A feasibility study: Use of actigraph to monitor and follow-up sleep/wake patterns in individuals attending community pharmacy with sleeping disorders

Abstract

Introduction:Community pharmacists are in a suitable position to give advice and provide appropriate services related to sleep disorders to individuals who are unable to easily access sleep clinics. An intervention with proper objective measure can be used by the pharmacist to assist in consultation.Objectives:The study objectives are to evaluate: (1) The effectiveness of a community pharmacy-based intervention in managing sleep disorders and (2) the role of actigraph as an objective measure to monitor and follow-up individuals with sleeping disorders.Methods and Instruments:The intervention care group (ICG) completed questionnaires to assess sleep scale scores (Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS] and Insomnia Severity Index [ISI]), wore a wrist actigraph, and completed a sleep diary. Sleep parameters (sleep efficiency in percentage [SE%], total sleep time, sleep onset latency, and number of nocturnal awakenings) from actigraphy sleep report were used for consultation and to validate sleep diary. The usual care group (UCG) completed similar questionnaires but received standard care.Results:Pre- and post-mean scores for sleep scales and sleep parameters were compared between and within groups. A significant difference was observed when comparing pre- and post-mean scores for ISI in the ICG, but not for ESS. For SE%, an increase was found in the number of subjects rated as “good sleepers” at post-assessment in the ICG.Conclusions:ISI scores offer insights into the development of a community pharmacy-based intervention for sleeping disorders, particularly in those with symptoms of insomnia. It also demonstrates that actigraph could provide objective sleep/wake data to assist community pharmacists during the consultation.

Lifting lockdown COVID19 restrictions: What can pharmacists do as the world wakes up?

“…There is evidence exploring pharmacists' roles in supporting sleep. 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 Research has shown that pharmacists can identify, screen, and manage sleep conditions as autonomous practitioners. There is an opportunity here to help people with existing sleep disorders developing during lockdown or identifying those at risk of developing it during the easing of restrictions.…”

Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Biomedical Perspective

“…19 Recent research has suggested that actigraph may be able to provide objective sleep/wake data to assist the CPs during consultation, which is useful for CPs as it would result in the generation of graphical data and most importantly, it would overcome the obstacle of poor self-reporting. 20 It is important to recognize that actigraphy does not represent a substitute for the in-laboratory PSG in case of indication for in-laboratory testing. " Although AASM has provided recommendations regarding the usefulness and classification of the diagnostic methods that serve as alternatives to a complete PSG, no guidelines have been provided regarding the 'screening' and currently, no screening tools have been recommended.…”