Effects of Sleep Hygiene Education on Adults Ages 50-80 — 26p — Natalie Moose-Elkin, Olivia Schaefers and Kalla Bertram

This study is investigating how to improve sleep in older adults aged 50-80, as well as tracking other benefits of interventions, such as mental health improvements. Older Adults that fall in our age range (n=120) will be randomly assigned to one of three groups. This includes a control group, a video group, and a video plus text messaging group. Each individual will complete a baseline assessment that consists of objective measures (heart rate, O2 saturation, blood pressure, height, weight, and BMI) and 6 subjective surveys that will cover sleep quality, sleep hygiene, and mental health. At each initial meeting we set participants up with a FitBit to wear for the six week study period. This is able to track their sleep duration, sleep stages, and sleep quality. After this initial meeting each participant resumed their normal habits for the time being. If a participant was placed in the control group they continued their usual habits for the following six weeks. Participants placed in the video group continued their regular sleep behavior for two weeks and then emailed or texted a ten minute video that contained fifteen sleep hygiene tips. The participant then continued the remaining four weeks implement these tips. Lastly, if a participant was in the video plus text group they received the video after two weeks and received automated text messages that reinforced the video on their FitBit. After six weeks, each participant does a followup visit to retest all objective and subjective measures. We are still collecting data, but hope to see a significant improvement in our video participants’ sleep, and believe the added text messages will only enhance this. Our goal is that these interventions can be used to help older adults and eventually other populations to improve sleep and overall function.

Black Hills State University
Ashley Pfeiffer