Mobile phone sleep self-management applications for early start shift workers: A scoping review of the literature

Poor sleep has significant impacts on both mental and physical well-being. This is especially the case for shift workers who rely on good sleep practices to manage the disruption caused by their working conditions. In recent years there has been a proliferation of sleep-focused mobile phone applications, some of which may be suitable for use by shift workers. There is limited evidence however, on whether these applications are sufficient in managing the sleep needs of the early start shift working population (i.e., those whose work schedules begin pre-dawn). This scoping review aims to identify and discuss peer-reviewed literature on mobile sleep applications used by early start shift workers for sleep-self management. Four databases (Scopus, EBSCOhost, CINAHL and PsycInfo) were searched for relevant literature using a pre-determined search string. The initial search using the term early start shift work returned no papers, however a broadened search on shift work in general found 945 papers for title and abstract screening, of which 21 were deemed eligible for full text screening. Two of these papers met the inclusion criteria for this review. The results highlight, firstly, the paucity of research on the use of mobile phone applications for sleep self-management amongst early start shift workers, and secondly, the need for further research on the effectiveness of mobile applications for sleep self-management amongst shift workers in general. A working definition of early start shift work that can be used to stimulate research in this understudied population of shift workers is also proposed.