Intervention for sleep problems in nursing home residents with dementia: a cluster-randomized study.

Objective: To reduce sleep problems in people living with dementia using a multi-component intervention.

Design: Cluster-randomized controlled study with two parallel groups and a follow-up of 16 weeks.

Setting: Using external concealed randomization, 24 nursing homes (NH) were allocated either to the intervention group (IG, 12 clusters, 126 participants) or the control group (12 clusters, 116 participants).

Participants: Participants were eligible if they had dementia or severe cognitive impairment, at least two sleep problems, and residence of at least two weeks in a NH.

Intervention: The 16-week intervention consists of six components: (1) assessment of sleep-promoting activities and environmental factors in NHs, (2) implementation of two "sleep nurses," (3) basic education, (4) advanced education for staff, (5) workshops to develop sleep-promoting concepts, and (6) written information and education materials. The control group (CG) received standard care.

Measurements: Primary outcome was ≥ two sleep problems after 16 weeks assessed with the Sleep Disorders Inventory (SDI).

Results: Twenty-two clusters (IG = 10, CG = 12) with 191 participants completed the study. At baseline, 90% of people living with dementia in the IG and 93% in the CG had at least two sleep problems. After 16 weeks, rates were 59.3% (IG) vs 83.8% (CG), respectively, a difference of -24.5% (95% CI, -46.3% - -2.7%; cluster-adjusted odds ratio 0.281; 95% CI 0.087-0.909). Secondary outcomes showed a significant difference only for SDI scores after eight and 16 weeks.

Conclusions: The MoNoPol-Sleep intervention reduced sleep problems of people living with dementia in NH compared to standard care.