Sleep health education and a personalized smartphone application improve sleep and productivity and reduce healthcare utilization among employees: Results of a randomized clinical trial

Abstract

Sleep deficiency and undiagnosed or untreated sleep disorders are pervasive among employed adults, yet often ignored in the context of workplace health promotion programs among employers. Smartphone applications (app) are a promising, scalable approach to improving sleep among employees. In this randomized clinical trial, we evaluate the dayzz app, a personalized sleep training program that promotes healthy sleep and sleep disorders awareness through personalized, comprehensive sleep improvement solutions. In a sample of daytime employees affiliated with a large healthcare organization, we evaluated the dayzz app in a parallel-group, randomized, waitlist control trial. Participants were randomly assigned to either use the dayzz app throughout the study or the waitlist control condition where they would receive the dayzz app at the end of the study period. We collected data on employee sleep (e.g., sleep duration, sleep health behavioral changes); workplace outcomes (e.g., employee presenteeism, absenteeism, and performance); and healthcare utilization (e.g., mental health, ambulatory visits, and emergency room visits), throughout the study. Results show that those assigned to the experimental condition exhibited an increase in healthy sleep behaviors; an increase in sleep duration; a trend toward a more regular sleep schedule; and a significant increase in overall sleep quality. Regarding workplace outcomes, results showed that those in the experimental condition also demonstrated a trend toward less absenteeism and significantly lower presenteeism; and those in the experimental condition reported lower healthcare utilization. Results from this randomized clinical trial demonstrate that a workplace sleep wellness program can be beneficial to both the employee and employer.