Background
Sleep initiation and maintenance disorders are common among school children. Such sleep problems in children can cause mental and physical health impairments, including susceptibility to infections and other medical issues.
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak beginning 2019/2020 has become a global pandemic. In order to reduce disease spread, citizens of all countries were required to stay at home (lockdown). For children and families this was associated with extended kindergarten and school closures. The side effects of lockdown were hypothesized to be extensive and include sleep problems, heightened stress, anxiety, and other outcomes. Dellagiulia et al. [
5] examined the impact on children’s sleep quality. They evaluated inter- and intraindividual daily variation of preschooler’s sleep duration and quality over 4 weeks. They found that at the beginning of lockdown, parents reported more challenging bedtime routines and a decrease in children’s sleep quality. Subsequently, sleep routine and sleep quality stabilized at a lower level. Furthermore, sleep duration decreased and then stabilized as well. However, sufficient and healthy sleep of high quality is important for the immune system [
4]. Therefore, sleep interventions to support family wellbeing should be implemented from early on—especially during a pandemic situation such as COVID-19. To support health care services during this critical phase, a task force of the European Academy for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) formulated practical sleep-related recommendations [
3]. The efficiency of cognitive CBT‑I for infants and young children with sleep problems has been tested in various studies [
11,
12,
17]. However, data on age-oriented CBT‑I treatment of sleep problems in children is still sparse and the number of studies concerning CBT‑I for children is quite low [
6,
9]. In the authors’ previous work, they evaluated the long-term effectiveness of a CBT‑I program in groups for children with insomnia aged 5–10 years. The acceptance and efficiency was assessed in an early pilot study of the KiSS (
Training for Kinder mit Schlaf-Störungen; [
20]) as were long-term effects of this CBT‑I group treatment containing CBT‑I and imaginary or hypnotherapeutic elements [
16]. However, there are only sparse possibilities for treating sleep-disordered children without face-to-face interaction. A review found only six studies concerning web-based treatments for children and their parents in the form of a multicomponent intervention. In these studies, interventions for children were parent focused. However, telehealth interventions may represent a future direction to reduce barriers and problems of delivery regarding adequate treatments for sleep problems in children. Due to the SARS-CoV‑2 crisis, new treatment approaches based on evaluated studies are necessary to help from early on. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there is no evaluated online group treatment available that provides scientifically based and age-oriented information and behavioral strategies for parents and children. Therefore, the overall objective of the current study was to develop and examine the acceptance, adherence, and efficacy of an iCBT‑I group treatment for sleep disturbances for children aged 5–10 years and their parents. Based on previous studies concerning KiSS, the authors wanted to adapt the CBT‑I group training to an internet-based CBT‑I (iCBT-I) group treatment. The adaptation procedure and acceptance are described precisely and the first effects evaluated exploratively.
The study hypotheses were (1) that the treatment would be well accepted by parents, (2) that the video elements would be age oriented, (3) that the treatment would be well accepted by trainers, and (4) that the treatment would improve the sleep and mental health of children.
Results
From the N = 12 parents with 6 children participating in the iCBT‑I KiSS training, feedback data regarding online treatment were available from all parents. In addition, parents of four children returned the CSHQ and the CBCL 4-18.
The core concern was to evaluate the acceptance of online KiSS in an iCBT‑I group format from the perspective of parents and trainers. Therefore, the following sections firstly describe the results of OSTA and OSTF regarding acceptance of online KiSS. In addition, the trainers’ feedback forms concerning adherence and feasibility are presented. Concerning sleep and emotional health, pre- and postmeasurement data of families who returned the postmeasurement questionnaires (n = 4) are presented. Therefore, the results of the pilot study are presented in a descriptive manner.
Acceptance
To measure acceptance, parents rated all topics of online KiSS with the OSTA on a five-point Likert scale. In sum, more than 80% of parents rated most modules as adequate, 74.9% found tips and tricks concerning sleep problem-solving helpful, and 91% found the group format very helpful. More than 50% rated the online format as comfortable.
Videos were rated by 75% of parents as helpful for them as parents. Further detailed feedback is presented in Table
2.
Table 2
Results of the OSTA (N = 11 parents completed the questionnaire)
The topics of the sessions were important | – | – | 16.7% | 41.7% | 33.3% |
Theoretical and practical knowledge was presented in an easy way | – | – | – | 58.3% | 33.3% |
Our family situation and circumstances were well considered | – | – | – | 58.3% | 33.3% |
I got answers to my questions | – | – | 8.3% | 41.7% | 41.7% |
I received recommendations for daily routine | – | – | 8.3% | 8.3% | 75% |
We had practical exercises | – | – | 16.7% | 41.7% | 33.3% |
I received concrete tips, help, and advice for home training | – | – | 16.7% | 41.7% | 33.3% |
I felt comfortable in the group | – | – | 16.7% | 58.3% | 16.7% |
We had enough time to exchange experiences | – | – | – | 83.3% | 8.3% |
This session motivated me to work on our sleep problem | – | – | 8.3% | 41.7% | 41.7% |
I am fond of the online version of the sleep training | 8.3% | – | 8.3% | 50% | – |
Qualitative feedback (open-answer format)
Parents also filled in the qualitative field of the questionnaire. The following remarks were given:
“My child was very fond of the videos and Kalimba was very well accepted,” “The discussion was very helpful despite the video format,” “Although there were technical burdens, the online format was very good,” “As the training was online, I saved some time,” “My child was able to learn very efficiently with the videos and could transfer strategies into daytime practice.”
In addition to the contents of the training, the implemented videos were also evaluated in detail. Most of the parents and their children liked the videos. They scored them as helpful for teaching their children the sleep strategies. However, while one third did not use the consultation hours to ask questions, more than 90% rated the materials as useful. Detailed results regarding the OSTF are presented in Table
3.
Table 3
Parental reports of video interventions (N = 12)
We (parents) liked the videos | – | – | 25% | 58.1% | 16.7% |
My child liked the videos | – | – | 25% | 50% | 25% |
The videos were helpful for us (parents) to teach our child and implement the strategies into daily routine | – | – | – | 75% | 25% |
The videos helped our child to practice the recommended strategies | – | – | 33.3% | 50% | 16.7% |
Our child liked training the strategies in the videos | – | – | 16.7% | 75% | 8.3% |
Instructions for us (parents) were clear and understandable so that we could train our child easily | – | – | 25% | 75% | – |
For questions regarding videos and materials we used the virtual KiSS consultation hours | 33.3% | – | – | 33.3% | 25% |
The materials were useful for training our children | – | – | 8.3% | 91.7% | – |
Adherence and acceptance of trainers
Regarding the results of the Adherence and Feasibility Questionnaire for Online Sleep Treatment (AFOST), a total of N = 2 trainers conducted the iCBT‑I trainings. Each of them completed the AFOST anonymously. Overall, trainers rated the elements of the online adaptation as effective and were able to conduct the training in the groups. Besides, both felt comfortable in the groups. However, more time for group discussion was recommended in addition to an esthetical adaptation of the videos (camera position).
Detailed feedback of the trainers regarding their perspective of families is presented in Tables
4 and
5.
Table 4
Trainer 1 ratings
Parents were fond of the topics | – | – | – | – | X |
We could teach theoretical and practical knowledge in an understandable way | – | – | – | – | X |
Parents could understand theoretical and practical knowledge | – | – | – | X | – |
We could address the families individually | – | – | – | – | X |
Parents reported that we addressed their personal situation | – | – | – | – | X |
We were able to answer their questions | – | – | – | – | X |
We could give advice and recommendations | – | – | – | – | X |
Parents trained the strategies | – | – | – | X | – |
Parents watched the videos with their children and discussed them | – | – | – | X | – |
We could give concrete advice for transfer into daily routine | – | – | – | – | X |
I felt comfortable in the groups | – | – | – | – | X |
They had enough time to discuss and exchange experiences | – | – | – | – | X |
The parents were motivated to work on the sleep problem after the training | – | – | – | X | – |
The videos were easy to conduct | – | – | – | X | – |
The online version was easy to implement | – | – | – | X | – |
We could easily follow the manual (adherence) | – | – | – | – | X |
The training was easy to conduct | – | – | – | – | X |
The videos were age oriented | – | – | – | – | X |
Table 5
Trainer 2 ratings
Parents were fond of the topics | – | – | – | X | – |
We could teach theoretical and practical knowledge in an understandable way | – | – | – | – | X |
Parents could understand theoretical and practical knowledge | – | – | – | X | – |
We could address the families individually | – | – | – | – | X |
Parents reported that we addressed their personal situation | – | – | – | – | X |
We were able to answer their questions | – | – | – | – | X |
We could give advice and recommendations | – | – | – | – | X |
Parents trained the strategies | – | – | – | X | – |
Parents watched the videos with their children and discussed them | – | – | – | X | – |
We could give concrete advice for transfer into daily routine | – | – | – | X | – |
I felt comfortable in the groups | – | – | – | – | X |
They had enough time to discuss and exchange experiences | – | – | – | – | X |
The parents were motivated to work on the sleep problem after the training | – | – | – | X | – |
The videos were easy to conduct | – | – | X | – | – |
The online version was easy to implement | – | – | – | X | – |
We could easily follow the manual (adherence) | – | – | – | – | X |
The training was easy to conduct | – | – | – | X | – |
The videos were age oriented | – | – | – | – | X |
Recommendations for improvements (open-answer format)
Trainer suggestions for improvement were the following: “more time for discussion in the groups,” “videos could be nicer with more precise image sections,” “more time at the end of the sessions to instruct parents as co-trainers.”
First effects
Besides feasibility, acceptance, and adherence, the sleep-related effect was also evaluated in this pilot study. Therefore, sleep-related feedback was assessed by trainers and sleep changes were scored on the CSHQ and via sleep items of the CBCL. In addition, mental health based on the CBCL is reported, pre–post data are presented:
All in all, 67% of the children slept better after the training according to parental report based on clinical interview. Insomnia severity decreased to a nonclinical level. The mean score in the CSHQ decreased from mean (M) = 51.6 to M = 44.6 after online training. Mental health based on the CBCL was at M = 61 prior to online treatment and M = 58.3 after training.
Discussion
As new approaches to sleep help are required—especially due to the corona crisis—an online version of an established child-oriented group CBT‑I would be beneficial. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to develop an online treatment for parents of children aged 5 to 10 years suffering from insomnia. First of all, the authors wanted to explore the acceptance and feasibility of such a treatment from the parental perspective. In addition, the experiences and adherence of the trainers was also to be explored. Besides these main topics, sleep-related effects were also assessed based on interview data, questionnaires, and mental health. The current study adapted a well-established group sleep treatment (KiSS) for children and their parents to a group iCBT‑I treatment. Furthermore, the authors wanted to reduce barriers for various families to enter sleep intervention and help to prevent chronification. Overall, the adapted version of the KiSS treatment—also in a group format—was well accepted by the families. Most scored the treatment as helpful regarding the child’s sleep problems.
The results of this study indicate that the internet-adapted group intervention of KiSS is very well accepted by parents and trainers. Most parents would recommend the treatment to other families, reported being able to deal with their children’s sleep-related problems after training, and scored the videos as helpful and age oriented. These results are in line with the Mini-KiSS online treatment addressing parents of younger children [
17]. Furthermore, the results showed that the treatment succeeded in improving sleep problems according to parents and trainers. However, the CSHQ scores were still above the cut-off of 41 directly after training.
The online KiSS intervention addressed not only parents with parental behavior strategies but also provided information about children’s sleep and train-to-train recommendations. In online sessions, parents were instructed to identify difficult sleep-related situations and received parental behavior recommendations concerning their child’s sleep problem (like Mini-KiSS), but online KiSS group training also implemented child-oriented elements due to the videos. In addition, effective child-oriented therapeutic strategies such as role play, coping model, and implementation of reward systems could be adapted in online KiSS. However, in contrast to the evaluated KiSS treatment [
16], no children sessions were included. Child-oriented parts were delegated to the parents. Furthermore, in contrast to another study [
10], all parents participated in the same structured online group intervention without any additional or varied treatment conditions.
According to more than 90% of the parents, the materials were helpful for changing their child’s sleep problems. In addition, all rated the videos as helpful for changing the sleep problem. These results are in line with others showing that the Internet is often used as a source of sleep-related information. First hints were found that parents of children are able to function as cotrainers to instruct their children and help them to sleep better with age-oriented supportive materials and specific parental training. In contrast to other studies, the study at hand was an online group intervention. Most of the previous published studies focused on younger children and/or were based on the individual treatment condition and not in groups [
10,
17]. Beyond this, the current findings widen the results concerning other age groups such as adults demonstrating the efficacy of an Internet-based intervention [
14,
21,
22].
As a specific age group (school children) showing a high prevalence of sleep problems [
18] and their parents were addressed, early intervention and prevention of chronification is very important. As some families reported, the online intervention was time saving, as they did not need to come to the outpatient clinic for treatment. In addition, such an intervention format might be especially helpful for families with more than one child, as they do not need to find a babysitter for the sessions, and for special families (e.g., single parents). Future research should keep this in mind.
Concerning treatment application, in contrast to a previous study addressing younger children, the present study had some kind of personal contact (via video consultation) but without meetings in person [
17]. Therefore, unspecific treatment effects such as those discussed by Grawe were more active than in a purely online version without any trainer contact [
8].
Limitations
There are some limitations of the study that should be kept in mind. First, only 12 parents with 6 children participated in this pilot study addressing the adaptation and feasibility of an online format using videos for children. Therefore, the results have to be considered with caution. However, detailed feedback was received from parents regarding the group training format, the elements for the children, and technical issues. In addition, we also evaluated the trainers’ experiences concerning the various facets of the training. However, future studies based on such an online format should integrate further and more detailed sleep measures such as actigraphy and also parental cognitions regarding their child’s sleep. This pilot study also included no follow-up measurements. Future studies implementing long-term outcomes are required. However, the focus and interest of the study at hand was to adapt the manual KiSS group intervention to an online format, assess the acceptance and feasibility of the adapted version in parents with children suffering from insomnia, and further assess the trainer evaluations.
Compliance with ethical guidelines
All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.