Project Description
Challenge
Children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) often struggle with sleeping, which can impair their day-to-day functioning while placing a heavy burden on caregivers.
Project Summary
Better Days, Better Nights for Children with NDDs (BNBD-NDD) is a behavioural eHealth intervention. The intervention focuses on increasing and encouraging healthy sleep behaviours as a way to help children settle down at night, stay asleep, and wake up at an appropriate time feeling well-rested. The program is offered online and comprised of five sessions (introduction, healthy sleep practices, settling to sleep, going back to sleep, and looking ahead). The strategies are shared through video and text, supported by graphics. Parents are empowered to implement these strategies independently.
Meanwhile, users have access to built-in, evidence-based tools such as sleep diaries, personalized goal setting and tracking, and tailored feedback on individual progress. Currently, the program is being evaluated by Dr. Penny Corkum (Dalhousie University; IWK Health Centre) and Dr. Shelly Weiss (University of Toronto; Sick Kids), along with a Canadian-wide research team of clinical scientists.
Looking Towards Cycle III
If BNBD-NDD is proven effective, the next step will be implementing the program so that families have direct access to this treatment program. The goal for Cycle III is to develop a method to ensure sustainability. The team will be evaluating a new implementation plan to sustain this program through the commercialization of the product. More specifically, the team will assess the direct-to-consumer commercialization model and assess the user’s implementation of the programs (e.g., delivery and use, fidelity, overall satisfaction). The team has partnered with Velsoft Training Materials—a fast-growing Canadian eLearning company—to help with implementation.
Funding
Kids Brain Health Network – $598,699.00
BNBD 38 KTEE partners – $57,000.00
Canadian Sleep & Circadian Network – $15,000.00
Canadian Sleep Society (CSS) – $15,000.00
Dalhousie University, Industry Liaison and Innovation Office – $30,000.00
Velsoft Training Materials Inc. – $50,001.00
Team
Principal Investigators
Dr. Penny Corkum, Dalhousie University & IWK Health Centre
Dr. Shelly Weiss, University of Toronto & The Hospital for Sick Children
Implementation Partners
Autism Society Canada
Canadian Sleep Society
Canadian Sleep and Circadian Network
Children’s Healthcare Canada
Over 100 Knowledge Translation and RCT recruitment partners
