This study evaluates the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of an online education course about circadian rhythms and health. Half of participants will be enrolled into the online course and the other half will receive materials on sleep hygiene as a control.
This is a pilot randomized controlled study that aims to develop CircaHealth: an online course on practices, known as circadian hygiene, that promote circadian rhythm alignment and minimize circadian rhythm misalignment. The project also will determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of CircaHealth in improving circadian rhythm related measures in University of Miami Miller School of Medicine medical students. The educational videos will be incorporated into a six-module online course which contains additional educational and behavior modification tools. Medical students (n = 40) will be recruited via email and randomized to receive CircaHealth or materials from the National Sleep Foundation and/or the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Sleep, mood, and circadian hygiene knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes will be assessed at baseline and four weeks post intervention. Feasibility will be determined by CircaHealth module completion rates, and acceptability will be assessed via a self-report survey. Changes in sleep quality measures between groups will determine the preliminary efficacy of CircaHealth.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
54
Participants will receive videos, behavioral modification checklists, and quizzes every week for six weeks.
Participants in the control group will receive weekly materials from the National Sleep Foundation and American Academy of Sleep Medicine on sleep hygiene
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Miami, Florida, United States
Participant completion rate of CircaHealth
Determine how many participants completed all modules within CircaHealth. Participants status in the course will be assessed via survey weekly such that their completion of each module can be determined.
Time frame: Six weeks
Participant qualitative feedback on CircaHealth
Participants will be surveyed every week on what aspects of CircaHealth were helpful and what aspects of CircaHealth can be improved. This qualitative data will be analyzed to determine which aspects of CircaHealth positively and negatively impacted the educational value of the course.
Time frame: Six weeks
Change in Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores four weeks after the completion of CircaHealth
To determine if Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores improved four weeks after completion of the educational intervention in comparison to the control group.
Time frame: Ten weeks
Change in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores four weeks after the completion of CircaHealth
To determine if Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores improved four weeks after completion of the educational intervention in comparison to the control group.
Time frame: Ten weeks
Change in Munich Chronotype scores four weeks after the completion of CircaHealth
To determine if Munich Chronotype scores improved four weeks after completion of the educational intervention in comparison to the control group.
Time frame: Ten weeks
Change in Circadian Health Scale scores four weeks after the completion of CircaHealth
To determine if Circadian Health Scale scores improved four weeks after completion of the educational intervention in comparison to the control group.
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Time frame: Ten weeks
Change in Maslach General Survey for Students scores four weeks after the completion of CircaHealth
To determine if Maslach General Survey for Students scores improved four weeks after completion of the educational intervention in comparison to the control group.
Time frame: Ten weeks