The effect of the use of gel pillows on the sleep quality and general comfort levels of the patients in the preoperative period

Background and Aim: In the preoperative period, factors such as environmental influences, fear of the unknown, suspicion of malignancy, medication use, limitations in activities, and nutritional issues can lead to a decrease in patients' sleep quality and overall comfort levels. In this period, nursing care practices are important to facilitate the transition to sleep and ensure comfort throughout the night. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of using a pillow with a cooling gel surface in the preoperative period on the sleep quality and general comfort levels of patients. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled, single-blind experimental study was conducted between 01.08.2022 and 07.08.2023 with 60 patients (study group: 30, control group: 30) who were planned to undergo gastrointestinal system cancer surgery at the General Surgery Department of Trakya University Hospital. Data were collected in two stages: the morning of the day before surgery (T1) and the morning of the surgery day (T2). Unlike the patients in the control group, the patients in the study group were provided with pillows with a cooling gel surface feature to use during their nighttime sleep. The Patient Diagnostic Form, Richard Campbell Sleep Scale, and General Comfort Scale were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, Shapiro-Wilk test, dependent/independent sample t-test, Mann Whitney U test, Wilcoxon test, and Spearman and Pearson correlation tests were used in the data analysis. The significance level was considered p<0.05. Results: The comparison of total sleep quality and comfort mean scores between the intervention and control group patients revealed that the score differences between T1 and T2 in the intervention group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p=0.000, p=0.000, respectively). Additionally, the mean score of the relaxation sub-dimension at the T2 assessment stage was significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group (p=0.009). Conclusion: The use of a pillow with a cooling gel surface in the preoperative period was found to contribute positively to improving sleep quality and general comfort levels in patients scheduled to undergo gastrointestinal system cancer surgery. Based on these results, we recommend the use of pillows with a cooling gel surface in the preoperative period nursing care interventions to enhance sleep quality and comfort levels in patients undergoing gastrointestinal system cancer surgery. Keywords: Surgery, comfort, nurse, cold gel surface pillow, sleep quality