire (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index or PSQI) to measure how well they sleep. - Qualitative (interview based) data: A smaller group (20 to 25 patients who report sleep issues) will be interviewed in detail to explore their personal experiences, beliefs, and coping strategies related to sleep. The study does not involve any treatment or tests and will be conducted through interviews and questionnaires. Patients can choose not to answer questions or leave the study at any point. If any emotional distress arises during interviews, trained counselors will be available to help. This research is important because it focuses on patients in India a group for whom sleep-related issues in cancer care is not well studied. The findings may help improve the way sleep problems are identified and managed in palliative care settings.