Effect of Non-pharmacological Interventions Designed for Community-dwelling Korean Older Adults with Sleep Disturbance

This study was to review non-pharmacologic intervention programs designed to ameliorate symptoms in community-dwilling Korean older adults with sleep disturbance. Methods: A systematic search was performed Korean and English keywords in nine electronic databases. Four studies were included in the sample for the systematic review. Results: Quasi-experimental designs were used in two studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were used in two studies. Non-pharmacological interventions included exercise, acupressure, aroma therapy and laughter therapy. It was shown that acupressure, aroma therapy and laughter therapy were effective in alleviating sleep disturbance, but exercise’s efficacy depended on the intensity and frequency of the intervention. Conclusion: The results provide a basis for the development of interventions to improve the sleep disturbance. The results of the interventions should be generalized by confirming the effectiveness and consistency of the interventions, taking into account its intensity and frequency.