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Publications

Journal Article Ppublish 2 citations

PubMed: 39082825 DOI: 10.1080/15402002.2024.2386606

Project Sandman: A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of a Group-Based Brief Sleep Intervention in Air Force Technical Training.

Behav Sleep Med 22(6):910-920

Authors: J M Ellis, R A Estevez Burns, I Mallawaarachchi, X-Q Wang, C A Aycock, A E Krunnfusz, J R Jones, J A Blue Star, M A Patience, D G Cassidy, D J Taylor, R C Klesges, G W Talcott

Affiliations

  • 59th Medical Wing, Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland, United States Air Force, Wilford Hall Ambulatory Surgical Center.
  • Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia, School of Medicine Charlottesville, USA.
  • United States Air Force, 37th Human Performance Squadron, Joint Base San Antonio - Lackland, USA.
  • United States Air Force Wright-Patterson Medical Center, 88th Medical Group, Wright-Patterson AFB, USA.
  • United States Air Force, 66th Medical Squadron, Hanscom Air Force Base, USA.
  • 316th Medical Group, United States Air Force, Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center, Joint Base Andrews, USA.
  • Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tuscon, AZ, USA.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES

Approximately 70% of the military personnel experience chronic sleep insufficiency, which negatively impacts military readiness and health. Military sleep health does not appear to be improving despite targeted programs to optimize sleep. The present quasi-experimental study aims to evaluate a single-session sleep intervention in United States Air Force (USAF) Technical Training.

METHOD

A group-based Brief Sleep Intervention (BSI) was developed for the target population. Participants included 321 technical school students (Mean age = 21; 82% male; 67% White) who were assigned to the BSI ( = 203) or a control group ( = 118). Propensity-score-weighted multivariable logistic regression was employed to compare outcomes.

RESULTS

At the 2-week follow-up, students in the BSI were significantly more likely to report sleeping 6 or more hours on weekdays (OR = 1.49,  < .001) and "Good/Very Good" sleep quality (OR = 1.50,  = .032) than those in the control group. In addition, 69.2% of the students in BSI reported having engaged in the self-selected "Action Step" chosen during the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

To our knowledge, this is the first study to test a preventative sleep intervention in USAF Technical Training. Results suggest that a single-session group intervention can promote behavioral changes and improve sleep health.

MeSH

Military Personnel, Sleep, Air, Sleep Wake Disorders