Pilot Trial of a Sleep-Promoting Intervention for Children With Type 1 Diabetes

• Published in: Journal of pediatric psychology Vol. 46; no. 3; pp. 304 - 313
• Main Authors: Jaser, Sarah S, Bergner, Erin M, Hamburger, Emily R, Bhatia, Shivani, Lyttle, Morgan, Bell, Grace E, Slaughter, J Christopher, Malow, Beth A, Simmons, Jill H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Oxford University Press 18.03.2021
• Subjects: Child; Child, Preschool; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - therapy; Female; Humans; Parents; Pilot Projects; Regular; Sleep; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0146-8693; 1465-735X
• DOI: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsaa105

Objective To assess the feasibility and acceptability of an educational sleep-promoting intervention (Sleep Coach Jr.) for school-aged children (ages 5–9) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and their parents. Methods Parents and children (N = 39 dyads, mean child age = 8 years, 64% girls,) were randomized to either the Sleep Coach Jr. intervention, consisting of educational materials and three individual phone calls (N = 20), or the Standard Care condition (N = 19). Data were collected at enrollment and 3 months later. Children and parents wore actigraphy devices to obtain an objective measure of sleep characteristics, and parents completed questionnaire measures of sleep quality and psychosocial outcomes. Clinical data (i.e., hemoglobin A1c, glucose data) were obtained from children’s medical records. Results Feasibility and acceptability of the study were demonstrated to be high; all three sessions were completed by 80% of parents randomized to the Sleep Coach Jr. intervention, and 90% of parents completed follow-up data at 3 months. Parents reported high levels of satisfaction with the study and identified barriers to participation. No changes were observed in children’s sleep or diabetes outcomes, but parental sleep quality and well-being improved. Conclusions A brief, behavioral sleep-promoting intervention is feasible and acceptable for school-aged children with T1D and their parents. A larger trial is needed to evaluate efficacy of the intervention.