Developing, Implementing, and Evaluating a Mixed-methods Community-based Participatory Research Sleep Intervention in Families With K-3rd Grade Children Living on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation
Phase: NA
Conditions: Sleep
Sponsor: Montana State University

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vernon Grant, PhD 
Assistant Research Professor 
Center for American Indian and Rural Health Equity 
Montana State University 
 
NCT05314712 
 
Document date: 01-06-25 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Study Protocol 
Objectives: The objective of this 7-week sleep intervention is to increase nightly sleep in 
Blackfeet families with children in the K-3rd grade.  
Study Design: The study was pre to post test nonrandomized trial of a 7-week sleep 
intervention.  
Methods: We recruited 30 families of parent-child dyads to participate in a texting and 
Facebook child sleep intervention. Data was collected at 0 weeks and 8 weeks. Consent was 
sent to each family through email. Once consent was completed, they were instructed to report 
to the Blackfeet Tribal Council Chambers for data collection of height, weight, and demographic 
information. They were also administered four books from the Blackfeet Heritage Collection and 
given a cash incentive. It was up to each family to complete the surveys online that were sent 
through email. The following week began the 7-week sleep intervention. Each family was 
enrolled in a private Facebook page. Sleep strategies and Blackfeet language were sent to 
families in daily text messages. In the morning, Blackfeet prayers and common words were sent 
to participants. In the evening sleep strategies and book readings were sent to each family in an 
attempt to establish a bedtime routine. Many text messages were repeated and the content 
focused on turning off screens at least 1.5 hours before bedtime, establishing a relaxing 
bedtime routine, and waking up at the same time everyday. Facebook messages were posted 
about Blackfoot culture and songs. As with texts, this information was used to help establish a 
bedtime routine by listening to stories or singing songs in the Blackfoot culture. All 
correspondence were interactive, but participants rarely contacted our research team. At the 
conclusion of 7-weeks, survey data collection was repeated.  
IRB Approval: This study was approved by the Blackfeet Nation Institutional Review Board.