Flinders University research shows practice nurses could deliver proven sleep therapies if services are designed with patient input.
Many people turn to their local GP clinic for help with sleep issues, but getting effective treatment can be difficult. New research suggests that general practice nurses could help close this gap, providing proven care for common sleep problems,if these services are created with the needs of patients in mind.
Behind the Long Waits and Missed Sleep
In Australia, specialist sleep services are in short supply, leading to long wait times and limited access for those who need care. As a result, people living with conditions like obstructive sleep apnea or chronic insomnia often go without timely support.
Gold-standard treatments such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for sleep apnea and cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi) are available, but many patients face delays in starting these therapies through the current system.
Researchers from FHMRI Sleep Health at Flinders University reviewed 85 studies looking at nurse-led care models. Their aim was to see how nurses working in general practice could help meet the rising demand for sleep health support.
The Hidden Strengths in Everyday Clinics
The research showed that general practice nurses are well placed to deliver therapies like CBTi and help patients begin CPAP treatment. These are tried and tested methods, but they have not yet become a standard part of care in most GP clinics.
Nicole Grivell, lead author, sleep researcher and registered nurse, stated, “General practice nurse‑delivered models of care for the management of sleep disorders have already been shown to be effective, but they still haven’t been adopted into routine care. Until now, no research had explored the real‑world barriers and enablers that affect whether GP clinics can successfully put these models into practice, especially in sleep health.”
Associate Professor Ching Li Chai-Coetzer said, “We know nurses in general practice are well placed to deliver treatments like CBTi and to support patients to commence CPAP.”
This is significant because sleep issues often come up during regular GP appointments. Nurses are already trusted members of the care team, and with the right support, they could assess and treat sleep problems alongside managing other chronic conditions.
What Really Makes New Care Work
While training nurses is a key step, the study found that real success depends on more than education alone. Services need to be built around the daily routines and needs of both patients and clinic staff to work well in practice.
- Patients must be central to how services are designed, as everyone’s routines, abilities, and motivation vary.
- When patients and clinic staff help design services together, care models become more practical and easier to use.
- Well-designed systems help clinics save time and resources, making care more efficient overall.
- Adequate funding is necessary so nurses have the time and resources to provide sleep care, rather than simply adding to an already full workload.
If these factors are overlooked, new care models may look promising in research but fail to deliver in everyday settings. The study’s authors noted that many services struggle to get started if they are not matched to the real needs of patients and clinics.
Nicole Grivell also commented, “Despite strong evidence that nurse‑delivered models of care work, they haven’t made it into everyday practice.”
A Turning Point for Sleep Health in GP Clinics
The researchers encourage policymakers and healthcare providers to involve patients and clinic staff from the outset. By working together, they can develop services that are practical, sustainable, and more likely to be adopted in daily practice.
With specialist wait times rising and limited CBTi access, empowering GP nurses could change lives and ease pressure on the wider health system. The review shows that involving patients and GP clinic staff in the design of these services is critical for real-world success. Done well, these models could reduce demand on specialist services and improve long-term health outcomes for thousands of Australians.
If clinics and health leaders act on these findings, nurse-led sleep care could become a regular feature of GP visits, making it easier for people to get the support they need without long waits for specialists.
Source: news-medical.net