Development of a Novel Behavioral Sleep Medicine Education Workshop Designed to Increase Trainee Psychologists' Knowledge and Skills in Insomnia Management

ObjectivesDespite the clear influence of poor sleep on mental health, sleep education has been neglected in psychology training programs. Here, we develop a novel behavioral sleep medicine (BSM) education workshop, the Sleep Psychology Workshop, designed for integration within graduate psychology programs. We also examined the potential efficacy and acceptability of the workshop to upskill trainee psychologists in sleep and insomnia management.MethodsThe Sleep Psychology Workshop was developed using a modified Delphi Method. Eleven trainee psychologists completing their Master of Psychology degrees (90% female, 24.4 +/- 1.6 years old) attended the workshop, delivered as three, two-hour lectures (total of six hours). Sleep knowledge, attitudes, and practice assessments were completed pre-and post-intervention using the GradPsyKAPS Questionnaire. A focus group and 6-month follow-up survey captured feedback and qualitative data.ResultsTrainees' sleep knowledge quiz scores (% correct) increased from 60% to 79% pre- to post-workshop (p = .002). Trainees' self-efficacy to use common sleep-related assessment instruments and empirically supported interventions to manage sleep disturbances increased, along with their confidence to manage insomnia (all p < .02). Participant feedback was positive, with 91% of trainees rating the workshop as excellent and qualitative data highlighting trainees developing practical skills in BSM. Six months post-intervention, 100% of trainees endorsed routinely asking their clients about sleep, with 82% reporting improvements in their own sleep.ConclusionsThe Sleep Psychology Workshop is a potentially effective and acceptable introductory BSM education program for trainee psychologists, ready for integration within the graduate psychology curriculum.

Automated summary

This study developed a novel Sleep Psychology Workshop for graduate psychology programs and examined its potential efficacy in improving trainee psychologists' sleep knowledge and skills. The workshop was found to significantly increase trainees' sleep knowledge and self-efficacy in sleep and insomnia management. Positive feedback was received from participants, and six months after the intervention, trainees reported routinely asking clients about sleep and improvements in their own sleep.