Effect of sleep disturbances on quality of life in children with epilepsy: a cross-sectional correlational study

BACKGROUND: Sleep disturbances and quality of life negatively affect each other in children with epilepsy. This study presents the relationship between sleep disturbances and quality of life in children with epilepsy in detail. AIMS: The aim of the study is to investigate sleep disturbances in children aged 8-16 years with epilepsy and to determine the relationship between sleep disorders and quality of life. METHOD: It is a cross-sectional study. The data was collected by descriptive characteristics information form, the Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. 86 children with epilepsy participated in the study. Children aged 8-16 who had been diagnosed with epilepsy for at least 6 months and whose parents were literate, their parents and those who volunteered to participate in the study were included in the study. RESULTS: 54.7% of the children are female and 45.3% are male. The Sleep Disturbance scale for Children total score is 39.47 ± 9.57 (min: 28, max: 79), the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory total score is 74.22 ± 18.98 (min: 16.30, max: 100.00). A statistically significant difference was found between seizure time, sleep disturbance and quality of life (p < 0.05). It was determined that there was a negative correlation between sleep disturbance and quality of life (r = -0.418, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: As sleep disturbances increase in children, their quality of life decreases. It is important to identify sleep disturbances for improving the quality of life in children with epilepsy.