Sleep Medicine: X (Dec 2023)

Experience with the use of a digital sleep diary in symptom management by individuals with insomnia -a pilot mixed method study

  • Thea Christine Thorshov,
  • Caroline Tonje Øverby,
  • Diana Dobran Hansen,
  • Way Kiat Bong,
  • Knut Skifjeld,
  • Petter Hurlen,
  • Toril Dammen,
  • Anne Moen,
  • Harald Hrubos-Strøm

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 6
p. 100093

Abstract

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Background: Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder. The recommended treatment is cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBTi). A sleep diary is a core tool in CBTi. We have developed a digital sleep diary with a standardised feedback function. Aim: To study feasibility of the digital sleep diary in participants of the Akershus Sleep Apnea (ASAP) cohorts with difficulties falling asleep or maintaining sleep. To describe sleep diary engagement and explore experiences with the digital sleep diary with potential influences in insomnia symptom management. Material and methods: Twenty participants were recruited from the ASAP. All filled out a digital sleep diary up to 12 weeks. Treatment options provided were a self-help book (N = 11) or electroencephalography neurofeedback (N = 9) in addition to the sleep diary standardised feedback function. We collected quantitative data from the sleep diary reports and we sub-divided insomnia by sleep onset insomnia and non-sleep onset insomnia. Finally, we performed qualitative interviews. Results: The median number of entries to the sleep diary was 81 (25th quartile: 26, 75th quartile 84). In the qualitative analysis, we identified two main themes; “structure and overview” and “usability and digital features”. Conclusion: The sleep diary was found to be feasible when distributed in combination with a self-help book or electroencephalography neurofeedback. The qualitative results emphasised the importance of a timely graphical overview and visualisations of self-recorded sleep.

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