Evaluation of the school-based intervention Charge Your Brainzzz promoting sleep in adolescents

ISRCTN ISRCTN36701918
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN36701918
Secondary identifying numbers WC2017-093
Submission date
29/10/2019
Registration date
08/11/2019
Last edited
27/10/2022
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data

Plain English summary of protocol

Background and study aims
Inadequate sleep is widespread among adolescents and many studies report a decrease in their sleep duration and quality. Short sleep duration and quality have a negative impact on learning ability, memory and concentration, and consequently school performance. Sleep deprivation also has other mental and physical consequences. Schools can be an appropriate setting for programs that promote healthy sleep in adolescents, as school-based programs were already found to be successful for other health-related behaviors such as physical activity and obesity. The context of school provides an environment for learning and a large part of the youth population can be reached. However, effective programs that focus on sleep are currently lacking in the Netherlands. For this purpose, the school-based educational program ‘Charge Your Brainzzz’ was developed by the Dutch Brain Foundation (Hersenstichting Nederland) to promote healthy sleeping in Dutch adolescents by improving knowledge and attitudes towards sleep and sleep hygiene practices. The program consists of three sleep-education lessons and a serious game provided as homework. The aim of this study is to examine the effectiveness of the Charge Your Brainzzz intervention on adolescents' sleep duration and sleep quality. Also, changes in adolescents’ sleep hygiene and behavioral determinants are examined.

Who can participate?
Second- and third- grade students at participating high schools

What does the study involve?
Schools are randomly allocated to either the intervention or control group. The intervention group participate in the Charge Your Brainzzz program, while control groups do not participate in the program. Both groups are asked to fill in a sleep diary and a questionnaire at three points in time. The study lasts about 4 months. By participating in the study, classes can win a group excursion.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Students could improve their sleep behavior while being exposed to the intervention. In addition, school classes could win a group excursion when participating in this study. Five group excursions will be raffled in this trial. Students’ awareness regarding sleep behavior could increase when participating in this study, which may lead to undesired changes in thoughts on sleep behavior. However, this risk is considered minimal.

Where is the study run from?
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and the Municipal Health Service Amsterdam (Netherlands)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2018 to February 2019

Who is funding the study?
The Dutch Brain Foundation (Hersenstichting) (Netherlands)

Who is the main contact?
Drs. M.M.R. Inhulsen
m.m.r.inhulsen@vu.nl

Contact information

Miss Maj-Britt Inhulsen
Scientific

De Boelelaan 1085
Amsterdam
1081 HV
Netherlands

Phone +31 (0)205984301
Email m.m.r.inhulsen@vu.nl

Study information

Study designSingle-centre interventional randomized controlled trial
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designCluster randomised trial
Study setting(s)School
Study typePrevention
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use contact details to request participant information sheet.
Scientific titleMixed methods evaluation of a school-based intervention promoting sleep in adolescents: a cluster-randomized controlled trial
Study objectivesIt is hypothesized that the intervention is effective in improving sleep behavior (i.e. sleep duration and sleep quality), sleep hygiene and behavioral determinants (i.e. knowledge, attitude, subjective norm, self-efficacy and intention).
Ethics approval(s)The study was evaluated on 28/05/2018 by the Medical Ethical Committee of the Amsterdam UMC (VUmc) (BS7, room H-443, Postbus 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, Netherlands; Tel: +31 (0)204445585; Email: metc@vumc.nl). They decided official approval was not required for this study as the Medical Research Involving Human Subject Acts (WMO) did not apply (ref: 2018.248). Active written consent from students and their parents or caretakers are necessary prior to enrolment in the study.
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studiedSleep behavior (i.e. sleep duration and sleep quality), sleep hygiene and behavioral determinants (i.e. knowledge, attitude, subjective norm, self-efficacy and intention)
InterventionAfter agreement to participate, high schools are allocated to either the intervention or control group by matching based on educational level and number of participating classes within a school. Blinding was not possible as the intervention is an educational program carried out by teachers.

The intervention is the school-based educational program 'Charge Your Brainzzz', which consists of three lessons and a serious game provided as homework. The control schools will not receive the intervention.

Both groups are asked to fill in a sleep diary and a questionnaire at baseline, post intervention (max. 2 weeks after intervention) and follow-up (+/- 3 months after the intervention). The study lasts approximately 4 months.
Intervention typeBehavioural
Primary outcome measureMeasured at baseline, post intervention (max. 2 weeks after intervention) and follow-up (+/- 3 months after the intervention)
1. Sleep duration and sleep quality, measured by a 7-day digital sleep diary, based on the validated Consensus Sleep Diary
2. Sleep hygiene practices, sleep reduction and behavioral determinants (i.e. knowledge, attitude, subjective norm, self-efficacy and intention), measured by a digital questionnaire
Secondary outcome measures1. Students' acceptance and appreciation of the intervention measured by a digital questionnaire (only for the intervention group) at follow-up (+/- 3 months after the intervention)
2. Qualitative data on implementation processes, obtained by interviews with participating teachers from the intervention schools post-intervention (+/- 2 weeks after the intervention)
Overall study start date01/03/2018
Completion date01/02/2019

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Other
Age groupChild
SexBoth
Target number of participantsTarget number of participants: 1000. Target number of clusters: 10, with 100 expected participants each.
Total final enrolment972
Key inclusion criteria1. Grade 2 or grade 3 students of Dutch high schools
2. Lower General Secondary Education or higher
Key exclusion criteriaDoes not meet the inclusion criteria
Date of first enrolment01/05/2018
Date of final enrolment01/10/2018

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • Netherlands

Study participating centre

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
De Boelelaan 1105
Amsterdam
1081 HV
Netherlands

Sponsor information

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
University/education

De Boelelaan 1105
Amsterdam
1081 HV
Netherlands

Phone +31 (0)205989898
Email m.m.r.inhulsen@vu.nl
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/008xxew50

Funders

Funder type

Charity

Hersenstichting
Private sector organisation / Trusts, charities, foundations (both public and private)
Alternative name(s)
Hersenstichting Nederland, Nederlandse Hersenstichting
Location
Netherlands

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/01/2020
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planThe researchers will publish at least two scientific articles on the results of this study. Furthermore, they will present their findings at (inter-)national conferences. Publication and dissemination activities are expected from winter 2019 onwards.
IPD sharing planThe data sharing plans for the current study are currently unknown and will be made available at a later date.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Results article 21/03/2022 27/10/2022 Yes No

Editorial Notes

27/10/2022: Publication reference and total final enrolment added.
05/11/2019: Trial's existence confirmed by ethics committee.