Parent knowledge of child sleep: a pilot study in a children's hospital cohort. 2016

Philippa S McDowall, and Angela C Campbell, and Dawn E Elder
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand. Electronic address: philippa.mcdowall@otago.ac.nz.

Parent knowledge about child sleep may influence parent efforts to support healthy sleep in their children. The present study aimed to describe parent knowledge of child sleep in a hospital cohort and potential correlates including barriers to children's bedtime, information seeking about child sleep, and demographics such as child age, parent education, and household income. In total, 115 parents of children aged 2-12 years attending hospital inpatient wards or day ward were approached individually and invited to complete the questionnaire. Questionnaire items were modified measures in published articles, identified through literature review, or developed from clinical experience. Parents on average answered half of the knowledge questions accurately, and knowledge about child sleep was positively correlated with education and household income. Parents who sought information from books or the Internet had greater knowledge about child sleep than parents who did not endorse these sources of information. The accuracy of parent estimations of their child's sleep requirements varied: 55% were within recommendations, while 26% underestimated their child's sleep requirements, 19% overestimated. Parents who correctly estimated their child's sleep requirements had higher education and income on average and were more likely to parent younger children (age 2-5 years). Parents who overestimated or underestimated sleep requirements were more likely to identify greater barriers to their child's bedtime. Overall knowledge of child sleep in this sample was poor, consistent with samples from North American communities. Future studies should examine whether knowledge about child sleep and barriers to children's bedtimes are related to actual child sleep behaviors or parent practices to support their children to achieve a healthy sleep.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007722 Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Knowledge, attitudes, and associated behaviors which pertain to health-related topics such as PATHOLOGIC PROCESSES or diseases, their prevention, and treatment. This term refers to non-health workers and health workers (HEALTH PERSONNEL). Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
D008297 Male Males
D010287 Parent-Child Relations The interactions between parent and child. Parent-Offspring Interaction,Parent Child Relationship,Parent-Child Relationship,Interaction, Parent-Offspring,Parent Child Relations,Parent Child Relationships,Parent Offspring Interaction,Parent-Child Relation,Parent-Child Relationships,Parent-Offspring Interactions,Relation, Parent-Child,Relationship, Parent Child,Relationship, Parent-Child
D010290 Parents Persons functioning as natural, adoptive, or substitute parents. The heading includes the concept of parenthood as well as preparation for becoming a parent. Step-Parents,Parental Age,Parenthood Status,Stepparent,Age, Parental,Ages, Parental,Parent,Parental Ages,Status, Parenthood,Step Parents,Step-Parent,Stepparents
D010865 Pilot Projects Small-scale tests of methods and procedures to be used on a larger scale if the pilot study demonstrates that these methods and procedures can work. Pilot Studies,Pilot Study,Pilot Project,Project, Pilot,Projects, Pilot,Studies, Pilot,Study, Pilot
D011795 Surveys and Questionnaires Collections of data obtained from voluntary subjects. The information usually takes the form of answers to questions, or suggestions. Community Survey,Nonrespondent,Questionnaire,Questionnaires,Respondent,Survey,Survey Method,Survey Methods,Surveys,Baseline Survey,Community Surveys,Methodology, Survey,Nonrespondents,Questionnaire Design,Randomized Response Technique,Repeated Rounds of Survey,Respondents,Survey Methodology,Baseline Surveys,Design, Questionnaire,Designs, Questionnaire,Methods, Survey,Questionnaire Designs,Questionnaires and Surveys,Randomized Response Techniques,Response Technique, Randomized,Response Techniques, Randomized,Survey, Baseline,Survey, Community,Surveys, Baseline,Surveys, Community,Techniques, Randomized Response
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002652 Child Behavior Any observable response or action of a child from 24 months through 12 years of age. For neonates or children younger than 24 months, INFANT BEHAVIOR is available. Behavior, Child
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D005260 Female Females

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