Feasibility of the Use of Weighted Blankets to Improve Sleep Among Patients With Hematological Malignancies

Primary Objective:

To determine the feasibility of using weighted blankets to improve Sleep Disturbances (SD) for patients with hematological malignancies in an outpatient setting.

Secondary Objectives:

To explore if weighted blanket use improves sleep as assessed by the ESAS sleep question. A positive response is defined by at least a one-point reduction in ESAS sleep between baseline and day 7 +/-2 days.

To explore if weighted blanket use during a 14-day period improves Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score.

To explore the response rate in anxiety, where response is defined as a minimum of one-point change in the ESAS anxiety score, between baseline and day 7 +/-2 days after the use of weighted blankets.

To explore if patients are satisfied with the use of weighted blankets as determined by a positive response to at least 2 of the 5 patient satisfaction questions.

To assess safety using NCI CTCAE v5

Inclusion criteria

• Outpatient at MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Adult patients ≥ 18 years
• Diagnosis of hematological malignancy
• ESAS Sleep>/=4
• Performance status as measured by Eastern Cooperative Oncology Practice group (ECOG) score of 2 or below

Exclusion criteria

• Platelet count of 25 or below
• History of seizures/intracranial metastasis/ sleep apnea/restless leg syndrome/paralysis
• Weight less than 150 lbs.
• Attending physician assessment of prognosis with expected life expectancy of <1 month
• Patients who are unable to tolerate their blankets/sheets in the night due to medical conditions such as pain, peripheral neuropathy, night sweats, hot flashes etc.
• Patients with difficulty breathing, disorders of poor circulation, fragile skin, rash, or open wounds, or by those who are claustrophobic or cleithrophobic.
• Prior use of weighted blankets within the past 1-year