Effects of Sleep Hygiene Interventions on Sleep Disorders With Adults: A Scoping Review

PURPOSE: The purpose was to examine the use of sleep hygiene interventions for adults with sleep problems. Research questions explored types of sleep hygiene interventions, their effectiveness, and factors which influenced effectiveness. Adequate rest and sleep allow for successful participation in other areas of occupation (American Occupational Therapy Association [AOTA], 2020). DESIGN: A scoping review of the literature was conducted from 2016-2022 which included research articles published in English that addressed sleep hygiene interventions within occupational therapy's (OT's) scope of practice for persons aged 18+. METHOD: Arksey & O'Malley's (2005) five stages to conduct a scoping review were followed: 'identifying the research questions, identifying relevant studies, study selection, charting the data, and collating, summarizing, and reporting the results' (p. 22). Data were summarized using methods described by Juckett and Robinson (2018), including a descriptive numerical summary and thematic analysis. RESULTS: Common sleep hygiene interventions included the modification of the environment, habits, and routines. Interventions were classified by sleep preparation or sleep participation (AOTA, 2020), with most interventions being categorized under sleep preparation. Outcomes achieved included enhanced sleep duration and sleep efficacy, decreased nighttime awakenings and sleep disturbances, enhanced perceived sleep quality, lessened fatigue, and decreased insomnia severity, with 7 of 9 studies reporting statistically significant findings for one or more variables. Few study designs allowed for exploration of factors which may influence the effectiveness of the interventions presented. CONCLUSION: Various sleep hygiene interventions, all within OT's scope of practice, are effective in improving sleep in adults with sleep problems. The results provide evidence of the effectiveness of OT's role in addressing the occupation of rest and sleep.