A randomized-controlled trial of a digital, small incentive-based intervention for working adults with short sleep

Abstract

Study Objectives: We evaluated the efficacy of a digitally delivered, small and scalable incentive-based intervention program on sleep and wellbeing in short-sleeping, working adults. Methods: A 22-week, parallel-group, randomized-controlled trial was conducted on 21–40 y participants gifted with FitbitTM devices to measure sleep for ≥2 years, as part of a broader healthy lifestyle study. About 225 short sleepers (141 males; average time-in-bed, TIB < 7h) were randomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to Goal-Setting or Control groups. The Goal-Setting group received health vouchers (~USD 0.24) for meeting each sleep goal (i.e. increasing weeknight TIB by 30 min/sleeping before midnight).The study spanned three phases: (1) 2-week Baseline, (2) 10-week Intervention, and (3) 10-week Follow-Up. Wellbeing questionnaires were administered on Weeks 1–2, 11–12, and 21–22. Results: Baseline weeknight TIB (mean ± SD) was 387 ± 43 min (Goal-Setting) and 399 ± 44 min (Control), while bedtime was 00:53 ± 01:13 (Goal-Setting), and 00:38 ± 00:56 (Control). No difference in sleep outcomes was observed at study endpoints, but exploratory week-by-week analysis showed that on Weeks 3–5, TIB in the Goal-Setting group increased (9–18 min; ps < 0.05) while on Week 5, bedtimes shifted earlier (15 min; p < 0.01) compared to Baseline. Morning sleepiness was reduced in the Goal-Setting group (mean[SEM] = −3.17(1.53); p = 0.04) compared to Baseline, although between-group differences were not significant (p = 0.62). Main barriers to sleeping longer were work hours (35%), followed by leisure activities (23%) and family commitments (22%). Conclusion: Our program resulted in encouraging subjective sleep improvements and short-term sleep extension, but sustained transformation of sleep will probably require structural measures to overcome significant obstacles to sleep.