Evaluation of an internet-based self-help program for better quality of sleep among Japanese workers: a randomized controlled trial.
The effectiveness of Internet-based self-help programs for insomnia is still unclear. A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of an Internet-based self-help program for better quality of sleep among adult workers. Forty-three volunteers were recruited and randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n=21) or a waiting-list group (n=22). The intervention group participated in a two-week Internet-based program, including selecting and daily practicing sleep-related target behaviors and monitoring those behaviors along with sleep quality. At the same time, each participant received automatically generated, personalized messages and reports both daily and weekly. A total of 12 intervention group participants and 18 waiting-list group participants completed questionnaires at baseline, post-intervention, and at a 3-wk follow-up. Subjective sleep quality was measured by a self-reported questionnaire developed for this study. The sleep quality score increased in the intervention group at post-intervention, with a significant interaction effect [F(1,28)=5.19, p=0.031]. Sleep-related behaviors also greatly increased in the intervention group at post-intervention, with a significant interaction effect [F(1,28)=7.14, p=0.012]. Sleep-onset latency reduced in the intervention group at follow-up, with a marginally significant effect [F(1,28)=3.52, p=0.071]. The Internet-based self-help program improves subjective sleep quality and sleep-onset latency among adult workers.
Suzuki
Etsuji
E
Department of Epidemiology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Japan. etsuji-s@cc.okayama-u.ac.jp
Tsuchiya
Masao
M
Hirokawa
Kumi
K
Taniguchi
Toshiyo
T
Mitsuhashi
Toshiharu
T
Kawakami
Norito
N
D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D020375:Education, Distance; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D020407:Internet; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods*; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014850:Waiting Lists; D055815:Young Adult