0931 App-Supported Sleep Coaching: Implications for Sleep Duration and Sleep Quality

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Sleep coaching programs have emerged to address sleep health needs for subclinical populations. Yet, few such programs have been formally evaluated. Methods Data were obtained from N=51 consecutive users who completed the 12-week Sleep Reset program. Sleep Reset (Simple Habit, Inc.) includes ongoing text-based communication with trained coaches and a mobile app that includes a sleep diary, educational modules, mindfulness exercises, and progress-tracking. Potential users with a contraindicated medical/psychiatric problem or a likely sleep disorder (including Insomnia Disorder) are referred for additional care/support. The coaching included information about sleep and circadian principles (e.g., sleep hygiene, behavioral scheduling, light exposure, relaxation) and techniques based on CBTI (e.g., stimulus control). T-tests examined change scores for diary-derived sleep latency (SL), wake after sleep onset (WASO), total sleep time (TST), number of awakenings (NWAK), and sleep efficiency (SE). N=3 had uninterpretable baseline TST. Post-hoc analyses examined those who reported at least one sleep continuity disturbance (SL>=30, WASO>=30, SE< 0.85; N=44) vs none (N=7) and short sleepers (TST< 360 min; N=19) vs 6+ hours (N=32). Results Those who participated in the program saw a mean increase in SE of 6.4% (95%CI [2.7%,10.2%], t(50)=3.4, p=0.001) and TST of 57.8 mins (95%CI [33.8,81.8], t(47)=4.9, p< 0.0005), and a mean decrease in SL of 12.2 mins (95%CI [-20.0,-4.4], t(50)=-3.1, p=0.003), WASO of 32.4 mins (95%CI [-52.7,-12.0]. t(50)=-3.2, p=0.002), and NWAK of 0.3 awakenings (95%CI [-0.7,-0.01], t(50)=-2.1, p=0.046). Those who reported a problem were more likely to show an improvement in SE (+7.9% vs -0.3%, p=0.001), SL (-14.8 vs +4.0 mins, p=0.0008), and WASO (-40.5 vs +15.8 mins, p=0.0001), but groups did not differ in terms of change in NWAK and TST. Short sleepers saw a relative improvement in SE (+12.2% vs +3.0%, p=0.037) and TST (+109.8 vs +23.7 mins, p=0.0001), but no differences in change to SL, WASO, and NWAK. Conclusion The sleep coaching program improved sleep quality and duration for participants without sleep disorders. Those with baseline sleep continuity problems received the most benefit to SL and WASO, and short sleepers saw a nearly 2-hour average increase in TST. Future studies need to extend this work with control groups. Support (if any)