A 6-month educational program improves sleep behaviour in community-dwelling frail older adults: A randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of sleep-related issues among older adults is a significant concern, with half of the older population reporting these problems. Consequently, strategies to improve sleep are needed for this population. This study aims to assess the effects of a health educational program on sleep behaviour among pre-frail or frail older adults residing in the community and to explore possible associations with frailty.

Methods: This randomised controlled trial (NCT05610605) included a total of 197 community-dwelling older adults with frailty/pre-frailty, divided into control (n = 88) and educational (n = 109) groups, were assessed at baseline, after the 6-month educational program (6 months), and 6 months after the intervention (12 months). The intervention comprised four group sessions and six follow-up phone calls, focusing on frailty, physical activity, dietary habits, and cognitive training. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and wrist-worn accelerometry.

Results: At 6 months, a significant time-by-group interaction was found for self-reported [β = -0.449, 95%CI (-0.844, -0.053), p = 0.026] and accelerometer-measured [β = 0.505, 95%CI (0.085, 0.926), p = 0.019] sleep efficiency, showing improved sleep efficiency in the intervention group vs. controls. A significant time-by-group interaction at 6 months was noted for sleep awakenings [β = -0.402, 95%CI (-0.825, -0.020), p = 0.047]. The educational program led to a significant decrease in awakenings, while the control group experienced an increase. The change in the number of awakenings (Rs = 0.183, p = 0.020) at 6 months was significantly associated with changes in frailty. Moreover, a significant time-by-group interaction was reported at the 12-month assessment [β = -0.449, 95%CI (-0.844, -0.053), p = 0.026] for self-reported sleep quality, indicating better results in the intervention group compared to controls.

Conclusion: The educational program improved sleep quality and sleep efficiency while reducing the number of awakenings per night among community-dwelling frail older adults, offering a practical approach to addressing sleep-related challenges in this demographic.

Keywords: Accelerometer; Actigraphy; Aging; Health education; Health promotion; Sleep disorders.