Occupational Therapy Practice in Sleep Management: A Review of Conceptual Models and Research Evidence.
Eris C M Ho, Andrew M H Siu
PMID 30150906WHAT IT FOUND
Sleep aids like weighted blankets and Dreampad pillows improved sleep duration and quality in people with autism or hospital patients.
Lifestyle changes and cognitive behavioral therapy also helped, but evidence is limited to 11 small studies with mixed designs.
Key findings
01Assistive devices such as weighted blankets and sleep-conducting pillows significantly improved sleep duration and reduced latency in participants with autism spectrum disorder and hospital inpatients.
02Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia and lifestyle interventions focusing on daytime activity rescheduling reduced sleep difficulties and nightmares in adults with PTSD and community-dwelling elderly.
03The review could not provide effect size estimates because only three randomized controlled trials were included, and their intervention methods and client groups varied widely.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
Only 11 studies were identified, limiting the generalizability of the findings. The studies used diverse designs (RCTs, case series, case studies) and heterogeneous populations, making direct comparison difficult. The review could not calculate effect sizes due to the small number of high-quality trials and methodological variations. Most studies were conducted in the United States and Canada, with no studies from Asian countries, potentially limiting cultural applicability. Information on specific occupational therapy assessment tools was limited in the reviewed literature.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these interventions are proven for the general population. The evidence comes from only 11 small studies with mixed designs and no effect size calculations, so these findings are preliminary and specific to the small groups studied (e.g., autism, PTSD, elderly).