Adolescents present with sleep timing delay, irregular sleep-wake (SW) schedules and short sleep duration (<7 h) on school days, all resulting from biological and behavioral factors. To minimize this, we evaluated the effect of a school-based sleep hygiene program on the SW cycle, sleep quality and sleepiness in 58 Brazilian adolescent students. The sleep hygiene program lasted a week and consisted of a daily 50 min activity, such as a sleep physiology class, constructing a sleep ontogeny map, discussing the causes and consequences of adolescent short sleep duration and a quiz about sleep hygiene statements. After this, the students showed a reduction in their index of sleep irregularity (represented by standard deviation from bedtime), their sleep latency decreased and their nap-wake up schedule advanced. Their sleep quality and daytime sleepiness showed no difference. The program was effective in reducing sleep irregularity and latency and advancing nap awaking but could be improved and extended to a larger sample to achieve a better evaluation.

ABSTRACT— Early morning school schedules are in the opposite direction to the sleep–wake cycle in adolescence and early adulthood. This conflict leads to sleep deprivation and irregular patterns whose consequences are scarcely explored. This article discusses the effects of three educational experiences with high school students, parents, teachers, and medical students. The first experience was developed with high school students in Natal, Brazil, to determine whether sleep habits would improve with increased awareness. Positive effects were observed in some aspects of sleep knowledge and practices. In the second experience in Atlanta, GA, sleep education activities were presented to middle and high school teachers, parents, and students to emphasize the importance of sleep. In the third program in Murcia, Spain, undergraduate medical students were introduced to chronobiology of sleep by a practical exercise that pointed out to what extent they shared most of adolescent sleep characteristics. Educational chronobiological experiences about sleep are essential to develop healthy sleep habits in the general population, particularly in students.

The aim of this study was to characterize the sleep-wake cycle, daytime sleepiness and sleep quality of high school teachers. Ninety-eight high school teachers participated in this study. They were asked to complete the Health and Sleep, Horne & Ostberg, Epworth Sleepiness Scale and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaires and to keep a 14-day sleep diary. This study showed that high-school teachers wake up on average 1 h 12 min earlier (ANOVA; p < 0.05) and go to bed on average 34 min earlier (ANOVA; p < 0.05) during the week than on the weekend. This results in an average of 42 min less time in bed (ANOVA; p < 0.05) on weekdays and characterizes partial sleep deprivation. Moreover, 46% and 51% of teachers were diagnosed with excessive daytime sleepiness and poor sleep quality (χ2; p > 0.05), respectively. Therefore, high-school teachers show characteristics of partial sleep deprivation that may contribute to excessive daytime sleepiness and poor sleep quality. This situation may compromise health and quality of life, in addition to teaching performance that can affect the education of their students.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effect of an education program using the meaningful learning approach on sleep knowledge and habits of 12th grade students. Thirty‐four student volunteers (aged 16.8 ± 0.6 years) were divided into intervention (Sleep Education Program – SEP) and control groups. Sleep knowledge and habits were assessed by the “health and sleep” questionnaire. Also, the students filled out a sleep diary and the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale by one week (Stage 1). These procedures were repeated 3 weeks after the SEP (Stage 2) that was evaluated by a questionnaire. The SEP consisted of five 50‐minute classes to discuss the physiological and behavioral processes of sleep and healthy lifestyle. At Stage 2, the intervention group increased the percentage of correct responses in 63% of the questions. On weekdays, they increased time in bed by 26 min, woke up 11 min later and showed a tendency to go to bed 18 min earlier (P = 0.07). On weekends, they advanced bedtime and wake‐up times. These changes were associated with decreased irregularity at bedtimes and wake up times. These results were not observed in the control group, except the advance on wake up time on weekends. The frequency and duration of naps and daytime sleepiness levels did not differ between the stages for both groups. The SEP increased knowledge and contributed to positive changes in the adolescents' sleep‐wake cycle (SWC). However, daytime sleepiness levels remained unchanged probably due to an insufficient reduction on sleep deprivation to decrease its negative consequences.

The influence of a sleep education program (SEP) on the knowledge, habits, quality of sleep, and daytime sleepiness was evaluated in 40 Brazilian elementary and high school teachers [Groups: Experimental (EG=26)/Control (CG=14)]. The Health and Sleep questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and sleep logs were applied to both groups, at baseline and in reassessment three weeks after a SEP with the EG. The methodology of the SEP was based on the Meaningful Learning theory proposed by Ausubel, consisting of four fortnightly meetings, lasting 4h each. After the program, the EG showed an increase in sleep knowledge and a reduction in coffee consumption near bedtime. Besides, 17% of teachers improved sleep quality in this group. However, no changes occurred in sleep schedules and sleepiness. Nevertheless, the positive results reinforce the need for sleep education programs with teachers to spread sleep knowledge in schools and improve the sleep quality in these professionals.Keywords: sleep education; sleep quality; daytime sleepiness; teachers; health promotion. Após o programa, o GE aumentou os conhecimentos sobre sono e reduziu o relato de consumo de café próximo a dormir, com melhora na qualidade de sono em 17% dos professores. Embora não tenha havido diferenças nos horários de sono e sonolência, os resultados positivos reforçam a necessidade do desenvolvimento de programas educacionais sobre sono com professores para difusão do assunto nas escolas e melhora da qualidade do sono nestes profissionais. Resumo Efeito de um programa de educação sobre o sono no conhecimento e hábitos de sono em professores do ensino fundamental ePalavras-chaves: educação sobre o sono; qualidade de sono; sonolência diurna; professores; promoção da saúde. ResumenEfecto de un programa de educación sobre el sueño en el conocimiento y hábitos del sueño de los maestros. La influencia de un programa de educación sobre el sueño (PES) en los conocimientos, hábitos, calidad de sueño y somnolencia diurna fue evaluado en 40 maestros brasileños de educación básica [Grupos: Experimental (GE=26)/Control (GC=14)]. Los cuestionarios Salud y Sueño, Índice de calidad de sueño de Pittsburgh y diario del sueño se aplicaron en los grupos, antes y tres semanas después de un PES en el GE. El programa basado en la teoría del aprendizaje significativo consistió en cuatro sesiones de 4 horas/cada uno.Después del programa, el GE aumentó su conocimiento sobre el sueño y hubo una reducción en el consumo de café cerca de la hora de acostarse, con una mejora en la calidad del sueño en 17% de los maestros. Aunque no hubo diferencias en los horarios de sueño y la somnolencia, los resultados positivos refuerzan la necesidad de desarrollar programas educativos sobre el sueño con los maestros para difundir el tema en las escuelas y mejorar la calidad del sueño en estos profesionales.Palabras clave: educación sobre sueño; calidad de sueño; somnolencia diurna; maestros; promoción de la salud.