Update on school-based sleep education programs: how far have we come and what has Australia contributed to the field?

Healthy sleep for healthy schools: A pilot study of a sleep education resource to improve adolescent sleep

“…Findings are consistent with some previous studies showing improved sleep hygiene measures post program participation 29,30,40 . Sleep knowledge was also found to significantly improve following the HS4HS program, which promisingly has been a common finding across the majority of school‐based sleep education studies conducted to date 20 . Significant commentary has been undertaken on the need for an increase in sleep knowledge if healthy sleep practices are to be improved 20,22,32 .…”

“…Participants are thought to have more volitional control over time in bed compared with sleep duration, which makes it an important variable in evaluating school‐based sleep education programs. A recent review identified that similarly, approximately half of the studies published to date have seen no significant changes to subjectively measured sleep behaviours 20 . Given that changes to sleep timing on both school days and weekends did not significantly change, it is perhaps expected that the current study also did not find any significant changes in self‐reported sleepiness.…”

“…24,26,[28][29][30] In contrast, both Kira et al 31 Multiple reviews have identified factors that might maximise success in sleep education programs. 18,20,22,32 Factors include motivation to change behaviour, appropriate theoretical underpinnings and integration of sleep into a whole of school approach across curriculum. One factor that has consistently been identified in previous reviews is the need for programs to be delivered by trained teachers rather than sleep researchers or clinicians.…”

“…The consequences of poor sleep and the need to improve sleep has led to the development of school-based sleep education programs because there is a general understanding that increasing knowledge can lead to positive changes in sleep behaviour. 5,[20][21][22] The format of sleep education programs that have been delivered to date include educational leaflets, 2-hour one-off interventions, weekly teaching sessions and month-long programs, and often include resources, activities or workbooks to reinforce classroom learning. [23][24][25] The effec- 24,[26][27][28] while some have not.…”

“…Multiple reviews have identified factors that might maximise success in sleep education programs 18,20,22,32 . Factors include motivation to change behaviour, appropriate theoretical underpinnings and integration of sleep into a whole of school approach across curriculum.…”