Effects of indoor daylight control on middle school students

ISRCTN ISRCTN15982336
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN15982336
Secondary identifying numbers 415-E/1857/2-2015
Submission date
15/06/2020
Registration date
28/07/2020
Last edited
28/07/2020
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Other
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Natural light is changing in intensity and spectrum during the day. Experiencing it is a crucial factor, influencing the circadian rhythm cognitive performance, concentration and daytime sleepiness. This is also true for students. Intelligent shading systems can improve the indoor daylight supply. This controlled, single-blinded longitudinal intervention study investigated the effects of a new shading system on cognitive performance, stress and wellbeing in healthy middle school students.

What does the study involve?
New shading systems will be installed in four classrooms of the middle school of Adnet (Salzburg, Austria). In two classrooms conventional shading systems will be installed (control-condition). The other two classrooms will be equipped with the new shading system. This new shading system leads much more daylight into the building, than conventional systems, while reflecting direct sunlight to prevent the building from overheating. During the intervention period, all children will live at home, maintaining their usual lifestyle. Participating students will be asked to perform a concentration test, to fill out some questionnaires and salivary samples will be collected.

Who can participate?
Only students from the 7th and 8th grade of the middle school of Adnet, Salzburg, Austria can participate in this study.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
No risks are expected.

Where is the study run from?
The Paracelsus Medical University of Salzburg (Austria)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2015 to June 2016

Who is funding the study?
This project is funded by Salzburg state (funding scheme: Trans4Tech)

Who is the main contact?
Dr Arnulf Hartl

Contact information

Dr Arnulf Josef Hartl
Scientific

Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg
Institute of Ecomedicine
Salzburg
5020
Austria

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0001-9626-6425
Phone +43 (0)662 2420 80530
Email arnulf.hartl@pmu.ac.at

Study information

Study designControlled single-blinded longitudinal intervention study with two intervention groups and constructive implementation
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designControlled intervention study with constructive implementation
Study setting(s)School
Study typeQuality of life
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use contact details to request a participants information sheet
Scientific titlePhysiological and psychological effects of indoor daylight control on middle school students
Study acronymTrans4Light
Study objectivesPrimary Hypothesis: An increased indoor daylight supply improves cognitive performance, quality of life and stress in middle school students.
Secondary Hypothesis: An increased indoor daylight supply in classrooms reduces power consumption.
Ethics approval(s)Approved 16/03/2015, Ethics Committee of Salzburg (Stefan-Stief-Gasse 2, Postfach 527, 5010 Salzburg, Austria; +43 (0)662 8042 0; ethikkommission@salzburg.gv.at), ref: 415-E/1857/2-2015
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedCognitive performance, quality of life and stress in middle school students
InterventionNew shading systems were installed in four identical classrooms in the selected middle school. These shading blades prevent the building from overheating in summer months. Common blades (schlotterer 80R) were installed in two classrooms, while two classrooms were equipped with shading blades in a special design (schlotterer RETROLux 80D), which enables them to reflect more daylight into the rooms. All students, parents and teachers were blinded. The RETROLux 80D blades block direct sunlight in summer, while reflecting more non-direct daylight than conventional shading systems. The participating students spent on average 5 days per week and 5-8 h per day in their classrooms. During the intervention, all children lived at home, maintaining their usual lifestyle.

One class of each grade was randomly assigned to the special shading system. The intervention time was 3 semesters (~1.5 years). During the intervention time of 1.5 years, data was collected at five timepoints:
T1 = baseline, March 20; T2 = June 2015; T3 = November 2015; T4 = March 2016; T5 = June 2016.
Intervention typeOther
Primary outcome measure1. Salivary cortisol (as a biomarker for stress) measured by ELISA at T2-T5
2. Salivary melatonin (as a biomarker for circadian rhythm) measured by ELISA at T2-T5
2. Daytime sleepiness assessed using the Pediatric Daytime Sleepiness Scale (PDSS, German translation) questionnaire at T1- T5

T1 = baseline, March 20; T2 = June 2015; T3 = November 2015; T4 = March 2016; T5 = June 2016.
Secondary outcome measures1. Attention and concentration assessed using the d2-Revision (d2-R) test at T1-T5
2. Health-related quality of life in children assessed using the KINDL-R questionnair at T1-T5
3. Stress processing assessed using the German Coping Questionnaire for Children and Adolescents (SVF-KJ) questionnaire at T1-T5
4. Participant's assessment of stress measured using an inverse visual analogue scale measured every week during the intervention period of 3 semesters
5. Participant's assessment of daytime sleepiness measured using an inverse visual analogue scale measured every week during the intervention period of 3 semesters
6. Participant's assessment of concentration measured using an inverse visual analogue scale measured every week during the intervention period of 3 semesters
7. Participant's assessment of wellbeing measured using an inverse visual analogue scale measured every week during the intervention period of 3 semesters
8. Participant's assessment of fatigue measured using an inverse visual analogue scale measured every week during the intervention period of 3 semesters
9. Daylight and artificial light composition measured using a spectrometer continuously throughout the intervention
10. Indoor carbon dioxide concentration measured using a CO2-meter continuously throughout the intervention
11. Room temperature measured using a digital hygro-thermometer continuously throughout the intervention
12. Relative humidity measured using a digital hygro-thermometer continuously throughout the intervention
13. Power consumption measured using a power meter continuously throughout the intervention

T1 = baseline, March 20; T2 = June 2015; T3 = November 2015; T4 = March 2016; T5 = June 2016.
Overall study start date01/01/2015
Completion date23/06/2016

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Healthy volunteer
Age groupChild
Lower age limit12 Years
Upper age limit15 Years
SexBoth
Target number of participants100 students
Total final enrolment85
Key inclusion criteriaStudents of the 7th and 8th grade of the Middle School of Adnet (aged 12-15)
Key exclusion criteriaStudents of the 5th and 6th grade of the Middle School of Adnet
Date of first enrolment17/03/2015
Date of final enrolment17/04/2015

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Austria

Study participating centre

Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg
Institute of Ecomedicine
Strubergasse 22
Salzburg
5020
Austria

Sponsor information

Paracelsus Medical University
University/education

Research Office
Strubergasse 21
Salzburg
5020
Austria

Phone +43 (0)662 2420-80280
Email d.koelblinger@pmu.ac.at
Website https://www.pmu.ac.at/
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/03z3mg085

Funders

Funder type

Government

Salzburg state (funding scheme: Trans4Tech)

No information available

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/10/2020
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareYes
IPD sharing plan summaryAvailable on request
Publication and dissemination planPlanned publication in autumn 2020.
IPD sharing planData can be requested from Arnulf Josef Hartl (arnulf.hartl@pmu.ac.at). Data will be available as an Excel sheet and will be shared by email. The data is fully anonymised by 4-digit ID. Consent from participants was obtained to use their data for scientific purposes only. Data will be only accessible for scientific research (e.g. power calculations, meta-analysis).

Editorial Notes

22/06/2020: Trial's existence confirmed by Ethikkommission für das Bundesland Salzburg [Salzburg state ethics committee].