Kim M Tan-MacNeill1, Isabel M Smith2, Shelly K Weiss3, Shannon A Johnson1, Jill Chorney4, Evelyn Constantin5, Sarah Shea6, Ana Hanlon-Dearman7, Cary A Brown8, Roger Godbout9, Osman Ipsiroglu10, Graham J Reid11, Penny V Corkum12. 1. Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Canada. 2. Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Canada; IWK Health Centre, Canada; Autism Research Centre, IWK Health Centre, Canada. 3. Division of Neurology, Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Canada. 4. Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Canada; IWK Health Centre, Canada; Department of Anesthesia, Pain, and Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie University, Canada; Centre for Pediatric Pain Research, IWK Health Centre, Canada. 5. Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Canada. 6. Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Canada; IWK Health Centre, Canada. 7. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Canada. 8. Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Alberta, Canada. 9. Department of Psychiatry, Université de Montréal, Canada. 10. Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Canada. 11. Department of Psychology, Western University, Canada; Department of Family Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, Canada; Department of Paediatrics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, Canada; Children's Health Research Institute & Lawson Health Research Institute, Canada. 12. Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Canada; IWK Health Centre, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, Canada. Electronic address: penny.corkum@dal.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Sleep problems, particularly insomnia, are highly prevalent in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) and can negatively affect health and development. eHealth interventions may increase access to evidence-based care for insomnia for children with NDD, as programs are rare in most communities. Better Nights, Better Days (BNBD) is an online, parent-implemented intervention for pediatric insomnia in typically developing 1- to 10-year-olds. AIMS: The present study examined whether parents of children with NDD perceived the original BNBD to be usable, acceptable, and feasible, and what modifications might be necessary to adapt it for children with NDD. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Twenty Canadian parents/caregivers of children aged 4-10 years with NDD and insomnia implemented the BNBD intervention with their children, and completed usability questionnaires. Questionnaire data were analyzed quantitatively (descriptive statistics) and qualitatively (thematic analysis). OUTCOMES AND RESULTS: Participants reported the intervention to be usable, useful, acceptable, and feasible. Several modifications were suggested to make the intervention more appropriate and acceptable for use with children with NDD. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Results support a largely transdiagnostic approach to treating sleep in children with NDD, and will inform the development of BNBD for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (BNBD-NDD).
BACKGROUND: Sleep problems, particularly insomnia, are highly prevalent in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) and can negatively affect health and development. eHealth interventions may increase access to evidence-based care for insomnia for children with NDD, as programs are rare in most communities. Better Nights, Better Days (BNBD) is an online, parent-implemented intervention for pediatric insomnia in typically developing 1- to 10-year-olds. AIMS: The present study examined whether parents of children with NDD perceived the original BNBD to be usable, acceptable, and feasible, and what modifications might be necessary to adapt it for children with NDD. METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Twenty Canadian parents/caregivers of children aged 4-10 years with NDD and insomnia implemented the BNBD intervention with their children, and completed usability questionnaires. Questionnaire data were analyzed quantitatively (descriptive statistics) and qualitatively (thematic analysis). OUTCOMES AND RESULTS:Participants reported the intervention to be usable, useful, acceptable, and feasible. Several modifications were suggested to make the intervention more appropriate and acceptable for use with children with NDD. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Results support a largely transdiagnostic approach to treating sleep in children with NDD, and will inform the development of BNBD for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (BNBD-NDD).