Abstract

PURPOSE
This study was to examine the effects of sleep promoting program on sleep and the immune response in the elderly with insomnia.
METHODS
The study was designed as a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group pre-post test design. Thirty two elders who suffered from insomnia (16 experimental and 16 control subjects) were selected among the elders who had been enrolled in two churches. The subjects in the experimental group participated in a sleep promoting program which was composed of sleep hygiene education and progressive muscle relaxation for 4 weeks. Data were analyzed using the SPSS/WIN.
RESULTS
The experimental group showed higher sleep score than that of the control group (t = 7.86, p = .00). The experimental group showed higher sleep satisfaction score than that of the control group (t = 7.61, p = .00). The sleep promoting program was not effective in enhancing immune response.
CONCLUSION
The sleep promoting program increased the sleep score, sleep-satisfaction score and B cell in immune response of elderly people suffering from insomnia. Therefore, sleep promoting program can be applied as an effective nursing intervention to promote sleep quality and sleep satisfaction.

• Keywords: Sleep; Elderly; Immune response