Circadian Rhythm, Health Behavior, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Conditions
Keywords
Circadian Rhythm, Education, Student burnout, Sleep Hygiene
Brief summary
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.
Detailed description
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.
Interventions
OTHERCircaHealth: a course on circadian rhythms and health
Participants will receive videos, behavioral modification checklists, and quizzes every week for six weeks.
OTHERSleep hygiene materials
Participants in the control group will receive weekly materials from the National Sleep Foundation and American Academy of Sleep Medicine on sleep hygiene
Sponsors
Quantum Foundation
University of Miami
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)
Masking description
Participants will be assigned a study ID such that the investigators cannot determine the identify of the participants or which arm of the study each participant is in.
Intervention model description
Participants will be assigned to receive the online educational course or materials on sleep hygiene for six weeks.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Medical students, 1st through 4th year, at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine willing to participate in surveys and the CircaHealth course.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Participant completion rate of CircaHealth | Six weeks | 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. |
| Participant qualitative feedback on CircaHealth | Six weeks | 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. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores four weeks after the completion of CircaHealth | Ten weeks | To determine if Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores improved four weeks after completion of the educational intervention in comparison to the control group. |
| Change in Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores four weeks after the completion of CircaHealth | Ten weeks | To determine if Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores improved four weeks after completion of the educational intervention in comparison to the control group. |
| Change in Munich Chronotype scores four weeks after the completion of CircaHealth | Ten weeks | To determine if Munich Chronotype scores improved four weeks after completion of the educational intervention in comparison to the control group. |
| Change in Circadian Health Scale scores four weeks after the completion of CircaHealth | Ten weeks | To determine if Circadian Health Scale scores improved four weeks after completion of the educational intervention in comparison to the control group. |
| Change in Maslach General Survey for Students scores four weeks after the completion of CircaHealth | Ten weeks | To determine if Maslach General Survey for Students scores improved four weeks after completion of the educational intervention in comparison to the control group. |
Other
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Association between Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores and Circadian Health Scale scores | Ten weeks | To determine if Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores are associated with Circadian Health Scale scores |
| Association between Munich Chronotype scores and Circadian Health Scale scores | Ten weeks | To determine if Munich Chronotype scores are associated with Circadian Health Scale scores |
| Association between Maslach General Survey for Students scores and Circadian Health Scale scores | Ten weeks | To determine if Maslach General Survey for Students scores are associated with Circadian Health Scale scores |
| Association between Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores and Circadian Health Scale scores | Ten weeks | To determine if Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores are associated with Circadian Health Scale scores |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed