Insomnia is a common sleep disorder that relies on subjective measures of sleep assessment. However, research has shown that these measures are not entirely accurate and investigation into objective measures for sleep assessment and insomnia diagnosis is required. The primary aim of this study is to determine if objective Fitbit data can replace subjective sleep diary records in the assessment of sleep and insomnia. Secondary aims include determining treatment response differences and identifying whether resolution of insomnia and fatigue translates to increased physical activity.

Participants will be asked to keep a sleep diary and an activity diary for 2 weeks (14 consecutive days). This will require approximately 5 minutes of your time each day. Over the same 2-week period, participants will also be asked to wear their Fitbit and provide us with the sleep and activity data. A study questionnaire will be completed at the beginning of the study and again after 2 weeks. At this point, data collection will be complete for normal sleepers.
Those participants who identify as poor sleepers/have insomnia will have a consultation with sleep specialist and supervisor of this study, Dr. Alison Bentley, to discuss relative interventions to improve their sleep. After which they will be asked to provide a further 2 weeks of Fitbit, sleep diary and activity diary data and complete a third and final study questionnaire.

Should you wish to participate, please provide your contact details for the principal investigator, Micaela Rhoda, to provide you with further information on the MSc Med study titled: The use of Fitbits as a replacement for manual sleep diaries in the assessment of sleep and insomnia in a sample South African population.