Mobile App for Nurse Sleep and Fatigue

(RN-SLEEP Trial)

Overseen By Beverly Hittle, PhD, RN

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Cincinnati

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Child under 1, Sleep disorder

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

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 4

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to develop and test a mobile app called RN-SLEEP, designed to help nurses improve their sleep. The app provides skills and strategies, such as relaxation training and cognitive-behavioral methods, to address sleep issues caused by challenging work shifts. It compares sleep quality and fatigue between nurses using the app and those using a general healthy habits app, Healthy Habit. Nurses who have worked night shifts for at least six months and have a smartphone may be suitable candidates for this trial. As an unphased trial, this study offers nurses the opportunity to explore innovative solutions for better sleep and enhanced well-being.

Do I need to stop my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this mobile app is safe for improving nurse sleep and reducing fatigue?

Research has shown that mobile apps like RN-SLEEP have yielded promising results for improving sleep in shift workers. These studies found that apps help users manage their sleep better, leading to feeling more rested and improving mood. Generally, these apps are easy to use and lack the side effects associated with medications. The RN-SLEEP app specifically teaches nurses ways to improve their sleep, offering a safe option by focusing on skill-building rather than new drugs or treatments. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the RN-SLEEP app because it offers a fresh, tech-savvy approach to tackling nurse sleep and fatigue issues. Unlike traditional methods that might not address the unique challenges of shift work, this app provides a comprehensive program that includes sleep physiology education and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, all accessible through a mobile platform. This innovative delivery method allows nurses to engage with personalized, evidence-based strategies anytime, making it a potentially game-changing tool for promoting better sleep among healthcare professionals.

What evidence suggests that the RN-SLEEP app is effective for improving nurse sleep and reducing fatigue?

Research shows that certain methods can improve sleep and reduce tiredness. Studies have found that nurse-led programs can positively impact sleep and help manage insomnia. In this trial, participants will join one of two groups. Some will use the RN-SLEEP app, designed to teach these proven methods through a mobile platform, focusing on sleep issues related to shift work. Early results suggest these techniques can help nurses sleep better and feel less tired, potentially lowering the risk of work injuries and mistakes. This app specifically addresses sleep problems in nurses using proven methods. Other participants will use the Healthy Habit app, which focuses on healthy behaviors such as exercise tracking. ^{1 6 7 8 9}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for U.S. registered nurses who have been working night shifts for at least 6 months and have access to a smartphone. It aims to help them improve sleep and reduce fatigue through a mobile app.

Inclusion Criteria

You have worked the night shift for at least 6 months.

You possess a smart phone that is capable of connecting to the internet.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Content Refinement

Focus groups are conducted to refine the RN-SLEEP app content

4 weeks

Multiple focus group sessions

Intervention

Participants engage with the RN-SLEEP app or Healthy Habit app for sleep improvement

4 weeks

Daily app engagement

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for sleep quality and other outcomes post-intervention

8 weeks

Data collection at 4 and 8 weeks post-intervention

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Healthy Habit
• RN-SLEEP

Trial Overview The RN-SLEEP mobile application, which offers shift work-specific strategies and cognitive-behavioral methods like goal setting and relaxation training, is being tested against an educational control group.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: RN-SLEEP Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants assigned to the RN-SLEEP group will access the training program via a mobile app for one month. The training app will include sleep physiology content, shift work strategies to promote sleep, cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia components, and skill-building techniques to support behavior modification.

Group II: Healthy Habit Active Control 1 Intervention

Participants assigned to the Healthy Habit education control group will use a mobile app for one month focused on other healthy behaviors such as exercise tracking.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Cincinnati

Lead Sponsor

Trials

442

Recruited

639,000+

Washington State University

Collaborator

Trials

114

Recruited

58,800+

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06105307

Study Details | NCT06105307 | Using Cognitive-Behavioral ... RN-SLEEP will be pilot-tested using a two-group pretest-posttest study design, comparing sleep outcome measures (duration, quality) of RN-SLEEP participant ...

2. reporter.nih.gov reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10903704

RePORT RePORTER - National Institutes of Health (NIH) | Immediate outputs include a mobile app, de- signed and tested in collaboration with RNs, to improve sleep. Study results will be disseminated through our union ...

3. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-occupational-health-11-2023-5a876

Mobile App for Nurse Sleep and Fatigue (RN-SLEEP Trial) Data trends on fatigue, what drives behavior change (beliefs and self-efficacy), and other sleep outcome measures (timing, regularity, efficiency, daytime ...

4. bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com bmcneurol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12883-025-04248-8

Effect of a nurse-led online patient support program on fatigue ... There is evidence that nurse-led patient support and follow-up programs have positive effects on fatigue, depression, constipation, sleep ...

5. jamanetwork.com jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2823423

Nurse-Supported Self-Directed Cognitive Behavioral ... This randomized clinical trial examines the effectiveness of a nurse-supported, self-directed behavioral insomnia intervention for ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9399454/

Mobile phone sleep self-management applications for ... This scoping review aims to identify and discuss peer-reviewed literature on mobile sleep applications used by early start shift workers for sleep-self ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10064476/

Mobile app for personalized sleep–wake management ... This pilot trial provides preliminary evidence of the positive impact of the SleepSync app in improving sleep and mood outcomes in shift workers ...

8. jmir.org jmir.org/2024/1/e54029/

Development of an Artificial Intelligence–Based Tailored ... The purpose of this study was to develop and optimize an AI-based tailored mobile intervention, Nurse Healing Space, to reduce nurse burnout.

9. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0020748923000330

A scoping review of sleep education and training for nurses Sleep education and training for nurses has been recommended to reduce risks from work-related fatigue · Little is known about what content, delivery mode, and ...