Nurse-led BBTI for Improving Insomnia Severity

Brief behavioral treatment for insomnia (BBTI) is a new treatment direction for primary and comorbid insomnia; however, its treatment model has not been established in Taiwan. This study aims to establish the BBTI treatment model among insomniacs in Taiwan and to examine the immediate effects of nurse-led BBTI in adults with insomnia complaints. In this assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial, participants will be randomly allocated to the nurse-led BBTI experimental group, or sleep hygiene control group. Measurement outcomes are sleep parameters measured by the Chinese version of Insomnia Severity Index, Chinese version of Pittsburgh sleep quality index, and sleep diary. Questionnaires will be assessed in pretreatment, posttreatment, and one-month follow-up. We hypothesize that adults with insomnia complaints undergoing nurse-led BBTI will experience greater alleviations in sleep in comparison with participants in the sleep hygiene control group.

Background: Insomnia, defined as difficulty initiating and maintaining sleep such that it interferes with daytime function, is a common complaint among the general population, which in turn undermine their mood, cognitive functions, and quality of life. Brief behavioral treatment for insomnia (BBTI) is a new treatment direction for primary and comorbid insomnia; however, its treatment model has not been established in Taiwan.

Purposes: To establish the BBTi treatment model among insomniacs in Taiwan and to examine the immediate effects of nurse-led BBTI in adults with insomnia complaints. We hypothesize that adults with insomnia complaints undergoing nurse-led BBTI will experience greater alleviations in sleep in comparison with participants in the sleep hygiene control group.

Methods: This assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial will employ a two-arm parallel-group design. A total of 42 adults with insomnia complaints will be randomly allocated to the nurse-led BBTI, or sleep hygiene control group in a 1:1 ratio. For the nurse-led BBTI group, all participants will experience 4-week nurse-led BBTi via 2 in person and 2 telephone sessions. The contents include sleep hygiene, stimulus control, sleep restriction, and relaxation. For the sleep hygiene control group, they will receive usual care, sleep hygiene education, and weekly LINE contacts. Measurement outcomes are sleep parameters measured by the Chinese version of Insomnia Severity Index, Chinese version of Pittsburgh sleep quality index, and sleep diary. Questionnaires will be assessed in pretreatment, posttreatment, and one-month follow-up. A generalized estimating equation will be used to test research hypotheses.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Report lying awake for ≥30 min a night for ≥3 nights per week for ≥3 months
2. Have insomnia with a total score ≥ 8 on the Chinese version of the insomnia severity index (CISI) at screening
3. Be able to communicate in Mandarin Chinese

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Premorbid diagnoses of seizure, other sleep disorders (e.g., sleep apnea, screened by using the STOP-Bang questionnaire with a score \> 3), psychiatric diseases, substance abuse, and alcoholism
2. Shift workers
3. Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or in the menopausal transition