A Randomized Trial of a Self-Administered Parenting Intervention for Infant and Toddler Insomnia

Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2019 Jun;58(6):633-640. doi: 10.1177/0009922819832030. Epub 2019 Feb 19.

Abstract

Self-administered treatments may overcome access barriers to evidence-based care for pediatric sleep problems. Two hundred thirty-nine families participated in a randomized controlled trial with 3 study arms: a DVD intervention condition (the Sleep Easy Solution), a Website comparison condition, and a Wait-List comparison condition. The primary outcome was trichotomous-Do you consider your child's sleep a problem? (not a problem at all, a small problem, a very serious problem). DVD was superior to Wait-List in terms of the primary outcome ( P = .03; odds ratio = 0.44; 95% confidence interval = 0.21-0.93). Similarly, regarding secondary outcomes, DVD was superior to Wait-List in terms of longer continuous sleep periods ( P = .003), more favorable perceptions of the child's overall sleep ( P = .001), and higher parental confidence in managing the child's sleep ( P = .001). Results suggest that the DVD intervention is a promising self-administered treatment for pediatric insomnia.

Keywords: DVD; insomnia; pediatric; sleep; website.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Caregivers / education*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Parent-Child Relations
  • Parenting
  • Parents / education*
  • Prognosis
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / diagnosis
  • Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / therapy*
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / diagnosis
  • Sleep Wake Disorders / therapy*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Video Recording / methods*