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Sleep Hygiene Strategies Among Track and Field Athletes

NCT07083544 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 66

Last updated 2025-07-24

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

This study aims to evaluate whether different ways of delivering sleep hygiene strategies (SHS)-written materials versus one-on-one verbal instruction-affect sleep behaviors in track and field athletes. Sleep is essential for athletic recovery and performance, yet many athletes struggle to get enough rest due to both lifestyle and sport-related factors.

Sixty-six athletes were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group with no intervention, a group receiving SHS in written form, and a group receiving SHS through a personalized verbal session with a sleep specialist. The intervention lasted 10 consecutive days, and the same strategies were shared with both intervention groups. These strategies included advice on bedtime consistency, reducing screen use before sleep, improving sleep environment, and managing naps.

To monitor changes, participants wore an actigraphy device and completed sleep and training diaries during a 10-day baseline period (before SHS) and again during the 10-day intervention period. Researchers assessed objective sleep parameters like total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and sleep latency, as well as subjective habits using the Sleep Hygiene Index questionnaire.

Conditions

  • Sleep
  • Athlete

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Written Sleep Hygiene Strategies (W-SHS)

Participants assigned to the W-SHS group received a printed handout containing general sleep hygiene strategies. These strategies were designed to improve sleep quality and included recommendations on maintaining a consistent sleep-wake schedule, minimizing light exposure before bedtime, avoiding screens and heavy meals in the evening, optimizing the sleep environment (e.g., room temperature, noise), and managing nap timing. Participants were instructed to apply these strategies consistently for 10 consecutive days. No individual guidance was provided.

BEHAVIORAL

Verbal Sleep Hygiene Strategies (V-SHS)

Participants in the V-SHS group received the same general sleep hygiene strategies as the W-SHS group, but delivered through a one-on-one verbal education session. A trained researcher in sleep and sport science conducted a 40-minute session with each athlete, explaining each strategy and offering personalized clarifications and suggestions. Participants were then instructed to implement these strategies over a 10-day period.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • University of Milan

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
40 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-09-01
Primary Completion
2024-09-30
Completion
2024-10-17

Countries

  • Italy

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07083544 on ClinicalTrials.gov