Optimizing an eHealth insomnia intervention for children with neurodevelopmental disorders: a Delphi study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Sleep Medicine
• Digital Health Interventions
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Insomnia is prevalent in children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), impacting daytime functioning.
• Behavioral strategies are effective for childhood insomnia but face access barriers.
• Limited research exists on the usability and effectiveness of eHealth interventions for this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To achieve expert consensus on essential elements for an eHealth, parent-implemented intervention.
• To target improvements in sleep for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
• To identify priority components for a behaviorally-based insomnia intervention.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Delphi method for iterative expert consensus-building.
• Participants (n=27, 21, 18 across rounds) rated 131 recommendations.
• Assessed importance, consensus, and applicability across four NDD groups.

Main Results:

• Identified 52 high-importance, high-consensus priority items for the eHealth intervention.
• 84% of initial recommendations were deemed applicable across all four NDD groups.
• Demonstrated potential for a transdiagnostic intervention approach.

Conclusions:

• Established core components for an eHealth, parent-delivered intervention for pediatric insomnia in NDDs.
• The intervention shows promise for broad applicability across diverse neurodevelopmental conditions.
• Supports the development of accessible, transdiagnostic digital health solutions for childhood sleep issues.