Reflection

How many patients are concerned about poor quality sleep? Do they but OTC products or seek prescription medicines? How often do these people express concern about their continued usage? Have they tried other approaches to managing sleep before seeking a hypnotic?

Planning

What opportunities are there in the forthcoming months to promote awareness of disturbed sleep? Are any public health campaigns being planned locally? When do you want to complete this learning activity? And how will it help your CPD?

Action

In addition to reading this article, what other activities will you do? What resources have you identified or used?

Evaluation

How will you put your learning into practice? For the next ten patients asking for a medicine to help with their sleep, can you enquire why they think they are not getting sufficient sleep, if they have tried any other non-drug approaches to improving sleep, or whether a medical examination may be needed? What did you think might be going on, and what did you recommend?