title: Self-help therapy for sleep problems in hospital nurses in Japan: a controlled pilot study.
abstract: The present pilot study examined the effectiveness of self-help therapy (SHT) in hospital nurses in Japan. Twenty-five hospital nurses (22 female, mean age 39.7 ± 14.6 years) participated in a 90-min workshop covering sleep hygiene education and brief stress management. After the workshop, participants in the SHT group (n= 10) were asked to practice good sleep habits, relaxation techniques, and keep a sleep diary, whereas participants in the control group (n= 15) were not. Pre- and post-test questionnaires, including the Japanese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (J-PSQI), were administered at a 2-week interval to assess subjective sleep quality, sleepiness, depressive symptoms, burnout, and quality of life. Changes in outcomes by treatment conditions were compared using linear mixed models. We found significant improvement in subjective sleep quality (global PSQI scores) in the SHT group, with Cohen'sdof 0.40. Participants with sleep problems at pre-test in the SHT group (scoring above the PSQI-J cut-off point) showed significant reduction in sleep latency and sleep disturbance, while those in the control group did not (Cohen'sdof 0.48 and 0.15, respectively). No significant improvement was found in the SHT group for sleepiness, although a clinically significant change was observed for subjective sleep quality and sleepiness in this group. No significant improvement was observed in either group for depressive symptoms, burnout, and quality of life. Our results provide preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of SHT for sleep problems in hospital nurses in Japan.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology, Hiroshima International University, 555-36 Kurose-gakuendai, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-2695 Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morimoto
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Psychology, Hiroshima International University, 555-36 Kurose-gakuendai, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-2695 Japan.
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Psychological Sciences, Hiroshima International University, 1-5 Noboricho, Naka Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 730-0016 Japan.
authors.forename: Reina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ohkubo
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare Equipment, Molten Corporation, 2-18-12 Kuchita-minami, Asa-kita Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 739-1794 Japan.
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Healthcare Equipment, Molten Corporation, 2-18-12 Kuchita-minami, Asa-kita Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 739-1794 Japan.
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ooe
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital, 1-5-54 Uzina-kanda, Minami Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 734-8530 Japan.
authors.forename: Akane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital, 1-5-54 Uzina-kanda, Minami Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 734-8530 Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroe
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yukitoshi
keywords: Hospital nurses; Insomnia; Japanese; Self-help therapy; Sleep hygiene education; Sleep problems