Participant Experiences of Attending a Community CBT Workshop for Insomnia: A Qualitative Six-Year Follow-Up

Abstract

Objective/Background: Our aim was to qualitatively explore the experiences of people who attended a one-day sleep workshop six years previously. Participants: Of the 95 people who originally attended the workshop and a three-month follow-up, 14 individuals (mean age = 63.6 years) participated. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were used to explore: participants’ experiences of insomnia since the workshop, memories of the techniques and information provided and the perceived impact of the workshop on their lives. Qualitative data were analyzed using the principles of Framework Analysis. Results: Interviews produced rich accounts of attributions of changes in sleep, the application of taught strategies and general experiences of the workshop. Conclusions: This research highlights which aspects of a large-scale intervention may be most helpful for individuals experiencing sleep difficulties and what factors may contribute to changes in sleep over time.