Are educational interventions able to prevent excessive daytime sleepiness in adolescents?

This study evaluated the effect of an educational sleep program (ESP) on adolescent sleep patterns and daytime sleepiness. Twenty-one adolescents (13-14 years old) participated in the study. Two groups were formed: experimental (n = 10), subjected to the educational program for sleep (EPS); and Control (n = 11), not subjected to the EPS. Sleep/wake cycle (SWC) data were recorded with actigraphy; subjective sleepiness levels and psychomotor performance were assessed before and after the ESP. The data on sleep patterns, psychomotor performance and subjective sleepiness levels were compared by two-way ANOVA for dependent samples; treatment (before vs. after intervention) and group (control vs. experimental) were considered factors. The results did not show any EPS effect on the adolescents' sleep/wake patterns, subjective sleepiness levels or psychomotor performance. Further studies with different ESPs and ESP strategies should be carried out to evaluate the validity of such programs as a counter-measure to prevent excessive daytime sleepiness among adolescents.