Cited by 27Sleep and related disordersSleep and Work-Related FatigueDigital Mental Health Interventions

Digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia reduces insomnia in nurses suffering from shift work disorder: A randomised‐controlled pilot trial

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Ell, Johanna, Brückner, Hanna A., Johann, Anna F., Steinmetz, Lisa, Güth, Lara J., Feige, Bernd, Järnefelt, Heli, Vallières, Annie +5 more·2024·Journal of Sleep Research

Abstract

Summary: Insomnia is a primary symptom of shift work disorder, yet it remains undertreated. This randomised‐controlled pilot trial examined the efficacy of a digital, guided cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia adapted to shift work (SleepCare) in nurses with shift work disorder. The hypothesis was that SleepCare reduces insomnia severity compared with a waitlist control condition. A total of 46 unmedicated nurses suffering from shift work disorder with insomnia (age: 39.7 ± 12.1 years; 80.4% female) were randomised to the SleepCare group or the waitlist control group. The primary outcome measure was the Insomnia Severity Index. Other questionnaires on sleep, mental health and occupational functioning, sleep diary data and actigraphy data were analysed as secondary outcomes. Assessments were conducted before (T0), after the intervention/waitlist period (T1), and 6 months after treatment completion (T2). The SleepCare group showed a significant reduction in insomnia severity from T0 to T1 compared with the control condition (β = −4.73, SE = 1.12, p < 0.001). Significant improvements were observed in sleepiness, dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, pre‐sleep arousal, sleep effort, self‐reported sleep efficiency and sleep onset latency. No significant effect was found in actigraphy data. Depressive and anxiety symptoms, cognitive irritation and work ability improved significantly. Overall, satisfaction and engagement with the intervention was high. SleepCare improved insomnia severity, sleep, mental health and occupational functioning. This is the first randomised‐controlled trial investigating the efficacy of digital cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia in a population suffering from shift work disorder with insomnia. Future research should further explore these effects with larger sample sizes and active control conditions.

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  1. American Academy of Sleep Medicine. (2014). International classification of sleepdisorders (3rd ed.). American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Authors
Ell, J., Brückner, H. A., Johann, A. F., Steinmetz, L., Güth, L. J., Feige, B., Järnefelt, H., Vallières, A., Frase, L., Domschke, K., Riemann, D., Lehr, D., & Spiegelhalder, K.
Affiliations
  • University of Freiburg (DE)
  • Leuphana University of Lüneburg (DE)
  • Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FI)
  • Université Laval (CA)
Corresponding author
Ell, Johanna
Venue
Journal of Sleep Research
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2024-03-14
Volume
33
Issue
6
Pages
e14193-e14193
ISSN
  • 0962-1105 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2869
OpenAlex
W4394765964
Cited by
27
References
87
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 4
FWCI
10.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Sleep Research (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • FreiDok plus (Universitätsbibliothek Freiburg) (submittedVersion)
  • Multilingual Matters (Channel View Publications) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
Hans Böckler Stiftung (NFG 022)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Digital Mental Health Interventions
Keywords
insomnia, shift work disorder, nurses, insomnia severity, sleepiness, dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, pre-sleep arousal, sleep efficiency, sleep latency, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, occupational functioning, actigraphy, sleep diary
MeSH terms
Adult, Female, Humans, Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders, Male, Middle Aged, Nurses, Pilot Projects, Surveys and Questionnaires, Severity of Illness Index, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Treatment Outcome, Sleep Disorders, Circadian Rhythm, Actigraphy

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