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Parent Intervention to Improve Child Sleep

Not Applicable
Completed
Conditions
Sleep
Interventions
Behavioral: Sleep Tight
Registration Number
NCT06038591
Lead Sponsor
University of South Carolina
Brief Summary

In this study, the investigators pilot tested a parenting intervention to improve young children's sleep in families with low income. Families were randomized to an intervention or wait-list control group. The investigators hypothesized the intervention would be feasible and acceptable to enrolled families.

Detailed Description

This pilot study tested a parenting intervention to improve young children's sleep in families with low income using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. Parents were randomized to the intervention or wait-list control group. Intervention content was delivered in virtual sessions with a parent and interventionist. The primary aim was to examine intervention feasibility (e.g., recruitment, retention, acceptability) with a secondary goal of preliminary efficacy on intervention changes in child sleep patterns to inform a future large-scale RCT. Exploratory evidence was collected on changes in children's health behaviors (e.g., diet, screen time), and social-emotional health (e.g., behavior problems) as indicators for potential spillover effects on these domains.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • Parents or primary caregivers 18 years of age or older
  • Have a child 2-4 years of age
  • Child's 24-hour sleep duration does not meet established recommendations based on child age
  • English speaking
  • Annual household income <= 200% of the Federal Poverty Line or receive assistance benefits (e.g., SNAP, WIC)
  • Computer or phone access for video calls
Exclusion Criteria
  • Parent or child has a medical condition that impairs their ability to participate
  • Child has a clinical sleep disorder
  • Child takes medication that significantly impacts their sleep

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Sleep InterventionSleep TightThe sleep intervention focuses on enhancing young children's sleep by providing parents with behavioral strategies and support. Interventionists will work with parents on establishing consistent soothing bedtime routines; behavioral regulation to manage bedtime resistance and nighttime wakings; goal setting, problem solving, and action planning; self-monitoring via daily sleep logs; and stimulus control of child's sleep environment.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Intervention feasibility: recruitment screening eligibilityThrough study completion, an average of 2 years

Percent of children screened who were eligible

Intervention feasibility: recruitment screening enrollmentThrough study completion, an average of 2 years

Percent of eligible children who were enrolled

Intervention feasibility: recruitment durationThrough study completion, an average of 2 years

Duration to reach the target sample

Intervention feasibility: Enrollment yield for each recruitment strategyThrough study completion, an average of 2 years

Percent of enrolled participants that were recruited via each recruitment strategy to determine the highest and lowest yielding strategies.

Intervention feasibility: retention attendanceThrough study completion, an average of 2 years

Percent attendance at assessment visits

Intervention feasibility: retention percentageThrough study completion, an average of 2 years

Percent of sample retained at post-intervention

Intervention feasibility: retention dropoutThrough study completion, an average of 2 years

Percent of sample that drops out or is lost to follow-up

Intervention feasibility: retention dropout reasonsThrough study completion, an average of 2 years

Reasons for dropping out of the study

Intervention acceptabilityThrough study completion, an average of 2 years

Acceptability will be assessed in an exit survey with Likert scale items and open-ended questions about intervention likes/dislikes and suggestions for future changes. Likert scale values range 1-5. Higher numbers indicate better outcomes (e.g., more positive acceptability)

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Child sleep: night sleep durationBaseline (0 weeks) and post-intervention (6 weeks)

Wrist-worn actigraphy devices were used to calculate child's nighttime sleep duration

Child sleep: daytime sleep durationBaseline (0 weeks) and post-intervention (6 weeks)

Wrist-worn actigraphy devices were used to calculate child's daytime sleep duration

Process measures: Intervention attendanceThrough study completion, an average of 2 years

Proportion of intervention sessions attended, including makeup sessions, obtained from attendance records.

Process measures: Content fidelityThrough study completion, an average of 2 years

Checklist completed by researchers for each intervention session that evaluates the extent to which the program content was addressed

Process measure: ImplementationThrough study completion, an average of 2 years

Survey checklist completed by interventionists after each intervention session that assess implementation barriers

Child sleep: 24-hour sleep durationBaseline (0 weeks) and post-intervention (6 weeks)

Wrist-worn actigraphy devices were used to calculate child's 24-hour sleep duration

Child sleep: sleep qualityBaseline (0 weeks) and post-intervention (6 weeks)

Wrist-worn actigraphy devices were used to calculate child's sleep quality (e.g., wake after sleep onset)

Child sleep: sleep timingBaseline (0 weeks) and post-intervention (6 weeks)

Wrist-worn actigraphy devices were used to calculate variability in child's sleep timing

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

South Carolina early childhood support state agencies

🇺🇸

Columbia, South Carolina, United States

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