Napping Rooms + Light Blocking Glasses for Burnout

Overseen By Amy McLaughlin, MSN, RN, NE-BC

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Pittsburgh

Must not be taking: Sleep aides, Melatonin

Disqualifiers: Sleep disorders, Serious mental illness, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

8 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial requires that you stop using prescription or over-the-counter sleep aids, including melatonin. Other medications are not mentioned, so it's unclear if you need to stop them.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment involving access to napping/relaxation rooms and blue and green light blocking glasses for burnout?

Research shows that scheduled naps can reduce drowsiness and improve work quality in nurses, while light therapy has been effective in improving sleep problems and reducing burnout symptoms. Additionally, using light-blocking glasses can improve sleep quality and mood in medical inpatients. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is it safe for humans to use napping rooms and light-blocking glasses?

Research on blue-light blocking glasses shows they are generally safe for improving sleep and mood in various conditions, such as insomnia and shift work. No significant safety concerns have been reported in studies involving their use. ^{4 6 7 8 9}

How does the treatment of napping rooms and light blocking glasses for burnout differ from other treatments?

This treatment is unique because it combines access to a napping room with the use of blue and green light blocking glasses, which may help regulate the body's internal clock and improve sleep quality. Unlike traditional treatments for burnout that might focus on stress management or medication, this approach targets sleep and light exposure to potentially enhance rest and recovery. ^{6 7 9 10 11}

What is the purpose of this trial?

Healthy and happy nurses are essential to ensuring optimal patient outcomes and organizational success. The evidence on the negative impacts of night shift on nurses' health and cognitive function, and their implications on patient outcomes and organizational costs, reflect the need for interventions to mitigate these detrimental outcomes. This pilot, feasibility, clinical trial will examine the feasibility of two fatigue countermeasure interventions (access to napping/relaxation room and use of blue/green light blocking glass during night shift) and explore the interventions effects on nurses' health, missed care, and burnout.

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for night shift nurses who are experiencing burnout or want to maintain their health. Participants should be currently working night shifts and willing to try using a napping/relaxation room and blue/green light blocking glasses as part of the study.

Inclusion Criteria

Working full-time night or rotating shifts

Being a registered nurse at UPMC Shadyside (Pittsburgh, PA)

Willing to wear a Fitbit around-the-clock during the study

Exclusion Criteria

Currently being treated for a serious mental illness

Needing to use eye glasses to complete work related activities (note: contact lenses are acceptable)

I have been diagnosed with a sleep disorder.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2 months

Intervention

Participants undergo fatigue countermeasure interventions including access to napping/relaxation room and use of blue/green light blocking glasses during night shift

3 months

Multiple visits as per intervention schedule

Washout

A two-week washout period between different intervention conditions

2 weeks

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for changes in health, sleep, fatigue, cognitive function, and burnout after interventions

4 months

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Access to napping/relaxation room
• Blue and green light blocking glasses

Trial Overview The trial is testing if having access to a napping/relaxation room and wearing blue/green light blocking glasses can improve the health of night shift nurses, reduce missed care, and prevent burnout. It's a pilot study to see if these methods are practical.

Participant Groups

Group I: Single group, crossover - order of the interventions to be randomly selected Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

All participants will receive the same interventions which includes access to the napping/relaxation room only intervention, blue and green light blocking glasses only intervention, and the combined intervention. There will be a two-week washout between the interventions. The order of the interventions will be randomized to one of the following options: * Napping/relaxation room, blue and green light blocking glasses, combined * Blue and green light blocking glasses, napping/relaxation room, combined * Napping/relaxation room, combined, blue and green light blocking glasses * Blue and green light blocking glasses, combined, napping/relaxation room * Combined, napping/relaxation room, blue and green light blocking glasses * Combined, blue and green light blocking glasses, napping/relaxation room

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Pittsburgh

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,820

Recruited

16,360,000+

Shadyside Hospital Foundation

Collaborator

Trials

4

Recruited

130+

Shadyside Hospital Foundation

Collaborator

Findings from Research

In a study of 33 medical inpatients, morning bright light therapy combined with evening short-wavelength filter glasses improved sleep quality, leading to fewer night awakenings and earlier wake times compared to standard care.

Patients receiving the light therapy reported lower sleepiness and higher mood levels during the morning hours, indicating that this treatment is both effective and well-tolerated for enhancing daytime alertness and emotional well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Morning Light Glasses and Night Short-Wavelength Filter Glasses on Sleep-Wake Rhythmicity in Medical Inpatients. Formentin, C., Carraro, S., Turco, M., et al.[2020]

Combining cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) with blue-light blocking glasses significantly reduced anxiety and depression symptoms in patients, with a notable reduction in the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) score in the active group compared to the placebo group.

Patients using blue-light blocking glasses also experienced a significant increase in subjective total sleep time and a reduction in sleep latency, suggesting that blocking blue light before bedtime can enhance sleep quality for those with insomnia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Block the light and sleep well: Evening blue light filtration as a part of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. Janků, K., Šmotek, M., Fárková, E., et al.[2022]

References

1. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of bright light at lunchtime on sleep of patients in a geriatric hospital I. [2006]

2. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Scheduled Naps Improve Drowsiness and Quality of Nursing Care among 12-Hour Shift Nurses. [2021]

3. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of an adjunctive, chronotype-based light therapy in hospitalized patients with severe burnout symptoms - a pilot study. [2020]

4. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of Lighting Interventions to Improve Sleepiness in Night-Shift Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. [2022]

5. Switzerland pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effect of Morning Light Glasses and Night Short-Wavelength Filter Glasses on Sleep-Wake Rhythmicity in Medical Inpatients. [2020]

6. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Block the light and sleep well: Evening blue light filtration as a part of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. [2022]

7. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Wearing blue-blockers in the morning could improve sleep of workers on a permanent night schedule: a pilot study. [2009]

8. India pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Alerting effects of light in healthy individuals: a systematic review and meta-analysis. [2022]

9. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Amber lenses to block blue light and improve sleep: a randomized trial. [2022]

10. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The effect of narrowband 500 nm light on daytime sleep in humans. [2011]

11. Australia pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Light conditions during sleep period and sleep-related lifestyle in Japanese students. [2006]