1202 EVIDENCE-BASED SLEEP EDUCATION AND PROMOTION PROGRAM FOR MEXICAN HEALTH PROVIDERS TRAINED AS CERTIFIED DIABETES EDUCATORS

Abstract

Introduction: Increased rates of diabetes throughout Mexico contribute to rising rates of morbidity, mortality and health care costs. This work describes a Spanish-language evidence-based sleep education program tested with health providers enrolled in a certified diabetes educator program in Mexico. Methods: The training is an advanced adaptation of a program developed for lay health educators. Data were derived from survey ratings regarding knowledge of sleep apnea (OSA), insomnia, short sleep duration (SSD), restless leg syndrome (RLS), circadian rhythm disorders (CRD), and drowsy driving (DD) on a 5-point Likert-like scale, as well as 5 true/false questions regarding misconceptions about sleep. Data were analyzed with frequencies for profession, sex, and sources of sleep information, and paired t-tests using SPSS (V23) with significance at p<0.05. Calculations of Cohen's d with scores ≥0.80 were used to indicate clinically meaningful findings. Results: Participants (N=50; 64% women) enrolled in a semester- long diabetes educator program were from nursing, medicine, nutrition, psychology and physical activity professions. Means with standard deviations showed significant learning for all sleep disorders following the training (OSA 2.7 ± 1.2 to 4.4 ± 0.70; Insomnia 2.9 ± 0.80 to 4.4 ± 0.64; RLS 1.8 ± 1.0 to 4.1 ± 0.86; SSD 2.3 ± 0.97 to 4.3 ± 0.71; CRD 2.2 ± 1.19 to 4.4 ± 0.72; DD 2.2 ± 1.09 to 4.3 ± 0.80, all p-values<0.001). The total pre- to post-scores (range=0 to 30) for sleep disorders moved from 14.2 ± 4.9 to 25.9 ± 4.0, p<0.001. Participants also demonstrated significant learning regarding misconceptions about sleep, pre- 4.3 ± 0.62 to post-testing 4.8 ± 0.42, p<0.001. Clinically meaningful findings ranged from d=1.78 (OSA) to a high of d=2.42 for RLS. Respondents reported most of their information came from the internet (40%), doctors (22%), and books (20%). Conclusion: Findings suggest this brief evidence-based sleep education program is a salient and cost-effective approach to training health providers regarding sleep disorders across the lifespan, as well as behavioral sleep promotion strategies. Results also indicate that findings are both statistically significant and clinically meaningful.