This is a pilot randomized controlled study that aims to develop CircaHealth: an online course on practices, known as circadian hygiene, that promote circadian rhythm alignment and minimize circadian rhythm misalignment. The project also will determine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of CircaHealth in improving circadian rhythm related measures in University of Miami Miller School of Medicine medical students.
The educational videos will be incorporated into a six-module online course which contains additional educational and behavior modification tools. Medical students (n = 40) will be recruited via email and randomized to receive CircaHealth or materials from the National Sleep Foundation and/or the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. Sleep, mood, and circadian hygiene knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes will be assessed at baseline and four weeks post intervention. Feasibility will be determined by CircaHealth module completion rates, and acceptability will be assessed via a self-report survey. Changes in sleep quality measures between groups will determine the preliminary efficacy of CircaHealth.
