A low-threshold sleep intervention for improving sleep quality and well-being

Abstract

Background: Approximately one-third of the healthy population suffer from sleep problems, but only a small proportion of those affected receive professional help. Therefore, there is an urgent need for easily accessible, affordable, and efficacious sleep interventions. Objective: A randomized controlled study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of a low-threshold sleep intervention consisting of either (i) sleep data feedback plus sleep education or (ii) sleep data feedback alone in comparison with (iii) no intervention. Material and methods: A total of 100 employees of the University of Salzburg (age: 39.51 ± 11.43 years, range: 22–62 years) were randomly assigned to one of the three groups. During the 2-week study period, objective sleep parameters were assessed via actigraphy. In addition, an online questionnaire and a daily digital diary were used to record subjective sleep parameters, work-related factors, as well as mood and well-being. After 1 week, a personal appointment was conducted with participants of both experimental group 1 (EG1) and experimental group 2 (EG2). While the EG2 only received feedback about their sleep data from week 1, the EG1 additionally received a 45-min sleep education intervention containing sleep hygiene rules and recommendations regarding stimulus control. A waiting-list control group (CG) did not receive any feedback until the end of the study. Results: Results indicate positive effects on sleep and well-being following sleep monitoring over the course of 2 weeks and minimal intervention with a single in-person appointment including sleep data feedback. Improvements are seen in sleep quality, mood, vitality, and actigraphy-measured sleep efficiency (SE; EG1), as well as in well-being and sleep onset latency (SOL) in EG2. The inactive CG did not improve in any parameter. Conclusion: Results suggest small and beneficial effects on sleep and well-being in people being continuously monitored and receiving (actigraphy-based) sleep feedback when paired with a single-time personal intervention.