Acceptability of an online intervention for insomnia in children with neurodevelopmental disorders

Kim M Tan-MacNeill; Isabel M Smith; Penny V Corkum

doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104423

Acceptability of an online intervention for insomnia in children with neurodevelopmental disorders

Res Dev Disabil. 2023 Mar:134:104423. doi: 10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104423. Epub 2023 Jan 12.

Authors

Kim M Tan-MacNeill¹, Isabel M Smith², Penny V Corkum³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Life Sciences Centre, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2 Canada. Electronic address: k.tanmacneill@dal.ca.
² Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Life Sciences Centre, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2 Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, 5850 University Avenue, P.O. Box 9700, Halifax, NS, B3K 6R8 Canada; IWK Health Centre, 5980 University Ave, Halifax, NS, B3K 6R8 Canada. Electronic address: Isabel.smith@iwk.nshealth.ca.
³ Department of Psychology & Neuroscience, Dalhousie University, Life Sciences Centre, 1355 Oxford Street, Halifax, NS, B3H 4R2 Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, 5850 University Avenue, P.O. Box 9700, Halifax, NS, B3K 6R8 Canada; IWK Health Centre, 5980 University Ave, Halifax, NS, B3K 6R8 Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Dalhousie University, 5909 Veterans' Memorial Lane, 8th Floor, Abbie J. Lane Memorial Building, QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax, NS, B3H 2E2 Canada. Electronic address: penny.corkum@dal.ca.

PMID: 36640741
DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104423

Abstract

Background: Most children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) experience insomnia. Online interventions may provide a way to reduce barriers to treatment access.

Aims: We explored whether parents of children with NDDs and their health care professionals (HCPs) perceived an online insomnia intervention as acceptable and the perceived pros and cons of this intervention delivery method.

Methods and procedures: Participants included 43 parents of children with NDDs and 44 HCPs who work with children with NDDs. During focus groups/interviews participants shared their perceptions of a hypothetical online insomnia intervention. Responses were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and codes were grouped into pros and cons.

Outcomes and results: Parents and HCPs reported similar pros and cons. Pros focused on the intervention's accessibility, credibility, usability, usefulness, and design, whereas cons focused on feasibility of implementation. Participants felt that external support (e.g., an online coach) would improve the intervention's acceptability.

Conclusions and implications: Overall, the majority of parents and HCPs perceived an online intervention for insomnia as acceptable but concerns about implementation were noted and need to be taken into account when developing online interventions.

Keywords: Barriers; Children; EHealth; Insomnia; Neurodevelopmental disorders; Online intervention.

MeSH terms

Child
Focus Groups
Humans
Internet-Based Intervention*
Neurodevelopmental Disorders* / therapy
Parents
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders* / therapy