TY - JOUR

T1 - Log in and breathe out: internet-based recovery training for sleepless employees with work-related strain

T2 - results of a randomized controlled trial

AU - Thiart, Hanne

AU - Lehr, Dirk

AU - Ebert, David Daniel

AU - Berking, Matthias

AU - Riper, Heleen

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2015, Nordic Association of Occupational Safety and Health. All rights reserved.

PY - 2015/3

Y1 - 2015/3

N2 - Objectives The primary purpose of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to evaluate the efficacy of a guided internet-based recovery training for employees who suffer from both work-related strain and sleep problems (GET.ON Recovery). The recovery training consisted of six lessons, employing well-established methods from cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) such as sleep restriction, stimulus control, and hygiene interventions as well as techniques targeted at reducing rumination and promoting recreational activities. Methods In a two-arm RCT (N=128), the effects of GET.ON Recovery were compared to a waitlist-control condition (WLC) on the basis of intention-to-treat analyses. German teachers with clinical insomnia complaints (Insomnia Severity Index =15) and work-related rumination (Irritation Scale, cognitive irritation subscale =15) were included. The primary outcome measure was insomnia severity. Results Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that, compared to the WLC, insomnia severity of the intervention group decreased significantly stronger (F=74.11, P<0.001) with a d=1.45 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.06–1.84] The number needed to treat (NNT) was <2 for reliable change and NNT <4 for reduction in expert-rated diagnosis of primary insomnia. Conclusion The training significantly reduces sleep problems and fosters mental detachment from work and recreational behavior among adult stressed employees at post-test and 6-months follow up. Given the low threshold access this training could reach out to a large group of stressed employees when results are replicated in other studies.

AB - Objectives The primary purpose of this randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to evaluate the efficacy of a guided internet-based recovery training for employees who suffer from both work-related strain and sleep problems (GET.ON Recovery). The recovery training consisted of six lessons, employing well-established methods from cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) such as sleep restriction, stimulus control, and hygiene interventions as well as techniques targeted at reducing rumination and promoting recreational activities. Methods In a two-arm RCT (N=128), the effects of GET.ON Recovery were compared to a waitlist-control condition (WLC) on the basis of intention-to-treat analyses. German teachers with clinical insomnia complaints (Insomnia Severity Index =15) and work-related rumination (Irritation Scale, cognitive irritation subscale =15) were included. The primary outcome measure was insomnia severity. Results Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) revealed that, compared to the WLC, insomnia severity of the intervention group decreased significantly stronger (F=74.11, P<0.001) with a d=1.45 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.06–1.84] The number needed to treat (NNT) was <2 for reliable change and NNT <4 for reduction in expert-rated diagnosis of primary insomnia. Conclusion The training significantly reduces sleep problems and fosters mental detachment from work and recreational behavior among adult stressed employees at post-test and 6-months follow up. Given the low threshold access this training could reach out to a large group of stressed employees when results are replicated in other studies.

KW - Health sciences

KW - CBT-I

KW - cognitive behavioral therapy for insimnia

KW - Guided self-help

KW - insomnia

KW - internet

KW - internet-based training

KW - occupational health

KW - online

KW - randomized controlled trial

KW - recovery training

KW - recreation

KW - sleepless

KW - sleepless employees

KW - stress

KW - teacher

KW - Psychology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84925104413&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.5271/sjweh.3478

DO - 10.5271/sjweh.3478

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 25590336

VL - 41

SP - 164

EP - 174

JO - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health

JF - Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health

SN - 0355-3140

IS - 2

ER -