Evaluating the efficacy and mechanisms of action of app-based audio tools for improved sleep health in working adult populations

睡眠在维持身心健康方面起着至关重要的作用。然而，睡眠障碍和失眠是非常常见的。睡眠不足已被证明会对一系列结果产生不利影响，包括认知表现，心理健康，情绪调节，生活质量，关系满意度，工作场所和休闲活动。基于智能手机的心理健康应用程序（或“MHAPs”）是睡眠干预的主要交付媒介，近年来，专为普通大众设计的基于音频的独立睡眠工具（睡眠技能，声音和故事）的普及和可用性显着增加。关于基于应用程序的睡眠工具的功效和机制缺乏经验证据。这个合作博士研究计划将解决知识的这一差距。项目目的和目标本项目采用多种方法探索MHApp睡眠支持工具的经验，机制和效果，包括系统性文献综述，随机对照试验设计，访谈协议和可穿戴传感器的生理数据分析。具体来说，我们将解决这些重要问题：1。关于MHApp睡眠支持工具的经验、机制和效果，我们已经知道些什么？2.当睡眠障碍人群使用MHApp睡眠支持工具时，测量的机制和效果是什么？3. MHApp睡眠支持工具用户的客观传感器数据是否证实了自我报告对睡眠持续时间、睡眠规律和睡眠效率的影响？4.用户对MHApp睡眠支持工具的体验如何？他们的优势、劣势、挑战和机遇是什么？

Sleep plays a vital role in maintaining physical and mental health. However, sleep disturbance and insomnia are very common. Insufficient sleep has been shown to adversely impact a range of outcomes including cognitive performance, mental health, emotional regulation, quality of life, relationship satisfaction, workplace and leisure activities. There is an urgent need for evidence-based interventions that improve sleep quantity and/or quality in working-age adults.Smartphone-based mental health applications (or 'MHapps') are a prime delivery medium for sleep interventions, and standalone, audio-based tools (sleep skills, sounds and stories) for sleep designed for ad-hoc use by the general public have dramatically increased in popularity and availability in recent years. There is a lack of empirical evidence regarding the efficacy and mechanisms of app-based sleep tools. This collaborative PhD research program will address this gap in knowledge. Project aims and objectivesThis project explores the experience, mechanisms and effects of MHApp sleep support tools using a variety of methods including systematic literature review, randomised controlled trial design, interview protocols, and physiological data analysis from wearable sensors. Specifically, we will address these important questions:1. What is already known about the experience, mechanisms and effects of MHApp sleep support tools? 2. What are the measured mechanisms and effects of MHApp sleep support tools when used by a sleep disturbed population? 3. Are self-reported effects on sleep duration, sleep regularity and sleep efficiency corroborated by objective sensor data in users of MHApp sleep support tools?4. How are MHApp sleep support tools experienced by users? What are their perceived benefits, weaknesses, challenges, and opportunities?