The Impact of Environmental Stressors on Sleep Quality and Patient Experience in the Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND: Patients admitted to intensive care units are frequently exposed to environmental stressors such as noise, excessive lighting and lack of privacy. These stressors are known to negatively affect both sleep quality and the overall intensive care experience, yet limited studies have examined both outcomes simultaneously in the same model. AIM: To examine the effects of perceived environmental stressors on sleep quality and intensive care units experience among intensive care patients. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted in the intensive care units of a tertiary hospital in southeastern Türkiye between February and August 2025. Data were collected using the Intensive Care Unit Environmental Stressors Scale (ICUESS), Richard-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) and Intensive Care Experience Scale (ICES). Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to identify significant predictors of sleep quality and ICU experience. RESULTS: A total of 156 patients were included using convenience sampling. Perceived environmental stressors were significantly and negatively associated with both sleep quality (β = -0.335, p < 0.001) and intensive care units experience (β = -0.603, p < 0.001). Additionally, poor sleep quality was a significant negative predictor of ICU experience (β = -0.196, p = 0.007). Demographic and clinical characteristics were not significant predictors in either model. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the dual impact of environmental stressors on critical patient outcomes and demonstrates that both direct and indirect pathways-via sleep disturbance-contribute to negative ICU experiences. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nursing interventions that aim to reduce environmental stressors, such as noise and light control or promotion of restful sleep, may improve both sleep quality and patient experience in the ICU. These findings support the need for environmental redesign and nurse-led strategies in the delivery of patient-centred critical care.