Evaluation of a tactile breath pacer for sleep problems: A mixed method pilot study

Area of Science:

• Sleep Science
• Digital Health
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Sleep problems, including insomnia, are widespread and linked to significant health risks, necessitating effective interventions.
• Breathing exercises are recognized as a viable treatment for insomnia, and technology can enhance their delivery.
• Assessing the effectiveness and usability of new technological aids for breathing guidance is crucial for their adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the acceptability and usability of a novel mobile tactile breathing device.
• To explore the impact of this device on subjective sleep quality in a real-world setting.
• To provide recommendations for the development of future eHealth breathing technologies.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-method pilot study involving 39 participants over one month.
• Participants used a mobile tactile breathing device and accompanying app in naturalistic settings.
• Data collection included pre-post surveys on user experience, device/app usability, and subjective sleep quality.

Main Results:

• The tactile breathing device was found to be an acceptable solution for sleep problems, with users appreciating its standalone function and design.
• Participants identified areas for improvement, such as the device's size.
• Exploratory analysis indicated an improvement in subjective sleep quality after device usage.

Conclusions:

• The tactile breath pacer demonstrates good usability and acceptability for individuals experiencing sleep problems.
• Preliminary evidence suggests this technology positively impacts subjective sleep quality.
• Findings offer valuable insights for developers of eHealth and breathing guidance technologies.