The effectiveness of sleep education programs in improving sleep hygiene knowledge, sleep behavior practices and/or sleep quality of college students: a systematic review protocol.

Abstract

REVIEW QUESTION / OBJECTIVE What is the effectiveness of sleep education programs in improving sleep hygiene knowledge, sleep behavior practices and/or sleep quality of college students? The review objective is to identify, appraise and synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of sleep education programs in improving sleep hygiene knowledge, sleep behavior practices, and/or sleep quality versus traditional strategies. INCLUSION CRITERIA Types of participants This review will consider studies that include all undergraduate or graduate college students, male or female, and of all ages, cultures and ethnicities. All undergraduate and graduate college students will be considered for inclusion due to pre-existing behaviors and circumstances that occur when a student enters into the college environment, for example, late night sleep patterns due to studies and socializing as previously discussed in Background. Pre-existing knowledge on sleep hygiene practices, diagnoses and treatments are not considered in this systematic review as confounding variables as the entire population is exposed to the contexts and risks for poor sleep health. Types of intervention(s) This review will consider studies that evaluate formal sleep education programs that include a curriculum on sleep hygiene practices that is designed to facilitate sleep health including but not limited to: maintaining regular sleep wake times, limited alcohol, caffeine and nicotine use prior to bed time, regular sleep wake schedules, and sleep environments conducive to sleep. Formal educational delivery will include, for example: college courses/seminars that are delivered face-to-face, web-based computer programs, and/or a combination of these delivery methods. The formal sleep TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS