Routinely Assessing Patients’ Sleep Health Is Time Well Spent

Poor sleep health is common in today’s society and contributes to a wide array of health problems, decreases productivity, and increases the risk of accidents. Key sleep characteristics that should be assessed by clinicians include sleep duration, sleep quality, sleep timing, daytime alertness, and the absence of a sleep disorder. Examples of questions to be used by busy clinicians to quickly assess a patient’s sleep health are provided. It is hoped that sleep health will be given the same level of attention as diet and exercise in clinic.