Brief Behavioral Intervention to Maintain Sleep Regularity in Young Adults Over the Christmas Break (REST)

Hong Kong Baptist University

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Sleep

Treatments: Behavioral: Brief behavioural intervention; Behavioral: Health education

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07056179

REC/24-25/0554 (Other Identifier)

20250606_REST

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study will employ a randomized controlled trial design to investigate the effects of a brief behavioral intervention that includes (1) self-recording of a regularity-focused sleep diary, (2) 10 strategies for maintaining sleep regularity, and (3) a sleep education information sheet on the maintenance of sleep regularity in young adults during the Christmas break.

Enrollment: 236 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 24 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. Young adults aged 18-24 years;
2. Will stay in Hong Kong during the study period;
3. Will not engage in any activities that require a fixed sleep or wake-up time (e.g., work or study during the holiday period) as these activities could regularize the sleep schedule and potentially contaminate the results.

Exclusion criteria

1. Have been in a different time zone within two weeks before the baseline assessment;
2. Diagnosed with circadian rhythm disorders such as delayed sleep-wake phase disorder (DSWD), advanced sleep-wake phase disorder (ASWD), irregular sleep-wake rhythm disorder (ISWRD), and non-24-hour sleep-wake rhythm disorder (N24WSD);
3. Diagnosed with sleep disorders that directly/indirectly interfere with sleep regularity (e.g., insomnia, sleep apnea);
4. Use of medications or treatment that may influence sleep regularity (e.g., hypnotics, antidepressants);
5. Diagnosed with serious physical or mental diseases such as cancer, end-stage liver or kidney diseases, schizophrenia, and psychosis.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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236 participants in 2 patient groups, including a placebo group

Brief behavioural intervention group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will receive a brief behavioral intervention comprising a regularity-focused sleep diary, 10 tips for maintaining sleep regularity, and a sleep education information sheet. The regularity-focused sleep diary is designed to emphasize in-bed and out-of-bed times, drawing participants' attention to their sleep regularity. Participants will be provided with a yellow marker to highlight their sleep periods. The 10 tips for maintaining sleep regularity include establishing a consistent out-of-bed time, using natural light to regulate the circadian clock, adjusting mealtimes, etc. The sleep education sheet contains information on reducing caffeine intake in the afternoon, limiting screen time before bed, etc.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Brief behavioural intervention

Health education control group

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Participants will receive general health information without specific emphasis on sleep, such as weight control, smoking cessation, etc.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Health education