Feasibility Study of Personalized Trials to Improve Sleep Quality

Phase 1

Completed

Conditions: Sleep Disturbance

Interventions: Dietary Supplement: Melatonin 3 mg
Dietary Supplement: Melatonin 0.5 mg
Other: Cellulose placebo pill

Registration Number: NCT05349188

Lead Sponsor: Northwell Health

Brief Summary: The purpose of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility of using N-of-1 methods in a virtual research study of melatonin intervention for poor sleep quality. Participants (N=60) will be sent a Fitbit device and 3 smart pill bottles, with one containing 3 mg of melatonin, one containing 0.5 mg of melatonin, and the final bottle containing a placebo pill. The first two weeks will be a baseline period, where no supplement is assigned, but data are collected, including self-report of sleep quality and duration and accelerometer-derived sleep and activity data. After successful completion of the baseline period, participants will be randomized to six 2-week intervention blocks of a 3 mg dose melatonin, a 0.5 mg dose melatonin, and a placebo. At the end of the trial, participants will be asked to complete the System Usability Scale, a satisfaction survey (electronic or phone/video call if they are non-responders), and participate in a virtual interview (such as over Microsoft Teams or a phone call) to inform feasibility and acceptability of protocol requirements, study materials, and personalized reports.

Detailed Description: The purpose of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility of using N-of-1 methods in a virtual research study; to remotely recruit and enroll participants; to assess the feasibility of using a placebo and to determine the feasibility of the proposed methods used to collect and assess participant adherence and response to a wellness strategy (in this case, melatonin for poor sleep quality). This pilot will help determine if an N-of-1 study design, or what has been termed 'Personalized Trials', can have widespread use in future research and clinical practice to address high public health burdens with a high heterogeneity of response. This pilot study will assess feasibility using a Personalized Trials model to evaluate an individual participant's experience with a wellness strategy for self-reported poor sleep quality. Participants (N=60) will be sent a Fitbit device and 3 smart pill bottles, with one containing 3 mg of melatonin, one containing 0.5 mg of melatonin, and the final bottle containing placebo pills. Participants will be asked several questions a day sent via text message about their sleep quality, as well as their stress, fatigue, concentration, confidence, mood, and pain levels to demonstrate relevant secondary impacts of sleep quality. Participants will also have access to several videos explaining the protocol. The study will take place over the course of 14 weeks. The first two weeks will be a baseline period, where no supplement is assigned, but data are collected, including self-report of sleep quality and duration and accelerometer-derived sleep and activity data. After successful completion of the baseline period, participants will be randomized to six 2-week intervention blocks of a 3 mg dose melatonin, a 0.5 mg dose melatonin, and a placebo. At the end of the 14 weeks, a report containing the individual's observed data will be prepared for each participant and electronically sent to them along with a satisfaction survey (electronic, or phone/video call if they are non-responders).

After the end of the 14-week trial, participants will receive a summary of their observed data in a personalized report. Creating this type of report will help to assess the feasibility of using a N-of-1 trial design through user-acceptability of sleep quality and wellness-related data visualizations, and the ability to choose preferred intervention (if any) based on the data. Participants will be asked to complete the System Usability Scale, a satisfaction survey (electronic or phone/video call if they are non-responders), and participate in a virtual interview (such as over Microsoft Teams or a phone call) to inform feasibility and acceptability of protocol requirements, study materials, and personalized reports.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

Age ≥ 18 years
Fluent in English
Ability to take melatonin and a placebo
Self-report of disrupted sleep symptoms using the Insomnia Symptom Questionnaire (ISQ)
Owns and can regularly access a smartphone capable of receiving text messages
Owns and can regularly access an e-mail account
Lives in the United States
Agreement to adhere to lifestyle considerations including wearing a Fitbit device day and night and potentially adapting their current melatonin routine to fit the protocol throughout study duration

Exclusion Criteria

Age < 18 years old
Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding
Individuals diagnosed with depression, seasonal affective disorder, schizophrenia, autoimmune disease, or asthma
Individuals taking MAO inhibitors or corticosteroids
Individuals diagnosed with low blood pressure
Clinical diagnosis of a sleep disorder (e.g., Narcolepsy, Circadian Rhythm Sleep-Wake Disorders, Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, Restless Leg Syndrome, Obstructive Sleep Apnea etc.)
Deemed unable to complete the study protocol as a result of cognitive impairment, severe medical or mental illness, or active or prior substance abuse
Participation in shift work (evening/night shifts, early morning shifts, rotating shifts, etc.)
Pilot or flight attendant with frequent travel across time zones
Receiving specialty mental health care for insomnia (e.g., cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, medications for insomnia)
Has even been told by a doctor or healthcare provider that it is not safe to take melatonin
Does not own or cannot regularly access a smartphone capable of receiving text messages
Does not possess or cannot regularly access an email account
Lives outside the United States
Planned surgeries within 6 months from study start date

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Melatonin 3 mg	Melatonin 3 mg	Individuals will receive a kit with medication adherence devices containing melatonin 3 mg in one of three smart electronic pill bottles labeled "A," "B," and "C." Participants will not be aware which of the pill bottles contains the 3mg of melatonin. Participants will be randomized to take pills in 6 alternating intervention periods 2 weeks in length. During periods where participants were randomized to receive melatonin 3 mg, they will receive a nightly text notification 1 hour before bed instructing them to take a pill from the corresponding smart pill bottle. The melatonin 3 mg intervention will be administered in 2 intervention periods each 2 weeks in length (4 weeks total).
Melatonin 0.5 mg	Melatonin 0.5 mg	Individuals will receive a kit with medication adherence devices containing melatonin 0.5 mg in one of three smart electronic pill bottles labeled "A," "B," and "C." Participants will not be aware which of the pill bottles contains the 0.5 mg of melatonin. Participants will be randomized to take pills in 6 alternating intervention periods 2 weeks in length. During periods where participants were randomized to receive melatonin 0.5 mg, they will receive a nightly text notification 1 hour before bed instructing them to take a pill from the corresponding smart pill bottle. The melatonin 0.5 mg intervention will be administered in 2 intervention periods each 2 weeks in length (4 weeks total).
Placebo Pill	Cellulose placebo pill	Individuals will receive a kit with medication adherence devices containing the placebo pills in one of three smart electronic pill bottles labeled "A," "B," and "C." Participants will not be aware which of the pill bottles contains the placebo. Participants will be randomized to take pills in 6 alternating intervention periods 2 weeks in length. During periods where participants were randomized to receive the placebo, they will receive a nightly text notification 1 hour before bed instructing them to take a pill from the corresponding smart pill bottle. The placebo will be administered in 2 intervention periods each 2 weeks in length (4 weeks total).

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Participant Satisfaction With Personalized Trial Components	Assessed once after the results report has been sent to the participant after completion of the trial (14 weeks from baseline).	Participants will rate their satisfaction with the Personalized N-of-1 Trial overall and with individual elements of the trial in a satisfaction survey administered following the baseline and intervention periods (14 weeks). Means and standard deviations will be reported for each element of satisfaction. Participants will rate their satisfaction on a scale of 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating greater levels of satisfaction.
Mean System Usability Score (SUS)	Assessed once after the results report has been sent to the participant after completion of the trial (14 weeks from baseline).	The SUS is a validated 10-item questionnaire that asks users to score each item on a Likert scale from Strongly Disagree (rating of 1) to Strongly Agree (rating of 5). The SUS will be presented to the participant as addressing the ease of use, complexity, consistency of the Personalized Trials system as a whole, from recruitment to receipt of the report. Individual results are calculated to arrive at a composite measure out of 100. Participant SUS scores will be averaged together and an overall mean will be reported with standard deviation. Higher scored values correlate to a more usable system, and therefore a better outcome.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mean Participant Adherence to Nightly Placebo Supplement.	Assessed across the two 14-day treatment periods (28 days total).	For each participant, the proportion of days where the placebo supplement was administered will be calculated. Proportion of days adherent across all participants will be reported with means and standard deviations.
Within-Subject Difference in Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) of Stress.	EMA stress will be assessed 3 times daily via text message during the baseline assessment period (2 weeks) and during each of the 6 intervention periods (2 weeks each, 12 weeks total).	Stress will be assessed via 3 daily text message prompts sent at random times throughout the day asking individuals to rate their stress on a scale of 0(low) to 10(high). Levels of EMA stress will be aggregated within the baseline assessment period and in each of the intervention periods (3 mg melatonin, 0.5 mg melatonin, placebo) to generate an overall mean and standard deviation for each period. Changes in EMA stress over the course of the study will be evaluated using Generalized Linear Mixed Model analyses.
Mean Participant Adherence to Nightly Melatonin 0.5 mg Supplement.	Assessed across the two 14-day treatment periods (28 days total).	For each participant, the proportion of days where the melatonin 0.5 mg supplement was administered will be calculated. Proportion of days adherent across all participants will be reported with means and standard deviations.
Mean Participant Adherence to Nightly Melatonin 3 mg Supplement.	Assessed across the two 14-day treatment periods (28 days total).	For each participant, the proportion of days where the melatonin 3 mg supplement was administered will be calculated. Proportion of days adherent across all participants will be reported with means and standard deviations.
Mean Within-Subject Difference in Self-Reported Sleep Quality.	Daily sleep quality will be assessed daily via survey during the baseline assessment period (2 weeks) and during each of the 6 intervention periods (2 weeks each).	Participants will rate their sleep disturbance using a modified version of the Consensus Sleep Diary administered daily during baseline and intervention periods (14 weeks). Participants will be asked to rate their sleep on a 5-point scale rated from "very poor" to "very good". Levels of daily sleep quality will be aggregated within the baseline assessment period and in each of the intervention periods (3 mg melatonin, 0.5 mg melatonin, placebo) to generate an overall mean and standard deviation for each period, with higher scores indicating better sleep quality. Changes in sleep quality over the course of the study will be evaluated using Generalized Linear Mixed Model analyses.
Within-Subject Difference in Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) of Fatigue.	EMA fatigue will be assessed 3 times daily via text message during the baseline assessment period (2 weeks) and during each of the 6 intervention periods (2 weeks each, 12 weeks total).	Fatigue will be assessed via 3 daily text message prompts sent at random times throughout the day asking individuals to rate their fatigue on a scale of 0(low) to 10(high). Levels of EMA fatigue will be aggregated within the baseline assessment period and in each of the intervention periods (3 mg melatonin, 0.5 mg melatonin, placebo) to generate an overall mean and standard deviation for each period. Changes in EMA fatigue over the course of the study will be evaluated using Generalized Linear Mixed Model analyses.
Within-Participant Difference in Fitbit Device-Recorded Sleep Duration.	Nightly sleep duration will be assessed consistently via Fitbit device during the baseline assessment period (2 weeks) and during each of the 6 intervention periods (2 weeks each, 12 weeks total).	Nightly sleep duration will be assessed by a Fitbit wearable device. Sleep duration will be aggregated within the baseline assessment period and in each of the intervention periods (3 mg melatonin, 0.5 mg melatonin, placebo) to generate an overall mean and standard deviation for each period. Sleep duration values over the course of the study will be evaluated using Generalized Linear Mixed Model analyses.
Mean Fitbit Device Adherence Rate.	Assessed once after the results report has been sent to the participant after completion of the trial (14 weeks from baseline).	For each participant, the proportion of days where the Fitbit device was worn will be calculated. Proportion of days where the Fitbit device was worn across all participants will be reported with means and standard deviations.