Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Formative Research
Date Submitted: Dec 12, 2023
Date Accepted: Mar 21, 2024
The Mi Sleep Coach Mobile App to Address Insomnia Symptoms Among Cancer Survivors: A Pilot Feasibility Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Cancer survivors reported sleep disturbances are more than three times higher than the general population. The causes of sleep disturbance among survivors are many and multifaceted, including anxiety and fear related to cancer diagnosis and treatments. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is considered a first-line treatment for insomnia; However, a lack of access to trained professionals and limited insurance coverage for CBT-I services has limited patient access to these effective treatments. To address the critical need for accessible and efficacious CBT-I for cancer survivors, the Mi Sleep Coach app adapted CBT-I for delivery as a self-directed mobile health application for cancer survivors.
Objective:
This pilot and feasibility study assessed the adherence, attrition, usefulness, and satisfaction of the Mi Sleep Coach app as an intervention for insomnia.
Methods:
This pilot and feasibility study assessed the adherence, attrition, usefulness, and satisfaction of the Mi Sleep Coach app as an intervention for insomnia.
Results:
Thirty participants were enrolled, with 100% completing the study and providing data through week 7. Nine out of 10 app features were found to be useful by 80-93% of participants. Twenty-seven (90%) of the 30 participants were satisfied with the Mi Sleep Coach app and 28 (93%) of the 30 participants would recommend the use of the Mi Sleep Coach app for those with insomnia. The mean change score on the Insomnia Severity Index of 8.1 was a significant decrease from baseline (18.5, SD 4.6) to Week 7 (10.4, SD 4.2, p=<.001, Cohen’s d =1.5). Twenty-five (83%) participants scored in the moderate (15-21, n=19) or severe (22-28, n=6) insomnia range at baseline. At Week 7, four patients (13%) scored in the moderate (n=4) or severe (n=0) range. Both prescription and over-the-counter sleep medication use decreased from baseline to Week 7.
Conclusions:
The Mi Sleep Coach app is a promising intervention for cancer-related insomnia; further clinical trials are warranted. The Mi Sleep Coach app is specifically designed to help cancer survivors sleep better. If proven to significantly decrease insomnia in cancer survivors in future clinical trials, this intervention could enable more cancer survivors to receive CBT-I. Clinical Trial: NCT04827459
Citation
Request queued. Please wait while the file is being generated. It may take some time.
Copyright
© The authors. All rights reserved. This is a privileged document currently under peer-review/community review (or an accepted/rejected manuscript). Authors have provided JMIR Publications with an exclusive license to publish this preprint on it's website for review and ahead-of-print citation purposes only. While the final peer-reviewed paper may be licensed under a cc-by license on publication, at this stage authors and publisher expressively prohibit redistribution of this draft paper other than for review purposes.