Effect of the use of sleep medication in Dutch hospitals on the use of sleep medication at home.

Insomnia is an important nursing problem in hospitals. Although the use of sleep medication is often criticized, it is one of the commonest interventions with regard to sleep problems. In this study, the effect of the administration of sleep medication in Dutch hospitals on the use of sleep medication at home is investigated. Only patients were included who had never used sleep medication before admittance in hospital. Results show that patients who used sleep medication for at least 5 days in hospital (n = 233) used sleep medication more often at home after discharge than patients who did not use sleep medication in hospital (n = 55). Furthermore, the study showed that those patients who used at least 5 days' sleep medication, especially those patients who used sleep medication more often in hospital, also used sleep medication more often at home. This is in line with the addictive effects of sleep medication. From these results it can be concluded that the administration of sleep medication is not without danger. Therefore, it is recommended to search for alternative interventions, especially for patients who are in hospital for a longer period.