Examining the efficacy of a sleep-wake management tool for younger and older shift workers

Consenting nurses (i.e., individuals undertaking shift work) will receive access to a digital, app-based tool that delivers personalised recommendations for sleep and wake behaviours based on their shift schedules and other personal commitments. The primary strategy from the app includes a sleep-wake schedule (such as: sleep from 10 pm to 7 am, minimum sleep duration of 8 hours in 24 hour period). Other strategies include actionable insights, such as "consume caffeine in xx hours" or "avoid light at xx hours" based on shift timings and personal commitments of the user. Participants will be recommended to engage with the app for approximately five minutes during the day. The app has been designed co-designed with shift workers from healthcare and defence to provide sleep and lifestyle support based on their operational needs. • Part 1: Baseline testing to identify sleep patterns – Two weeks Prior to the start of the study, participants will be provided with the instructions on how to download and use the app for the first. Once the app is downloaded, it will provide participants with a walkthrough of its features and how participants can add or access shift work related information. At the start of the first two weeks of the study, participants will receive access to limited features of the app. We will request participants to use these features to record participants bedtime and waketime every day (~2 minutes daily). During the baseline testing period, participants will also be requested to complete: a) an online questionnaire on sleep, chronotype (i.e., participants body clock) and mental health (once only, ~20 minutes), and b) cognitive testing (up to four times, ~8 minutes each time). The questionnaire can be completed using an online link. Participants can complete cognitive testing at the start and end of participants shifts using an iPad. • Part 2: Using strategies delivered by the app – Up to six weeks After the first two weeks of the study, participants will receive access to all features of the app. Participants are requested to engage with the app daily to receive strategies and attempt to follow them to the best of participants abilities. During this period, participants will continue to record participants bedtime and waketime every day (~2 minutes daily). Researchers may also request participants to provide a sleep report from participants smartwatch – this will be optional. • Part 3: Mid and End of the study testing During the halfway point of the study (week 4), participants will be requested to complete a short questionnaire on sleep and mood (~5 minutes). Participants will also be requested to complete cognitive testing at the same time during participants shifts as the baseline (up to four times, ~8 minutes each time). At the end of the study, participants will be requested to complete the same questionnaire and cognitive tests from the baseline, which will help us explore any potential changes in sleep and performance following the use of the app. We will also request any feedback on participants' experience using the app, which will help us improve the design and functionalities of the prototype. Participants' adherence to sleep recommendations will be monitored passively, through their responses about bedtime and waketime noted using the sleep diary feature of the app. Engagement with the app will be explored passively by measuring the average minutes of interaction with the app every day.