Evaluating perioperative self-reported sleep quality in patients with a gynecologic malignancy

Q: What was the main purpose of the study?

To evaluate patient-reported peri-operative sleep quality and determine demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors associated with poor sleep among people with gynecologic malignancies.

Q: How did the study measure sleep quality before and after surgery?

Preoperative sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and postoperative sleep quality was measured with the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ).

Q: Which factors were associated with poor perioperative sleep and sleep decline?

Poor preoperative sleep was more common with certain cancer types (cervical or vulvar), preoperative sleep medication use, and co-morbid anxiety and depression. Overall, sleep quality significantly declined during hospitalization.

Sep 22, 2026

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This prospective study evaluates patient-reported peri-operative sleep quality and identifies demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors associated with poor sleep among individuals with gynecologic malignancies. Patients with confirmed malignancies underwent surgery from September 2020 to October 2023 and stayed overnight. Preoperative sleep was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and postoperative sleep with the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ). Poor sleep was defined as PSQI <5 or RCSQ >50, with statistical testing via t-tests and appropriate categorical comparisons.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

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Introduction

Methods

Supportive Care in Cancer (2026) 34:292 [https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-026-10493-5](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-026-10493-5) Evaluating perioperative self‑reported sleep quality in patients with a gynecologic malignancy Ria M. Desai1 · Jason Silberman2 · Emma Reasner1,2 · Allison Grubbs3 · Karl Bilimoria4 · Emma L. Barber2 Received: 23 November 2025 / Accepted: 20 February 2026 / Published online: 8 March 2026 © The Author(s) 2026 Abstract Purpose This study aims to evaluate patient-reported peri-operative sleep quality and identify demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors associated with poor sleep perioperatively among individuals with gynecologic malignancies. Methods This prospective study included patients with confirmed gynecologic malignancies who underwent surgery between September 2020 and October 2023 and were admitted to the hospital for at least one overnight stay. Preoperative sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), while postoperative sleep quality was measured with the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) .“Good” sleep was defined as a PSQI score < 5 or an RCSQ score > 50. Statistical analyses were conducted using t-tests, Pearson’s χ2, or Fisher’s exact tests, as appropriate. Results The mean age of participants was 58.6 years (SD 13.2); 68.9% identified as white, 50% had ovarian cancer, and 54.6% had advanced-stage disease. Pre-operatively, 56.1% of patients reported poor sleep, most commonly due to overnight awakenings from nocturia (67.4%) and vasomotor symptoms (28%) . Poor sleep was more common among patients with cervical or vulvar cancer (p = 0.02), those using sleep medications preoperatively (p = 0.002), and those with co-morbid anxiety and depression (p = 0.06). Good post-operative sleep on post-operative day 1 and on day of discharge was associated with increased use of opioid medications (p = 0.007 and 0.02, respectively) . Overall, sleep quality significantly declined during hospitalization (p < 0.001) . Conclusion Poor perioperative sleep in patients with gynecologic cancers was linked to cancer type, mental health, pain management, and the hospital environment with sleep deteriorating during hospitalizations. Addressing these factors may offer meaningful opportunities to improve sleep. Keywords Gynecologic malignancy · Sleep · Sleep quality · Perioperative Ria M. Desai and Jason Silberman contributed equally to this work. * Jason Silberman [Jason.silberman@nm.org](Jason.silberman@nm.org) 1 Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA 2 Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetricsand Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA 3 Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetricsand Gynecology, Rush University School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA 4 Surgical Outcomes and Quality Improvement Center (SOQIC), Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, USA Introduction Restful sleep is vital for overall health, functioning, and well-being. Impaired sleep can be characterized by disruptions in sleep duration, quality, and latency [1]. Such disruptions can have significant adverse effects on both physical and mental health. Sleep disturbances in adults have been linked to elevated cortisol levels, impaired glucose tolerance, and increased risk for coronary heart disease and mortality [2–6] . In addition to the physical consequences of poor sleep, disrupted sleep has been linked to heightened anxiety, reduced cognitive performance, and diminished emotional regulation [3, 6–8] . Postoperative sleep quality often deteriorates due to pain, anxiety, ambient light and noise, and frequent interruptions for patient assessments [9 , 10] . Post-operative sleep disturbances in the hospital are associated with a decline in physical functioning, prolonged length of stay, and increased risk of re-hospitalization

FAQs

What was the main purpose of the study?

To evaluate patient-reported peri-operative sleep quality and determine demographic, clinical, and psychosocial factors associated with poor sleep among people with gynecologic malignancies.

How did the study measure sleep quality before and after surgery?

Preoperative sleep quality was measured with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and postoperative sleep quality was measured with the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ).

Which factors were associated with poor perioperative sleep and sleep decline?

Poor preoperative sleep was more common with certain cancer types (cervical or vulvar), preoperative sleep medication use, and co-morbid anxiety and depression. Overall, sleep quality significantly declined during hospitalization.

Sep 22, 2026

Upload by Aurelia