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Background

People with advanced cancer often struggle with sleep problems. These issues can lead to bad moods, a lower quality of life, and even shorter survival times. Many patients wake up at night, but we don’t fully understand why.

Aims

This study looked at sleep patterns using devices that track movement, self-reported sleep troubles, and disruptions in sleep cycles. We compared a treatment group receiving a sleep intervention to a group that did not receive treatment.

Methods

Twenty-eight patients with advanced cancer participated in a short program called Finding Our Center Under Stress (FOCUS). This program aimed to improve sleep and reduce worries, depression, and fatigue. Participants filled out surveys and wore a sleep tracker for a week before and after the intervention.

Results

While there were no major differences between the groups in sleep tracking results, further analysis showed positive changes in sleep patterns for those in the FOCUS program. Key findings included:

Improved sleep efficiency
Fewer minutes awake after falling asleep
Reduced number of awakenings
Fewer daytime naps
Less activity during rest

Before the intervention, 61% of participants had insomnia, but this dropped to 18% after one year. Participants also reported fewer reasons for waking up at night.

Conclusions

Using multi-symptom treatments is important for lasting improvements in sleep for advanced cancer patients. The FOCUS program is among the first to show both self-reported and tracked sleep improvements, along with reductions in worry, depression, and fatigue. More research is needed to explore these findings further.

Future Steps

Based on the trial data, here are some recommendations:

Define Measurable Outcomes: Set clear goals for combining Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to improve sleep in patients.
Select AI Tools: Choose AI solutions that meet the specific needs of clinics and patients related to sleep management.
Implement Step by Step: Start with a pilot project and track the results using AI solutions to measure the real-world impact.