Evening Screen Content and Sleep Architecture in Older Adults: Crossover RCT

NCT ID: NCT07001514

Last Updated: 2025-06-03

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

50 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-08-31

Study Completion Date

2026-12-31

Brief Summary

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Title

The Effect of Evening Technology Use with Calming vs. Exciting Content on Sleep Architecture in Older Adults: A Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

The study explores how evening use of digital devices with different types of content (calming vs. exciting) affects sleep in older adults. While technology's effects on sleep have been studied in younger populations, its specific impacts on older adults remain under-researched. This study fills that gap by focusing on subjective and objective sleep measures.

Objectives and Research Questions

Objective: Compare the effects of calming digital content, exciting digital content, and non-digital activities on sleep architecture.

Key Questions:

How does content type impact sleep architecture and quality? Does calming content lead to better sleep outcomes than exciting content? Are there subjective differences in sleep quality across conditions?

Detailed Description

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This study will compare the effects of watching calming (nature documentaries), playing exciting digital games like Ruzzle, and reading a physical book on older adults' subjective and objective sleep quality. This will be a randomized crossover trial. The investigators will exclude participants with diagnosed sleep disorders, Severe cognitive impairment, Use of sleep-affecting medications such as melatonin or benzodiazepines, or Irregular sleep schedules. A sample size of approximately 50 participants (49-51) will be recruited.

All the participants will have all three intervention periods with washout periods in between. During every intervention week, participants will fill out a quick nightly log about their sleep and what tech they used (smartphone, tablet, or a laptop/computer). During sleep, they will wear a comfy EEG headband measuring their sleep stages.

Because everyone eventually does all three conditions, the investigators can compare each person's own results and get more precise answers with fewer people.

The investigators will analyze the data and perform a statistical analysis. The study will be reported in the manuscript and published in a reputable journal.

Conditions

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Sleep

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

Primary Study Purpose

SCREENING

Blinding Strategy

SINGLE

Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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Calming Digital Content

Participants will watch calming digital content - specifically, nature documentaries narrated by Sir David Attenborough - for 30 to 60 minutes within one hour before bedtime. Sleep outcomes will be assessed using EEG recordings and subjective sleep quality logs.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Calming digital content

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants watch a curated selection of soothing documentaries narrated by Sir David Attenborough for 30-60 minutes each evening during one hour before bedtime.

Exciting Digital Content

Participants will engage with exciting digital content by playing the word-based game Ruzzle for 30 to 60 minutes within one hour before bedtime. Sleep outcomes will be evaluated using EEG measurements and subjective sleep assessments.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Exciting Digital Content

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants engage with the interactive word-based game Ruzzle for 30-60 minutes each evening during one hour before bedtime, designed to provide mental stimulation.

Non-Digital Pre-Sleep Activity

Participants will engage in a non-digital activity by reading a physical, non-fiction book of their choice for 30 to 60 minutes within one hour before bedtime. No digital screens will be used. Sleep outcomes will be monitored via EEG data and self-reported sleep quality measures.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Non-digital book reading

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Participants read a non-fiction book of their choice for the same duration, avoiding all digital screens during one hour before bedtime before bedtime.

Interventions

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Calming digital content

Participants watch a curated selection of soothing documentaries narrated by Sir David Attenborough for 30-60 minutes each evening during one hour before bedtime.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Exciting Digital Content

Participants engage with the interactive word-based game Ruzzle for 30-60 minutes each evening during one hour before bedtime, designed to provide mental stimulation.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Non-digital book reading

Participants read a non-fiction book of their choice for the same duration, avoiding all digital screens during one hour before bedtime before bedtime.

Intervention Type BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

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digital nature documentary Digital Ruzzle Game book reading

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

1. Age 60 - 75 years
2. Regular evening use of digital devices (e.g., smartphones or tablets)
3. Willing and able to wear an EEG headband for sleep monitoring throughout the intervention

Exclusion Criteria

1. Diagnosed sleep disorder
2. Severe cognitive impairment
3. Current use of medications that significantly influence sleep (e.g., melatonin, benzodiazepines)
Minimum Eligible Age

60 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

75 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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Blekinge Institute of Technology

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Peter Anderberg, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Blekinge Institute of Technology

Locations

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Blekinge Institute of Technology

Karlskrona, Blekinge County, Sweden

Site Status

Countries

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Sweden

Central Contacts

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Peter Anderberg, PhD

Role: CONTACT

+46734223736

Sarah Nauman Ghazi, MD| M.Sc. | Fil. Licentiate

Role: CONTACT

+46706604935

Facility Contacts

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Johan Sanmartin Berglund

Role: primary

+46 (0) 455-385471

Other Identifiers

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BTH-6.1.1-0093-2025

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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