Sleep Hygiene Education and Sleep App for Insomnia Reduction

Introduction

Sleep is an important part of one's health and well-being, as it empowers the body to refresh and recover (Suni & Troung, 2021). However, many people suffer from sleep problems or difficulties that affect their health and wellbeing. Poor quality sleep and inadequate sleep, which affect people of all ages, are linked to various factors such as mental health, sleep disorders, and medical conditions. According to Roddick and Kristeen (2020), sleep disorders are a group of conditions affecting one's ability to have quality sleep or sleep well on a regular basis. Sleep problems have become common in the United States, affecting many people and carrying far-reaching impacts. Addressing sleep problems is therefore critical to enhancing the health and wellbeing of many populations in the US.

Insufficient sleep and insomnia are associated with mental health problems such as an increased risk for psychiatric disorders and suicide, as well as chronic health conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease (Lombardero et al., 2019). Approximately 35% of the total US population experiences insufficient sleep, and about 27% of US adults suffer from insomnia disorder (Liu et al., 2017; Olfson et al., 2018). In the United States, insufficient sleep has an estimated economic impact of over $411 billion each year (Suni & Troung, 2021). Adolescents who do not obtain sufficient sleep may be more involved in drinking, tobacco smoking, and illicit drug use, and may perform worse academically (Vick et al., 2016). In the United States, more than 6,000 fatal car crashes each year are caused by drowsy driving (U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021).

Adults aged 18 years and older share many common characteristics — including anxiety, depression, and work-related burdens — and experience sleep problems similar to those seen in university students, people living with chronic disease, and veterans (Soleimani et al., 2016; Roddick & Kristeen, 2020; Schlarb et al., 2017). Hemodialysis patients, university students, and veterans reduced sleep problems (insomnia) by 3 to 6 points over periods ranging from one hour to six weeks (Soleimani et al., 2016; Reilly et al., 2019; Schlarb et al., 2017). Therefore, in a paired samples t-test comparing insomnia scores before and after four weeks of sleep hygiene education and sleep tracking app use, adults aged 18 to 65 years are expected to show an average reduction of approximately 4 points. By reducing the incidences of insomnia among adults, the intervention can also reduce the risk of psychiatric disorders, suicide, and chronic health problems such as diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease (Grandner et al., 2016; Lombardero et al., 2019). Reduction in insomnia and insufficient sleep could lessen the public health burden in a safe and cost-effective manner (Bruin et al., 2016).

Purpose Statement and Research Question

The purpose of this project is to describe the effects of sleep hygiene education and a sleep tracking app on the reduction of sleep incidences among adults aged 18 to 65 years. To evaluate the success of this project, the following research question is posed: "How do sleep hygiene education and a sleep tracking app affect incidences of insomnia in adults aged 18 to 65 years?"

Data, Population, and Sample

To address the purpose of the study, the project will be conducted in the City of Perris, California. Data will be obtained from a group of study participants aged between 18 and 65 years who are experiencing insomnia disorder. These individuals will be identified from clinics or facilities that provide care for sleep disorders and comorbidities. Once a suitable study sample is identified, the data collection process will involve obtaining demographic information. Insomnia levels or scores will be measured prior to administering the intervention, and will also be measured after four weeks of intervention.

The target population for this project consists of adults aged 18 to 65 years suffering from insomnia disorders or sleep difficulties. These individuals will be recruited from healthcare facilities in the City of Perris, California, that provide care for sleep disorders. The project will include both male and female participants suffering from sleep difficulties or insomnia disorders. Healthcare facilities and clinics that serve sleep disorder patients are appropriate settings for identifying a suitable study sample. By targeting these facilities, the researcher can readily identify individuals who meet the inclusion criteria for participation.

A sample of 50 adults will be identified from the target population to participate in this study. Both males and females aged 18 to 65 years suffering from insomnia disorder or sleep difficulties will be eligible to participate. All participants will be recruited from relevant healthcare facilities in the City of Perris, California. The study sample will be identified using convenience sampling, a non-probability sampling technique in which a sample is drawn from a population that is accessible and easy to reach.

Study participants will be recruited using printed and electronic leaflets distributed among healthcare facilities and practitioners within a 50-km radius of the researcher. A list of potentially eligible participants will be generated based on referrals from clinic staff. Recruitment emails will be sent to these individuals, followed by a telephone call within two weeks for eligibility screening. To be eligible, participants must be aged between 18 and 65 years, report current sleep difficulty or insomnia lasting at least four weeks marked by an Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score greater than 10, and demonstrate impaired daytime functioning. Participants will be excluded if their sleep difficulty has lasted fewer than four weeks or if they show only moderate impaired daytime functioning.

Most participants are expected to be female with a mean age of 35 years. Additionally, most participants are expected to be college graduates who identify as White, and to have a history of alcohol consumption and smoking, as shown in Table 1.