Sleep quality in children with epilepsy and their mothers: A cross-sectional study

Background The aim of this study is to evaluate the sleep quality of children with epilepsy and their mothers, and to identify the factors affecting sleep quality. Methods The sample comprised 103 mothers of children with epilepsy aged 318 years. Data were collected during face-to-face interviews using the Children's Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), the Mann-Whitney U test, and correlation analysis. Results According to PSQI, 76.7% of mothers were found to have poor sleep quality. The mean total CSHQ score was 49.99 ± 7.60, indicating clinically significant sleep problems among the children. Mothers' PSQI total scores were significantly associated with income status, number of children, duration of epilepsy, and time spent in digital environments (p < 0.05). Children's CSHQ total scores were significantly associated with age at first seizure, seizure frequency, occurrence of seizures during the last three months, presence of nocturnal seizures, number of antiepileptic drugs used, and ownership of a phone/computer (p < 0.05). Conclusion It was found that children with epilepsy experienced sleep problems related to bedtime resistance and daytime sleepiness, and that their mothers had poor sleep quality. Therefore, the development of supportive intervention programs is recommended to prevent and manage sleep problems in children with epilepsy and their mothers. Implications to practice Multidisciplinary collaboration and nurse-led interventions should be implemented to promote sleep health and improve the quality of life of children with epilepsy and their families.