Open Access

Janine Schwember

• Objective: This thesis deals with the phenomenon of 'pyjama paralysis', meaning the influence of nightwear on the mobility and activity of acute inpatients. It tries to identify the phenomenon with scientific findings, to classify it in terms of nursing care and to describe it based on the available literature. Introduction: While outpatients concentrate on going home, patients who are assigned a bed develop a psychological resistance against leaving the hospital. They sink into the "comfort of the hospital community", where they are not expected to do anything for themselves or make their own decisions. Experts call this condition pyjama paralysis. During a hospital stay, a person spends most of the day sitting or lying down and usually alone, without using much energy. Almost two thirds of inpatients wear nightwear or pyjamas during the day. The majority of lying patients wear nightwear, with three out of five lying elderly patients having no medical reason for bed rest. Inclusion criteria: The inclusion criteria were limited to adult patients capable of mobilization in an acute inpatient setting using the Pico scheme (JBI). The phenomenon of interest was termed pyjama paralysis and refers to the relationship between the wearing of pyjamas and activity and mobility. Methods: A scoping review was performed to get an overview of the topic. For this purpose, a systematic search in the subject databases CINAHL / EBSCO, PubMed, OPACplus / EBSCO, ProQuest, Research Gate / Chadwyck Healey, Wiley and the electronic database of the Lenoir - Rhyne - University (LRU) Library was performed. The full text search covered a period of ten years (2009 - 2019). The search was not restricted linguistically and was completed on 09.01.2020. The results: It was possible 25 articles and 12 qualitative and quantitative studies could be included. The present overview contains the nursing relevant aspects of the phenomenon pyjama paralysis clustered in categories and applicable to the nursing process. The phenomenon of pyjama paralysis is characterized by the wearing of nightwear or hospital shirts, outside of regular sleeping and resting hours, in an acute inpatient setting, which is associated with a predominantly inactive (sitting / lying down) daily routine and behavior that is not medically justified. In the acute inpatient setting, this phenomenon occurs in about 40% of patients over 65 years of age. The factors influencing the activity are mainly psychological. The influence on dignity, self-confidence and well-being is based on the external effect and symbolism of the garment, which promotes devitalization. Environmental influences are also decisive. Devitalization is accompanied by a decrease in mobility and agility, which has extensive physical and psychological effects and involves the risk of iatrogenic impairment and complications. The studies favors the education and information of patients, their environment and nursing staff, as well as the function-focused continuation of daily activities and mobility measures tailored to the patient in an activity-enhancing and safe environment, in order to counteract pyjama paralysis and positively influence care-sensitive outcomes. Conclusions: The phenomenon of pyjama paralysis is an influencing but also directly influenceable factor in this context. The care-relevant aspects of pyjama paralysis are linked to ethical, psychological and physical aspects. Superficially, the solution to the enormous problem of inactivity of inpatients appears simple if it is reduced to changing the clothing style. In reality, it is very complex and characterized by the influence of several factors, which all interact and are interdependent. Therefore, future research on the topic of pyjama paralysis should focus on systemic rather than individual interventions.