Veteran Acceptance of Sleep Health Information Technology: a Mixed-Method Study

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Health Informatics
• Veteran Health

Background:

• Sleep disturbances like insomnia and sleep apnea significantly impact US veterans' well-being.
• Underdiagnosis and undertreatment stem from limited clinician access and treatment time constraints.
• Sleep health information technologies may enhance access to assessment and treatment for veterans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the acceptance of sleep health information technologies among veterans with chronic insomnia.
• To evaluate the usability and perceived usefulness of remote sleep monitoring and management tools.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-method study combining data from two randomized controlled trials.
• 37 veterans with chronic insomnia used a WatchPAT sleep monitor and the CBT-i Coach mobile app for six weeks.
• Participants completed post-trial surveys and interviews.

Main Results:

• Veterans found the sleep health information technologies acceptable, easy to use, and useful.
• Participants reported a willingness to use these tools for future sleep management.
• The technologies demonstrated potential for remote assessment and management of veteran sleep issues.

Conclusions:

• Sleep health information technologies are an acceptable remote option for veterans with chronic insomnia.
• These tools can improve access to sleep assessment and management, addressing current healthcare gaps.
• Further integration of such technologies could benefit veteran sleep health outcomes.