Evaluation, par actimétrie et tenue d'un agenda, d'un programme de formation du sommeil chez les seniors. Étude-pilote

Insomnia and poor sleep quality are common among the elderly. In an attempt to improve quality of life, the effects of behavioural recommendations focused on sleep hygiène were tested on subjective and objective sleep parameters. Participants were 2 men and 4 women, aged 68 to 76 years (mean 71 years), living in Paris or a nearby suburb. This group was first informed on the goal of the study and then taught how to keep a sleep diary and to wear a wrist actimeter. Every participant then fulfilled thèse conditions for nine consécutive nights and days. Once the resulting data from diaries and actigraphy were analyzed, the subjects were invited for a day of information on the results of their own records and for training on sleep hygiène. One month later, actimeters and sleep diaries were mailed to the participants for a new period of nine nights and days. Data were then compared on a paired basis between the two periods. Considering objective parameters assessed by actimetry, mean duration of sleep was increased by 32 minutes, without change in sleep efficiency. Analysis of diaries showed that subjective sleep quality, morning dynamism and lucidity were all improved. This preliminary study on a limited sample suggests that training on sleep hygiène may improve objective as well as subjective sleep parameters of elderly subjects.