Investigating Driver Sleepiness and Crash Risk in Young Drivers: A Randomized Control Trial to Optimise Sleep
Investigating the effect of a sleep scheduling intervention on driving risk in young drivers: A randomised control trial
Institute for Social Science Research - University of Queensland
210 participants
Aug 10, 2020
Interventional
Conditions
Summary
Road crashes are a major cause of death and disability for young Australians. Fatigue is a major contributor to road crash, and is primarily due to insufficient sleep. Young adults frequently lose sleep due to developmental, social, work, and education demands. This project uses a brief but potentially powerful behavioural program to extend habitual sleep, reduce sleepiness while driving, and reduce driving risk. The program could reduce the very high medical, social, and individual costs of road trauma.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria4
- Potential participants will be required to meet the following criteria;
- Regular driver with current Australian driver’s license (Provisional or Open)
- Sleep for less than 7hrs per night on average, and less than 6hrs per night on at least 2 occasions per week;
- Willing to make a change to a sleep or nutrition related lifestyle behaviour;
Exclusion Criteria9
- Currently working overnight shifts (i.e. any shifts falling between the hours of 12am – 6am);
- Have travelled across more than three time zones within the past three months or intend to travel within the first three months of the study;
- Have a current medically diagnosed sleep disorder (e.g. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea etc.);
- Have a current medically diagnosed eating disorder;
- Currently use medically prescribed stimulants, antidepressants, antianxiety, antipsychotic, mood stabilising medications, sleep medications or appetite suppressants;
- Currently use over-the-counter substances with psychoactive properties (e.g., Ginkgo Biloba, St. John’s Wort);
- Women who are pregnant or who are planning to become pregnant in the next 10 months;
- Parents or sole carers of a child;
- Regular smoker
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Interventions
The intervention consists of two parts, a sleep scheduling component and an educational component. Following a two week period of baseline naturalistic sleep assessment, the intervention group will be prescribed a 20% increase in time-in-bed, to be maintained for a period of three weeks. This new sleep time will be prescribed by a qualified sleep researcher. In the naturalistic sleep assessment, participants will answer will complete the daily sleep dairy for 14 days. During this time, the intervention group will also be asked to engage with a series of educational modules (4 x 10 minute videos covering the benefits of sleep, consequences of poor sleep, strategies for sleep management, and associated learning quizzes). The link for the education modules will be texted to the participants phone for easy access, they can view the video modules at any time but the quizzes will only be tested once and will be done through REDCAP. These education modules were developed by the research team and filmed on location. The overall intervention period is 5 weeks long and a 6 month follow up at the conclusion of the intervention period. The in-car assessment will involve an accelerometer that measures movement in three dimensions This device will be provided to participants during the initial session and will be secured in the boot space of their car. Participants are not required to undertake any special driving tasks while the device is in their car. The devices are programmed to record over the same duration as the intervention period.
Locations(1)
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ACTRN12621000132842