Factor structure of the Chinese version of the Pittsburgh sleep quality index in breast cancer patients

Uncovering the symptom relationship among sleep quality, anxiety, and depression in Chinese patients with breast cancer: multidimensional data validation using PSQI versus actigraphy

PURPOSE

The interplay between sleep quality, anxiety, and depression among breast cancer patients remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate and compare the symptoms relationships among these three factors in Chinese breast cancer patients, utilizing two sleep assessments.

METHODS

Our study encompassed 288 participants diagnosed with breast cancer, from whom we collected demographic information through questionnaires. Sleep quality symptoms were assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and wrist actigraphy, while anxiety and depression symptoms were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Network analyses were conducted using R to calculate the centrality (strength) and further identify central symptoms and bridge symptoms in two networks that differed by sleep assessments. Central symptoms are closely related to other symptoms, whereas bridge symptoms indicate that symptoms may increase spread risk between different conditions.

RESULTS

In the network using PSQI data, "I have lost interest in my appearance" had the highest strength centrality (rs = 2.417), followed by "sleep duration" (rs = 1.068) and "sleep efficiency" (rs = 0.955). In the network using wrist actigraphy data, "wake after sleep onset" had the highest strength value (rs = 2.437), followed by "sleep efficiency" (rs = 2.397) and "sleep latency" (rs = 1.506). Two bridge symptoms were identified: "I feel cheerful" and "I look forward with enjoyment to things" in both networks.

CONCLUSIONS

Depressive symptoms played a leading role in the sleep-anxiety-depression network, underscoring the need for targeted intervention tailored to survivors' specific needs.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Health workers can give priority to symptom-specific screening and therapies, incorporating psychological support into standard cancer care.

Dimensionality and cross-language invariance of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index among Indian adolescents and adults

Sleep quality, key to physical and mental health, requires regular assessment in clinical and non-clinical settings. Despite widespread use, the dimensionality of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is debated, and its Hindi version's factor structure remains unexplored. Our study evaluates the PSQI's dimensionality among Indian adolescents and adults aiming to demonstrate cross-language (Hindi and English) invariance of its factor structure. The PSQI showed satisfactory item reliability, and a best-fitting two-factor model: "sleep efficiency" (comprising sleep duration and habitual sleep efficiency), and "perceived sleep quality" (comprising remaining five PSQI components). This model showed configural invariance across age groups, sexes, and languages. Metric invariance was noted across age groups, but a partial metric non-invariance was observed across languages and sexes as reflected by differences in factor loadings. The second-order factor structure model had an excellent fit indicating the usefulness of aggregate scores of the two factors as a single index of sleep quality. Our findings better support a two-factor structure of sleep quality (both for English and Hindi versions of PSQI) in India. However, further validation in diverse clinical and non-clinical samples is warranted.

Psychometric properties and moderated mediation analysis of the ICIQ-NQOL in Chinese primary care patients with nocturia

BACKGROUND

Many individuals consider nocturia a significant nuisance, leading to a reduced health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, there has been a lack of psychometrically sound patient-reported outcome measures to assess the impact of nocturia on patients in Chinese contexts. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Nocturia Quality of Life Module (ICIQ-NQOL) for use among primary care patients in Hong Kong, China. Additionally, it sought to investigate the mechanisms that link nocturia and sleep quality with HRQOL by employing moderated mediation analysis.

METHODS

The traditional Chinese version of the ICIQ-NQOL was developed through iterative translations, cognitive debriefing interviews, and panel reviews. The psychometric evaluation included assessments of factor structure, convergent validity, concurrent validity, known-group validity, internal consistency, test-retest reliability and responsiveness. Study instruments included the ICIQ-NQOL, International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and a modified Incontinence Impact Questionnaire-Short Form (IIQ-7).

RESULTS

A total of 419 primary care patients were recruited from general outpatient clinics, among whom 228 experiencing an average of two or more nocturia episodes per night over the past four weeks. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the two-factor structure of the ICIQ-NQOL. Concurrent validity was confirmed by moderate correlations between the IIQ-7 total score and the total score as well as two domain scores of the ICIQ-NQOL (r ranging from 0.43 to 0.49, all p < 0.001). The ICIQ-NQOL also had moderate correlations with the IPSS total symptom score (r ranging from 0.40 to 0.48, all p < 0.001). Convergent validity was supported by moderate correlations between the global PSQI score and the total score as well as two domain scores of the ICIQ-NQOL (r ranging from 0.42 to 0.52, all p < 0.001). Known-group comparisons showed that the ICIQ-NQOL could differentiate between patients with and without nocturia in terms of sleep/energy domain score (p < 0.001), bother/concern domain score (p < 0.001), and total score (p < 0.001), each demonstrating a moderate Cohen's d effect size. Item-total correlations corrected for overlap exceeded 0.4, and Cronbach's alpha coefficients were greater than 0.7. Test-retest reliability was confirmed with intraclass correlation coefficients exceeding 0.7 among patients reporting no change in their nocturia symptoms at a 2-week follow-up. Regarding responsiveness, the Cohen's d effect sizes for differences in domain and total scores between the baseline and 2-week follow-up assessments were greater than 0.3 among patients showing improvement in nocturia. Our moderated mediation analysis indicated that sleep quality significantly moderated the impact of nocturia on HRQOL, with a notably stronger indirect effect among females compared to males.

CONCLUSIONS

The ICIQ-NQOL is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing the HRQOL in primary care patients suffering from nocturia. The findings advocate for gender-specific approaches in the management and treatment of nocturia to optimize HRQOL.

Psychometric adaptation of the Spanish version of the Brief Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in adolescents

OBJECTIVE

Good sleep quality is essential for adolescent health, yet sleep difficulties persist in this age group. The 6-item Brief Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (B-PSQI) was recently developed to improve sleep quality assessment, however, its validity in adolescents remains unexplored. This study examined the B-PSQI's psychometric properties in Spanish adolescents and adapted the scoring method to age-specific sleep recommendations.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study involving 1,065 adolescents (15-17 years; 56.8% female) was conducted in public high schools. Sleep quality was measured using the B-PSQI, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the short Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Additionally, depression and anxiety were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales. Reliability, validity, and measurement invariance were analyzed.

RESULTS

The B-PSQI global scores were 4.5 (SD = 1.9) for the original scoring method and 5.4 (SD = 2.8) for the age-adjusted. The age-adjusted B-PSQI showed satisfactory reliability (ω = 0.84) and concurrent, convergent, and discriminant validity (ISI rS = 0.67; PROMIS rS = 0.71; anxiety rS = 0.40; depression rS = 0.42; ESS rS = 0.29). Adequacy for one-factor structure (χ2(4) = 53.9; CFI = 0.97; TLI = 0.92; RMSEA = 0.108; SRMR = 0.05) and invariance across sexes were supported. Both B-PSQI scoring methods showed similar psychometric properties, but the original yielded a higher percentage of poor sleepers (43.1%; cutoff ≥5) than the age-adjusted version (41.9%; cutoff ≥6).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that the B-PSQI is a valid and reliable measure to assess adolescent sleep quality. Its scoring can be adjusted to provide age-specific criteria for good sleep. The B-PSQI has potential utility for screening sleep problems and facilitating overall health promotion in adolescents.

Prevalence and influencing factors of sleep disorders in medical students after the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of sleep disorders among medical students was high during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, fewer studies have been conducted on sleep disorders among medical students after the COVID-19 pandemic. This study investigated the prevalence and factors influencing sleep disorders among Chinese medical students after COVID-19.

METHODS

A total of 1,194 Chinese medical students were included in this study from 9th to 12th July 2023. We used the Self-administered Chinese scale to collect the demographic characteristics. In addition, we used the Chinese versions of the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), the Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess subjects' depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders, respectively. The chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used to identify factors influencing sleep disorders. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was utilized to assess the predictive value of relevant variables for sleep disorders.

RESULTS

We found the prevalence of sleep disorders among medical students after COVID-19 was 82.3%. According to logistic regression results, medical students with depression were 1.151 times more likely to have sleep disorders than those without depression (OR = 1.151, 95% CI 1.114 to 1.188). Doctoral students were 1.908 times more likely to have sleep disorders than graduate and undergraduate students (OR = 1.908, 95% CI 1.264 to 2.880).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of sleep disorders among medical students is high after COVID-19. In addition, high academic levels and depression are risk factors for sleep disorders. Therefore, medical colleges and administrators should pay more attention to sleep disorders in medical students after the COVID-19 pandemic. Regular assessment of sleep disorders and depression is essential.

Infrared laser moxibustion for cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer survivors: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a pervasive, persistent, and distressing symptom experienced by cancer patients, for which few treatments are available. We investigated the efficacy and safety of infrared laser moxibustion (ILM) for improving fatigue in breast cancer survivors.

METHODS

A three-arm, randomized, sham-controlled clinical trial (6-week intervention plus 12-week observational follow-up) was conducted at a tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China. The female breast cancer survivors with moderate to severe fatigue were randomized 2:2:1 to ILM (n = 56) sham ILM (n = 56), and Waitlist control (WLC)(n = 28) groups. Patients in the ILM and sham ILM (SILM) groups received real or sham ILM treatment, 2 sessions per week for 6 weeks, for a total of 12 sessions. The primary outcome was change in the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) score from baseline to week 6 with follow-up until week 18 assessed in the intention-to-treat population.

RESULTS

Between June 2018 and July 2021, 273 patients were assessed for eligibility, and 140 patients were finally enrolled and included in the intention-to-treat analysis. Compared with WLC, ILM reduced the average BFI score by 0.9 points (95% CI, 0.3 to 1.6, P = .007) from baseline to week 6, with a difference between the groups of 1.1 points (95% CI, 0.4 to 1.8, P = .002) at week 18. Compared with SILM, ILM treatment resulted in a non-significant reduction in the BFI score (0.4; 95% CI, -0.2 to 0.9, P = .206) from baseline to week 6, while the between-group difference was significant at week 18 (0.7; 95% CI, 0.2 to 1.3, P = .014). No serious adverse events were reported.

CONCLUSION

While ILM was found to be safe and to significantly reduce fatigue compared with WLC, its promising efficacy against the sham control needs to be verified in future adequately powered trials.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04144309. Registered 12 June 2018.

Comparing patient-reported outcomes and lifestyle factors before and after the COVID-19 pandemic among Black and Hispanic breast cancer survivors in New Jersey

PURPOSE

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in the US since March 2020 on cancer survivorship among Black and Hispanic breast cancer (BC) survivors remains largely unknown. We aimed to evaluate associations of the pandemic with participant characteristics, patient-reported outcomes (PROs), and lifestyle factors among Black and Hispanic BC survivors in the Women's Circle of Health Follow-Up Study and the New Jersey BC Survivors Study.

METHODS

We included 447 Black (npre = 364 and npost = 83) and 182 Hispanic (npre = 102 and npost = 80) BC survivors who completed a home interview approximately 24 months post-diagnosis between 2017 and 2023. The onset of the pandemic was defined as March 2020. The association of the pandemic with binary outcomes was estimated using robust Poisson regression models.

RESULTS

Hispanic and Black BC survivors recruited after the onset of the pandemic reported higher socioeconomic status and fewer comorbidities. Black women in the post-pandemic group reported a higher prevalence of clinically significant sleep disturbance (prevalence ratio (PR) 1.43, 95% CI 1.23, 1.68), lower sleep efficiency, and lower functional well-being, compared to the pre-pandemic group. Hispanic women were less likely to report low health-related quality of life (vs. high; PR 0.62, 95% CI 0.45, 0.85) after the onset of the pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS

Ongoing research is crucial to untangle the impact of the pandemic on racial and ethnic minorities participating in cancer survivorship research, as well as PROs and lifestyle factors.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

This study highlights the importance of considering the impact of the pandemic in all aspects of research, including the interpretation of findings.

Effect of dexmedetomidine infusion on postoperative sleep disturbances in women with breast cancer: A monocentric randomized-controlled double-blind trial

BACKGROUND

Most women with breast cancer are prone to postoperative sleep disturbances (POSD). Little is known about the differences between sevoflurane and propofol combined with dexmedetomidine on POSD in the same context. We investigated the effect of intra-operative sevoflurane or propofol combined with intravenous dexmedetomidine on the incidence of POSD and postoperative sleep structures.

METHODS

A monocentric, randomized-controlled, double-blind trial. Female patients undergoing radical surgery for breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive sevoflurane and placebo, sevoflurane and dexmedetomidine, propofol and placebo, or propofol and dexmedetomidine. Dexmedetomidine was administered at 1.0 μg kg-1 infusion 15 min before induction, then infused at 0.4 μg kg-1 h-1 until the surgical drain started to be placed. The primary outcome was the incidence of POSD within the postoperative first three days (defined as an Athens Insomnia Scale score ≥ 6 points on at least one day of postoperative first three days). The secondary outcome was the duration of sleep structures, collected from the Fitbit Charge 2® smart bracelet (Fitbit, Inc., San Francisco, CA, USA).

RESULTS

There were 188 women analyzed with the modified intention-to-treat method. The incidences of POSD in the dexmedetomidine and placebo groups were similar (p = 0.649). In the sevoflurane sedation strategy, dexmedetomidine decreased nocturnal wakefulness on postoperative first day (p = 0.001). In the propofol sedation strategy, dexmedetomidine increased nocturnal deep sleep on postoperative first (p < 0.001) and third (p < 0.001) days.

CONCLUSION

Intra-operative infusion of dexmedetomidine had no significant effect on POSD but decreased nocturnal wakefulness in the sevoflurane group and increased nocturnal deep sleep in the propofol group.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Registered at www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR2300070136).

The 50% and 95% effective dose of remimazolam tosilate for anaesthesia induction in sleep disorders patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy: an up-and-down sequential allocation trial

PURPOSE

Previous reports argue that preoperative sleep conditions of patients can influence the dosage of general anaesthesia drugs. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the dose-effect relationship of preoperative sleep disorders on the induction of general anaesthesia with remimazolam tosilate and calculate the Median effective (ED50) and 95% effective (ED95) dosages.

METHODS

Included in our study were 56 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy at our hospital. A separate group of 27 patients with sleep disorders (SD group) and 29 patients without sleep disorders (NSD group) using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were also included. According to the Dixon 'up-and-down' design, patients received remimazolam at preselected concentrations starting at 0.2 mg/kg. After the administration of remimazolam, loss of consciousness was observed. By observing whether consciousness disappeared within a minute, we adjusted the dose of remimazolam by 0.1 mg/kg (up and down) in the following patient. The Median effective dose (ED50), 95% effective dose (ED95), and 95% confidence interval (CI) of remimazolam for effective sedation were calculated.

RESULTS

The ED50 of remimazolam was 0.226 mg/kg (95%CI 0.221-0.232 mg/kg) in the SD group and 0.191 mg/kg (95%CI, 0.183-0.199 mg/kg) in the NSD group. The ED95 of remimazolam was 0.237 mg/kg (95%CI 0.231-0.262 mg/kg) in the SD group and 0.209 mg/kg (95%CI 0.200-0.254 mg/kg) in the NSD group.

CONCLUSIONS

In the SD group, the ED50 and ED95 of remimazolam during anaesthesia induction were 0.226 and 0.237 mg/kg, respectively. The induction dose of remimazolam in the SD group was significantly higher than that in the NSD group.

Preoperative psychological symptoms and chronic postsurgical pain: analysis of the prospective China Surgery and Anaesthesia Cohort study

BACKGROUND

Both preoperative psychological symptoms and chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP) are prevalent conditions and major concerns among surgery patients, with inconclusive associations.

METHODS

Based on the China Surgery and Anaesthesia Cohort (CSAC), we recruited 8350 surgery patients (40-65 yr old) from two medical centres between July 2020 and March 2023. Patients with preoperative psychological symptoms (i.e. anxiety, depression, stress reaction, and poor sleep quality) were identified using corresponding well-established scales. We then examined the associations of individual preoperative psychological symptoms and major patterns of preoperative psychological symptoms (identified by k-means clustering analysis) with CPSP, and different pain trajectories within 3 months. Lastly, mediation analyses were conducted to elucidate the mediating role of surgery/anaesthesia-related factors and the presence of 1-month postoperative psychological symptoms on the studied associations.

RESULTS

We included 1302 (1302/8350, 15.6%) CPSP patients. When analysed separately, all studied preoperative psychological symptoms were associated with increased CPSP risk, with the most pronounced odds ratio noted for anxiety (1.52, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23-1.86). Compared with patients clustered in the minor symptom group, excess risk of CPSP and experiencing an increasing pain trajectory was increased among patients with preoperative psychological symptoms featured by sleep disturbances (odds ratio=1.46, 95% CI 1.25-1.70 for CPSP and 1.58, 95% CI 1.20-2.08 for increasing pain trajectory) and multiple psychological symptoms (1.84 [95% CI 1.48-2.28] and 4.34 [95% CI 3.20-5.88]). Mediation analyses revealed acute/subacute postsurgical pain and psychological symptoms existing 1 month after surgery as notable mediators of the observed associations.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of preoperative psychological symptoms might individually or jointly increase the risk of chronic postsurgical pain or experiencing deterioration in pain trajectory. Interventions for managing acute/subacute postsurgical pain and psychological symptoms at 1 month after surgery might help reduce such risk.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR2000034039.

Symptom clusters and characteristics of cervical cancer patients receiving concurrent chemoradiotherapy: A cross-sectional study

Background

Cervical cancer patients have a high symptom burden during concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) and urgently need precise symptom management strategies. Nonetheless, the symptom profile and influencing factors are unclear.

Methods

A total of 234 patients with cervical cancer who underwent CCRT in a tertiary care hospital clinical oncology center in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region from March 2022 to March 2023 were included in the study. The general information questionnaire, M.D. Anderson symptom inventory, Fatigue Scale-14, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and grip strength test were used for the investigation. Symptom clusters were extracted by exploratory factor analysis, and latent profile analysis was performed using Mplus 8.0 software. Multinomial logistic regression was used to explore the factors influencing the potential categories of symptom clusters.

Results

Exploratory factor analysis extracted four symptom clusters: a fatigue-related symptom cluster, a gastrointestinal-related symptom cluster, a mood-related symptom cluster, and a physical-related symptom cluster, of which the fatigue-related symptom cluster was more severe and was divided into three potential categories: low fatigue-good muscle fitness type (25.63%), general fatigue-moderate muscle fitness type (68.37%) and high fatigue-low muscle fitness type (6%). Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that hemoglobin levels, tumor stage, absence of complications, and unemployment were factors influencing the fatigue-related symptom cluster in patients undergoing CCRT for cervical cancer.

Conclusions

Cervical cancer patients experience multiple symptom clusters during CCRT. Different characteristics appeared in different clusters. Among them, fatigue-related symptom clusters were more severe and heterogeneous. In clinical practice, we should pay attention to and use high symptom feature predictors, focusing on the core symptoms that play a dominant role, achieving early identification and management, and reducing patients' symptom burden.

Health status of aged women with or without the experience of practicing yoga

BACKGROUND

Yoga is a popular training practice that enhances women's physical activity level and modifies the major risk factors contributing to noncommunicable diseases. This study aimed to compare general health and cardiovascular health, musculoskeletal health, psychological health, and health-related quality of life between aged women with and without long-term yoga practice.

METHODS

Thirty-two female yoga practitioners (mean age 56 years) with ≥ 2 years experience in regular yoga practice and 32 age-matched women without yoga experience participated in the study. Between-group comparisons was performed to explore the differences in various health outcomes, including body build indices, exercise endurance, blood pressure, and heart rate variability; hamstring flexibility, upper-limb muscle strength, shoulder range of motion, and upper-limb function; and the symptoms of anxiety and depression, sleep quality, and fatigue.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed that yoga practitioners demonstrated greater hamstring flexibility, shoulder ROM on the non-dominant side, and hand-grip strength; a higher heart rate variability parameter value (RMSSD); and shorter sleep latency than those who did not practice yoga.

CONCLUSIONS

In view of the encouraging results of the long-term benefits of yoga practice, it warrants being promoted among aged women to enhance their physical and mental well-being.

Performance of physical, cardiovascular, and psychological functions in middle-aged women with and without breast cancer

PURPOSE

To compare the physical performance, including upper-limb motor and cardiovascular functions, and psychological functions, including anxiety and depression, sleep, and fatigue, between women with and without breast cancer.

METHODS

Thirty-two women with breast cancer and 32 healthy counterparts were recruited for the study. Upper-limb muscle strength, shoulder range of motion, and upper-limb function were assessed using a handheld dynamometer, a goniometer, and the short form of the Disabilities of Arm-Shoulder-Hand Questionnaire, respectively. Exercise endurance and cardiovascular functions were assessed using the 6-min walk test and blood pressure and heart rate variability, respectively. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Fatigue Assessment Scale were used to assess the symptoms of anxiety and depression, sleep quality, and fatigue, respectively.

RESULTS

Breast cancer participants' body-weight-adjusted upper-limb strength of both the affected and unaffected sides (0.11-0.14) was only 61.1-77.8% of those of the healthy participants (0.18). Their shoulder mobility of the affected side (flexion: 161.64°; abduction: 157.01°) were 94.2% (flexion) and 92.5% (abduction) of those of the healthy participants (flexion: 171.56°; abduction: 169.68°), respectively. Breast cancer participants had higher quickDASH mean score (19.53), HADS-A mean score (6.78), HADS-D mean score (4.72), global PSQI mean score (7.22) and FAS mean score (25.97) as well as shorter mean distance covered by 6 MWT (496.66 m) than those of the healthy participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Rehabilitative interventions, such as mind-body interventions and exercise training, target physical fitness and promote the psychological health of women with breast cancer are necessary.

Somatic acupressure for the fatigue-sleep disturbance-depression symptom cluster in breast cancer survivors: A phase II randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the feasibility of the somatic acupressure (SA) for managing the fatigue-sleep disturbance-depression symptom cluster (FSDSC) among breast cancer (BC) survivors and its preliminary effects.

METHODS

In this Phase II randomized controlled trial (RCT), 51 participants were randomised evenly into the true SA group, sham SA group, and usual care group. All the participants received usual care. The two SA groups performed additional true or sham self-acupressure daily for seven weeks. The primary outcomes related to the assessment of participants' recruitment and compliance with study questionnaires and interventions. Clinical outcomes assessed the preliminary effects of SA on fatigue, sleep disturbance, depression, and quality of life. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken to capture participants' experiences of participating in this study. The statistical effects of the intervention on the outcomes were modelled in repeated measures ANOVA and adjusted generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS

Forty-five participants completed the SA intervention. No adverse events were reported. Over 85% of the participants could sustain for 25 days or more and 15 min or more per session, but the adherence to the intervention requirement was yet to improve. The group by time effect of the FSDSC and depression were significant (p < 0.05). Qualitative findings showed that participants positively viewed SA as a beneficial strategy for symptom management.

CONCLUSIONS

The SA intervention protocol and the trial procedures were feasible. The results demonstrated signs of improvements in targeted outcomes, and a full-scale RCT is warranted to validate the effects of SA on the FSDSC.

Trajectories of sleep disturbance in cancer survivors during the first 2 years post-treatment

STUDY OBJECTIVES

To examine the trajectories of sleep disturbance in cancer survivors during the first 2 years post-treatment and to investigate whether psychological, cognitive, and physical factors differentiate trajectories.

METHODS

A total of 623 Chinese cancer survivors of diverse cancer types participated in a 2-year-long prospective study after the completion of cancer treatment. Sleep disturbance was measured using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at 3 (T2), 6 (T3), 12 (T4), 18 (T5), and 24 (T6) months after baseline (within 6-months post-treatment; T1). Latent growth mixture modeling identified distinctive sleep disturbance trajectories and tested if these longitudinal patterns were predicted by baseline psychological distress, attentional control, attentional bias and physical symptom distress and T2 cancer-related distress. Fully adjusted multinomial logistic regression then identified whether these factors differentiated trajectories.

RESULTS

Two distinct sleep disturbance trajectories were identified, namely stable good sleepers (69.7%) and persistent high sleep disturbance (30.3%). Compared to those in the stable good sleep group, patients in the persistent high sleep disturbance group were less likely to report avoidant (OR=0.49, 95% CI = 0.26-0.90), while more likely to report intrusive thoughts (OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.06-2.92) and cancer-related hyperarousal (OR = 3.37, 95% CI = 1.78-6.38). Higher depression scores also predicted persistent high sleep disturbance group membership (OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.03-1.25). Attentional bias, attentional control, anxiety, and physical symptom distress did not predict sleep trajectory membership.

CONCLUSIONS

One in three cancer survivors experienced persistent high sleep disturbance. Screening and managing depressive symptoms and cancer-related distress in early cancer rehabilitation may reduce risk of persistent sleep disturbance among cancer survivors.

The association between long-term exposure to outdoor artificial light at night and poor sleep quality among Chinese veterans: A multi-city study

BACKGROUND

A handful of previous studies have reported the association between exposure to outdoor artificial light at night (ALAN) and sleep problems. However, evidence for such association is limited in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to examine the association between outdoor ALAN exposure and sleep quality in veterans across different regions of China.

METHODS

Within the network of the Chinese Veteran Clinical Research Platform, we selected 7258 participants from 277 veteran communities in 18 cities across China during December 2009 and December 2011, using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling strategy. Face-to-face interviews with the participants were conducted by trained investigators. We used the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to assess participants' sleep quality. We defined poor sleep quality as a PSQI global score >7. The 3-year average exposure to outdoor ALAN prior to the baseline interview was calculated using satellite imagery data, according to participants' geolocation information. The association of ALAN exposure with sleep quality was examined using the mixed-effects logistic regression models with natural cubic splines.

RESULTS

The exposure-response curve for sleep quality associated with ALAN exposure was nonlinear, with a threshold value of 49.20 nW/cm2/sr for the 3-year average exposure to outdoor ALAN prior to the baseline interview. Higher ALAN exposure above the threshold was associated with increased risk of poor sleep quality. After adjusting for potential confounders, the odds ratios (and 95%CI, 95% confidence intervals) were 1.15 (0.97, 1.36) and 1.45 (1.17, 1.78) at the 75th and 95th percentiles of ALAN against the threshold. The association of ALAN exposure with poor sleep quality was more pronounced in veterans with depression than those without. Higher OR of poor sleep quality at the 75th percentile of ALAN against the threshold was observed in veterans with depression than those without [2.09 (1.16, 3.76) vs. 1.09 (0.92, 1.30)].

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term exposure to outdoor ALAN was associated with higher risk of poor sleep quality in Chinese veterans. Effective outdoor ALAN management may help to reduce the burden of sleep disorders in Chinese veterans.

Acupuncture for chemotherapy-associated insomnia in breast cancer patients: an assessor-participant blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Insomnia is a highly prevalent symptom occurred during and post-chemotherapy. Acupuncture may have beneficial effects in the management of chemotherapy-associated insomnia. This study was conducted to determine the efficacy and safety of acupuncture in improving chemotherapy-associated insomnia in breast cancer patients.

METHODS

This assessor-participant blinded, randomized, sham-controlled trial was conducted from November 2019 to January 2022 (follow-up completed July 2022). Participants were referred by oncologists from two Hong Kong hospitals. Assessments and interventions were conducted at the outpatient clinic of School of Chinese Medicine, the University of Hong Kong. The 138 breast cancer patients with chemotherapy-associated insomnia were randomly assigned to receive either 15 sessions of active acupuncture regimen by combining needling into body acupoints and acupressure on auricular acupoints or sham acupuncture control (69 each) for 18 weeks, followed by 24 weeks of follow-up. The primary outcome was measured using Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Secondary outcomes included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Actiwatch and sleep diary for sleep parameters, depression and anxiety, fatigue and pain, and quality of life.

RESULTS

There were 87.7% (121/138) participants who completed the primary endpoint (week-6). The active acupuncture regimen was not superior to the sham control in reducing ISI score from baseline to 6 weeks (mean difference: - 0.4, 95% CI - 1.8-1.1; P = 0.609), but produced short-term treatment and long-term follow-up better outcomes in improving sleep onset latency, total sleep time, sleep efficiency, anxiety, depression, and quality of life. Participants of the active acupuncture group had a pronouncedly higher cessation rate of sleeping medications than the sham control (56.5% vs. 14.3%, P = 0.011). All treatment-related adverse events were mild. No participants discontinued treatments due to adverse events.

CONCLUSION

The active acupuncture regimen could be considered as an effective option for the management of chemotherapy-associated insomnia. It also could serve as a tapering approach to reduce and even replace the use of sleeping medications in breast cancer patients. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov : NCT04144309. Registered 30 October 2019.

Development and preliminary testing of the cancer-related fatigue comprehensive assessment scale in cancer survivors

BACKGROUND

Tailored management of cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is important for effective coping; however, it has been hindered by the lack of a comprehensive tool that assesses both symptoms and treatable influencing factors.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim was to develop a cancer-related fatigue comprehensive assessment scale (CRF-CAS) and assess its psychometric properties.

DESIGN

This was a mixed-method study.

METHODS

The study included two phases which were conducted in Zhejiang Province, China. In phase one, a literature search, brainstorming sessions, Delphi studies, cognitive interviews and a pilot study were conducted to construct and revise CRF-CAS indicators. In phase two, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted among cancer survivors. Item analysis was used to select and optimize indicators. Cronbach's α was calculated for reliability analysis. Validity analysis included concurrent validity and structural validity.

RESULTS

A 93-item tool was initially constructed. Phase one ended with revision and optimization. The preliminary scale included five dimensions (CRF symptoms, physical activity, cognitive-emotional status, sleep status, nutritional status) and 30 items. The mean item-content validity index (I-CVI) and scale-level CVI universal agreement (S-CVI/UA) were .98, and the adjusted mean values of Kappa for indicators ranged from .91-1, as evaluated by the expert group. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the CRF-CAS and criterion scales ranged from .337-.862. Cronbach's α coefficient ranged from .624-.728. Respondents agreed that the scale was acceptable for administration and that it contributed to decision-making in fatigue management. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated that the CRF-CAS fit well.

CONCLUSIONS

The construction process of the CRF-CAS, involving panel discussion and expert and participant evaluations, was shown to be scientific and feasible. The CRF-CAS had relatively good validity and reliability in version 5 of its preliminary scale, which requires further improvement in future studies.

Association between quarantine and sleep disturbance in Hong Kong adults: The mediating role of COVID-19 mental impact and distress

BACKGROUND

COVID-19 quarantine has been associated with increased sleep problems and prolonged psychological responses to the pandemic could mediate this relationship. The present study attempted to examine the mediating role of COVID-19 mental impact and distress between quarantine and sleep disturbance.

METHODS

The present study recruited 438 adults (109 with quarantine experience) in Hong Kong via an online survey between August and October 2021. The respondents completed a self-report questionnaire on quarantine, Mental Impact and Distress Scale: COVID-19 (MIDc), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The MIDc was treated as a latent mediator and continuous PSQI factor and poor sleep quality (PSQI score > 5) were the study outcomes. We evaluated the direct and indirect effects of quarantine on sleep disturbance via MIDc using structural equation modeling. Analyses were adjusted for gender, age, education level, knowing confirmed COVID-19 cases, COVID-19 frontline work, and primary income source of the family.

RESULTS

More than half (62.8%) of the sample reported poor sleep quality. Quarantine was associated with significantly higher levels of MIDc and sleep disturbance (Cohen d = 0.23 - 0.43, p < 0.05). In the structural equation model, the MIDc mediated the relationship between quarantine and sleep disturbance (αβ = 0.152, 95% CI = 0.071 to 0.235). Quarantine significantly increased the proportion of poor sleep quality by 10.7% (95% CI = 0.050 to 0.171) indirectly via MIDc.

CONCLUSIONS

The results provide empirical support to the mediating role of the MIDc as psychological responses in the relationship between quarantine and sleep disturbance.

Factorial Structure and Psychometric Properties of the Spanish Version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in Non-Professional Caregivers

Although sleep issues are among the symptoms commonly experienced by the non-professional caregiver population, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is the most widely used instrument for the assessment of sleep quality, this has not been validated specifically for this population. The objective of this study was to analyze the factorial structure and psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the PSQI in a sample of Spanish non-professional caregivers. Trained clinical psychologists assessed sleep quality using the PSQI, as well as caregiver burden and psychological distress in 201 non-professional caregivers (87.1% female, Mage = 56.2 years). The internal consistency of the PSQI was 0.75. The two-factor model (Sleep quality and Disturbances) had an acceptable fit to the data, was found to be superior to the one-factor model, and more parsimonious than the three-factor model. There was a significant correlation between the PSQI and caregiver burden, as well as between the PSQI and psychological distress (p < 0.001 in all cases). A total score ≥ 9 allowed the identification of caregivers with possible anxiety and depression disorders (sensitivity 70.5%, specificity 71.9%). The results show that the PSQI is a reliable and valid instrument for the assessment of sleep quality in caregivers.

Impact of smartphone overuse on 1-year severe depressive symptoms and momentary negative affect: Longitudinal and experience sampling findings from a representative epidemiological youth sample in Hong Kong

Smartphone overuse can have detrimental impacts on youth mental health. How it may be longitudinally associated with depressive symptoms and functioning, and with daily momentary affect, remains to be investigated. A total of 3,033 young people were consecutively recruited from a large-scale epidemiological youth mental health study in Hong Kong. A subsample (n = 936) was followed-up after 1 year, with experience sampling data collected from 177 participants. Separate multivariable logistic regression models were applied to examine the prospective associations between smartphone overuse and depressive symptoms, with multilevel models fitted to examine its associations with momentary affect. The prevalence of smartphone overuse in the Hong Kong youth population was 29.3%. Smartphone overuse was significantly associated with more depressive symptoms and functional impairments both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The associations between smartphone overuse and 1-year depressive symptoms were significant, even when accounting for baseline symptoms, social media use, and other risk and protective factors. Baseline depressive symptoms, in contrast, were not associated with 1-year smartphone overuse after adjusting for baseline smartphone overuse. Smartphone overuse was also significantly associated with higher levels of momentary negative affect, even when accounting for depressive symptoms. Strategies to mitigate the impact of smartphone overuse can have important long-term implications.

Acupuncture for hot flashes in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, a coordinated multinational study: Rationale and design of the study protocol

BACKGROUND

Acupuncture has been reported to reduce hot flashes in patients with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant hormonal therapy. Although hot flashes are common, the prevalence varies among cultures, races, and ethnicities; the efficacy of acupuncture across cultures has not been investigated.

METHODS

This is a coordinated multinational study, including three parallel randomized trials with a planned analysis of individual patient data, to test the effectiveness of acupuncture on hot flash-related symptoms in hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients on adjuvant endocrine therapy. Using a standardized acupuncture protocol (total across all three studies of n = 80) versus usual care (total n = 80), symptoms are assessed using changes in the Endocrine Symptom Subscale of Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Endocrine Symptoms. Secondary outcomes include hot flash severity, quality of life, and sleep quality. Differences in response to acupuncture between participants in the three countries will also be explored.

DISCUSSION

Here we describe the design of a protocol for a coordinated multinational study, with attention to the complex considerations in developing a multinational research effort testing a non-pharmacologic intervention. This protocol and approach provide guidance for future efforts to evaluate and test non-pharmacologic interventions across multinational populations.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT00797732, registered on December 21, 2018), Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100045888), and The Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) of Korea (Registration number: KCT0003618).

Longitudinal associations between salivary cortisol to C-reactive protein ratios and psychological well-being in Chinese adults

BACKGROUND

Salivary C-reactive protein (CRP) could be a viable biomarker of inflammation and has been associated with stress outcomes. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis can modulate stress-related inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the interaction effects of immune-endocrine markers on psychological outcomes.

METHODS

The study participants were 52 healthy Chinese adults who collected 10 saliva samples over 2 consecutive days at baseline. The participants completed validated measures on anxiety, depression, positive affect, and sleep disturbance at baseline and 1 month later. The stability and diurnal patterns of salivary cortisol and CRP were investigated via paired t-tests and repeated-measures analyses of variance. Regression analysis was used to examine the longitudinal associations between immune-endocrine markers and their interactions (cortisol [Cort]: morning CRP [CRP_morn] and Cort:CRP_even) and psychological measures.

RESULTS

Salivary cortisol and CRP displayed satisfactory stability over 2 consecutive days and diurnal patterns of abrupt and gradual decline during the day, respectively. Controlling for baseline psychological measures and confounding variables, Cort_morn and diurnal cortisol slope was significantly and negatively associated with anxiety symptoms and positive affect 1 month later, respectively. Cort:CRP_even and Cort:CRP_morn was significantly and positively associated with depressive symptoms and sleep disturbance 1 month later, respectively.

CONCLUSION

These findings offer initial support for the prognostic utility of salivary cortisol and CRP and their balance as determinants of psychological health in healthy adults.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation modulates coupling among large-scale brain networks in heroin-dependent individuals: A randomized resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study

The abnormal interactions of three key large-scale brain networks (default mode [DMN], salience and executive control [ECN]) were showed underlie dysfunctions in heroin addiction. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is a potential treatment for heroin addiction. It is unclear whether impaired coupling among the large-scale brain networks would be improved by rTMS in treated heroin-dependent individuals. Thirty-five heroin-dependent individuals were included in this sham-controlled, randomized study. The patients received either active or sham rTMS for 1 week. The craving for heroin and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were collected before and after 1-week rTMS. Twenty-two healthy subjects were included as controls not receiving rTMS. After 1-week rTMS, only the active rTMS group showed a significant decrease in spontaneous and heroin cue-induced craving. The coupling between left DLPFC (a key node of left ECN) and left parahippocampal gyrus (PHG, included in DMN) significantly increased for the active group with a tendency towards that of controls. The coupling between the right precentral gyrus and three key regions included in DMN (posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus and bilateral inferior parietal cortex) significantly decreased for the active group with a tendency towards that of healthy controls. For the active rTMS individuals, the left DLPFC-PHG coupling negatively correlated with the spontaneous craving and the drug cue-induced craving. It suggested that the rTMS could reduce heroin craving, which might be related to the modulation of ECN-DMN coupling. This finding might shed light on the mechanism of rTMS for heroin addiction treatment.

Reliability and validity of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index among frontline COVID-19 health care workers using classical test theory and item response theory

STUDY OBJECTIVES

The applicability of sleep-related scales to frontline medical staff for the COVID-19 pandemic has not been fully proved, so sleep survey results lack credibility and accuracy, creating difficulties for the guidance and treatment of frontline medical staff with sleep disorders, which is not conducive to the prevention and control of COVID-19. This study sought to analyze the reliability and validity of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) among frontline medical staff fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

A network questionnaire survey was used to investigate the PSQI among frontline medical staff who fought COVID-19 in Wuhan, China from March 19 to April 15, 2020. Combined with classical test theory and item response theory, the content validity, internal consistency, construct validity, and other aspects of the PSQI were evaluated.

RESULTS

According to classical test theory, content validity, criterion validity, and construct validity of the PSQI were good. But the internal consistency was better after the deletion of the "daytime dysfunction" subscale. With regard to item response theory, difficulty, the differential item function, and the Wright map performed well.

CONCLUSIONS

The original PSQI showed acceptable applicability in frontline COVID-19 medical staff, and its characteristics moderately improved after the "daytime dysfunction" subscale was removed.

CITATION

Wang L, Wu Y-X, Lin Y-Q, et al. Reliability and validity of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index among frontline COVID-19 health care workers using classical test theory and item response theory. J Clin Sleep Med. 2022;18(2):541-551.

Implementing an evidence-based somatic acupressure intervention in breast cancer survivors with the symptom cluster of fatigue, sleep disturbance and depression: study protocol of a phase II randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

The fatigue-sleep disturbance-depression (FSD) symptom cluster, as one of the most common symptom clusters in breast cancer (BC) survivors, can significantly decrease patients' quality of life. Since the management of the FSD symptom cluster has been unsatisfactory with the use of pharmacological treatments alone, non-pharmacological approaches have, therefore, been recommended. Somatic acupressure (SA) is a promising approach given its potential benefits of cancer-related symptom alleviation and the convenience of self-practice. However, research evidence on using acupressure to manage the FSD symptom cluster has been limited. The proposed trial aims to examine the feasibility and preliminary effects of an evidence-based SA intervention for FSD symptom cluster management in BC survivors.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study will be a phase II randomised controlled trial with three study arms and 1:1:1 allocation. Fifty-one early-stage BC survivors who are experiencing the FSD symptom cluster will be randomly assigned to a true SA group, a sham SA group or a usual care group. All participants will receive an education booklet regarding FSD symptom cluster management advice as the usual care package. The participants in the true SA group will additionally receive a 7-week self-administered SA intervention. The participants in the sham SA group will additionally receive self-administered light acupressure at non-acupoints with the same frequency, session and duration as the true SA group. The primary outcomes will be feasibility outcomes related to subject recruitment and completion of study questionnaires and interventions. The secondary outcomes will be the effects of SA on fatigue, sleep disturbance, depression and quality of life. Descriptive statistics will be used to present all the outcomes. The secondary outcomes will be analysed using an intent-to-treat approach.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethical approvals of this trial have been granted by the Human Research Ethics Committee at Charles Darwin University (H19017) and the Clinical Trial Ethics Committee at The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University (KY2019039). Findings from this trial will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at professional conferences.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

This trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov and the registration number is NCT04118140, with the stage at Recruiting.

Differentiating the associations between sleep quality and suicide behaviors: A population-based study in China

BACKGROUND

Although the association between sleep problems and suicidal behaviors were found in many studies, their associations are not built until now. One of the reasons may be the identified differences among different suicide behaviors, which also implied that sleep quality may play different roles on these suicidal behaviors. However, absent study explores the possible distinguishing associations between sleep quality and different suicidal behaviors.

METHODS

This is a population-based study conducted in Hebei province, China. Totally, 21,376 valid questionnaires were analyzed in this study. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was used to evaluate sleep quality. Suicidal behaviors, living alone, and social-demographic variables were assessed for all the participants.

RESULTS

The prevalence of suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt were 1.4%, 0.3%, and 0.2%, respectively. The PSQI scores were separately associated with suicidal ideation (OR=1.25, p<0.001), plan (OR=1.19, p<0.001), and attempt (OR=1.18, p<0.001). The similar results were also supported when we compared conditional suicidal behaviors with general population without any suicidal behaviors. However, when we compared suicide attempters with suicidal ideators (with or without suicide plan), the associations between PSQI scores and suicide attempt were not supported (OR=1.93, P>0.05 or OR=1.02, p>0.05).

LIMITATIONS

The cross-sectional design made us cannot get any causal relationships. The self-reported sleep quality may also produce some influence on the results.

CONCLUSION

The results imply us that improving sleep quality may be not effective to control further suicidal behaviors, when people have considered or planned to suicide. The findings also can be translated into the clinical and preventive practice for suicide control.

Investigating obesity-related risk factors for childhood asthma

BACKGROUND

We tested the hypothesis that multiple obesity-related risk factors (obesity, physical activity, cardiopulmonary physical fitness, sleep-disorder breathing (SDB), and sleep quality) are associated with childhood asthma using a Mendelian randomization (MR) design. Furthermore, we aim to investigate whether these risk factors were associated with incident asthma prospectively.

METHODS

In total, 7069 children aged 12 from the Taiwan Children Health Study were enrolled in the current study. Cross-sectional logistic regression, one-sample MR, summary-level MR sensitivity analyses, and prospective survival analyses were used to investigate each causal pathway.

RESULTS

In MR analysis, three of the five risk factors (obesity, SDB, and sleep quality) were associated with asthma, with the highest effect sizes per inter-quartile range (IQR) increase observed for sleep quality (odds ratio [OR] = 1.42; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06 to 1.92) and the lowest for obesity (OR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.00-1.16). In the prospective survival analysis, obesity showed the highest risk of incident asthma per IQR increase (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.56), followed by SDB (HR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.08 to 1.29) and sleep quality (HR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.17).

CONCLUSION

Among the examined factors, the most plausible risk factors for asthma were obesity, SDB, and poor sleep quality. For the prevention of childhood asthma, relevant stakeholders should prioritize improving children's sleep quality and preventing obesity comorbidities such as SDB.

Distinguishing the Associations Between Evening Screen Time and Sleep Quality Among Different Age Groups: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

The age differences in the association between screen time and sleep problems have been implied in many studies, and this study aims to distinguish the associations between evening screen time and sleep quality among different age groups.

METHODS

This is a population-based, cross-sectional study among community residents aged ≥18 years in China. A total of 21,376 valid questionnaires were analyzed. Sleep quality was measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Averaged evening screen time (AEST), sociodemographic information, and health-related behaviors were also evaluated in this study.

RESULTS

In the 18-to-34-year age group, compared with people without AEST, ≤1 h/day (β = 0.34, p < 0.05) and >3 h/day (β = 1.05, p < 0.001) of AEST were significantly associated with poor sleep quality, and a reverse S-shaped relationship for this association was shown. In the 35-to-49-year and 50-to-64-year age groups, ≤1 h/day (β = 0.43 and 0.36, both p < 0.001), ≤2 h/day (β = 0.43 and 0.31, p < 0.001 and p < 0.01), ≤3 h/day (β = 0.62 and 0.61, both p < 0.001), and >3 h/day (β = 1.55 and 1.88, both p < 0.001) of AEST were positively associated with poor sleep quality. In the 65-year-and-older age group, a J-shaped relationship was found, and ≤3 h/day (β = 0.82, p < 0.001) and >3 h/day (β = 1.84, p < 0.001) of AEST were associated with poor sleep quality.

CONCLUSION

Associations between AEST and sleep quality among different age groups are different. In the 18-to-34-year and 65-year-and-older age groups, acceptable AEST is not related to sleep quality. In the 35-to-49-year and 50-to-64-year age groups, AEST was harmful to sleep quality.

Neuropsychiatric symptoms and altered sleep quality in cerebral small vessel disease

BACKGROUND

Sleep disturbance and neuropsychiatric symptoms are common clinical symptoms of cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, we investigated the relationship between sleep quality and neuropsychiatric performance in patients with CSVD.

METHODS

A total of 30 patients with CSVD and 35 healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. The 13-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-13), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Symptom Check List 90 (SCL90) were used to assess depression, anxiety, and other psychological symptoms, respectively. Sleep quality was assessed using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and cognitive function was tested using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

RESULTS

When compared to the HC group, the patients with CSVD showed increased anxiety and neuropsychiatric symptoms, worse sleep quality, and impaired cognition (p < 0.05). The prevalence of comorbid poor sleep quality in the patients with CSVD was approximately 46%. The patients with CSVD with poor sleep quality also had more severe neuropsychiatric symptoms. After controlling for demographic variables, sex and anxiety significantly predicted sleep quality.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the prevalence of CSVD with poor sleep quality is high, and that sex and anxiety are independent risk factors for CSVD comorbid sleep quality.

Electroacupuncture Plus Auricular Acupressure on Chemotherapy-Related Insomnia in Patients With Breast Cancer (EACRI): Study Protocol for a Randomized, Sham-Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE

Insomnia is a highly prevalent and disturbing symptom in breast cancer patients under or post chemotherapy. If not appropriately treated, it can persist for years after the completion of cancer treatments. Acupuncture has been widely used for alleviating insomnia. The aim of this study is to examine the feasibility, efficacy and safety of acupuncture for chemotherapy-related insomnia among patients with breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This is a trial protocol for a randomized, sham-controlled, subject- and assessor-blinded clinical trial. A total of 138 eligible participants will be assigned randomly to acupuncture or sham control group at a ratio of 1:1. Participants in acupuncture group will receive electroacupuncture (EA) plus auricular acupressure (AA) treatment, while subjects in sham acupuncture group will receive sham EA plus sham AA. Both acupuncture and sham treatments will be given twice weekly for 6 weeks, followed by maintenance treatments once every 4 weeks for 12 weeks (15 sessions totally). The primary outcome is the change of Insomnia Severity Index score between baseline and the end of 6-week treatment. Secondary outcome measurements include Actiwatch, sleep diary, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form, Brief Fatigue Inventory, Acupuncture Expectancy Scale, credibility, and adverse events. Participants will be followed up to 42 weeks.

CONCLUSIONS

This trial will expand our understanding of the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of acupuncture as a treatment for alleviating chemotherapy-related insomnia in patients with breast cancer. EA plus AA, if proven to be effective, can be implemented into routine settings to play a role in insomnia management for patients with breast cancer.

Neural Response to Rewards in Youths with Insomnia

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Insomnia and depression are common comorbid conditions in youths. Emerging evidence suggests that disrupted reward processing may be implicated in the association between insomnia and the increased risk for depression. Reduced reward positivity (RewP) as measured by event-related potential (ERP) has been linked to depression, but has not been tested in youths with insomnia.

METHODS

Twenty-eight participants with insomnia disorder and without any comorbid psychiatric disorders and 29 healthy sleepers aged between 15-24 completed a monetary reward task, the Cued Door task, whilst electroencephalographic activity was recorded. RewP (reward minus non-reward difference waves) was calculated as the mean amplitudes within 200ms to 300ms time window at FCz. Two analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) were conducted with age as a covariate on RewP amplitude and latency, respectively.

RESULTS

Participants with insomnia had a significantly lower RewP amplitude regardless of cue types (Gain, Control, and Loss) than healthy sleepers, F (1, 51) = 4.95, p = .031, indicating blunted reward processing. On the behavioural level, healthy sleepers were more prudential (slower reaction time) in decision making towards Loss/Gain cues than their insomnia counterparts. Trial-by-trial behavioural adjustment analyses showed that, compared with healthy sleepers, participants with insomnia were less likely to dynamically change their choices in response to Loss cues.

CONCLUSIONS

Dysfunctional reward processing, coupled with inflexibility of behavioural adjustment in decision-making, is associated with insomnia disorder among youth, independent of mood disorders. Future studies with long-term follow-up are needed to further delineate the developmental trajectory of insomnia-related reward dysfunctions in youth.

Prevalence, correlates, and impact of sleep disturbance in Chinese meningioma patients

PURPOSE

Sleep disturbance is common in meningioma patients and may lead to disease aggravation and decreases health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, the sleep quality of meningioma patients newly diagnosed and ready for surgery has not been well clarified in China. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence, correlates, and impact of sleep disturbance among Chinese meningioma patients.

METHODS

In this cross-sectional study, meningioma patients were recruited from the Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University from January 2020 to November 2020. A series of questionnaires were applied: the 0-10 Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Short-Form 36 (SF-36), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Independent samples t test, Mann-Whitney U test, chi-square analysis, Pearson/Spearman correlation, and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

One hundred meningioma patients completed the questionnaires. Sleep disturbance affected 43% of the meningioma patients and was linked to many concomitant symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, anxiety, and depression. Binary logistic regression indicated that fatigue and headache were independently associated with sleep disturbance of meningioma patients. Meanwhile, severe sleep disturbance led to lower quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings demonstrated that a considerable number of meningioma patients newly diagnosed and ready for surgery suffered from sleep disturbance, potentially contributing to impair HRQoL. Medical personnel should pay more attention to meningioma patients with sleep disturbance and take effective measures to improve sleep quality, with the ultimate goal to improve their HRQoL.

Reliability and Validity of the Czech Version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index in Patients with Sleep Disorders and Healthy Controls

Objectives

Psychometric properties of the Czech version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI-CZ) have been evaluated only in patients with chronic insomnia, and thus, it is unclear whether PSQI-CZ is suitable for use in other clinical and nonclinical populations. This study was aimed at examining the validity and reliability of the PSQI-CZ and at assessing whether the unidimensional or multidimensional scoring of the instrument would be recommended.

Methods

A total of 524 adult subjects from the Czech population participated in the study. The internal consistency of PSQI was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha. The known-group validity was tested using the Kruskal-Wallis H test to verify the difference between patients with sleep disorders and healthy control sample. For testing the structural validity, a cross-validation approach was used with both exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). For EFA, the maximum likelihood method with direct oblimin rotation and parallel analysis was used.

Results

The internal consistency of PSQI-CZ items was moderate (α = 0.75). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed high specificity (0.79) and moderate sensitivity (0.64) using an optimal cut-off score of 10. The EFA revealed a 3-factor structure with factors labelled as “sleep duration and efficiency,” “sleep disturbances and quality,” and “sleep latency.” The CFA showed that the emerged 3-factor model had a partly acceptable fit, which was better than other previously supported models.

Conclusions

A high cut-off score of 10 is recommended to define poor sleep quality. Given the inconsistency of structural analyses, alternative scoring was not recommended. However, the individual components in addition to a total score should be interpreted when assessing sleep quality. We recommend editing and verifying the PSQI-CZ translation.

Systematic Review of Mind-Body Interventions to Treat Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Background and Objectives: Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic condition distinguished by disabling fatigue associated with post-exertional malaise, as well as changes to sleep, autonomic functioning, and cognition. Mind-body interventions (MBIs) utilize the ongoing interaction between the mind and body to improve health and wellbeing. Purpose: To systematically review studies using MBIs for the treatment of ME/CFS symptoms. Materials and Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched (inception to September 2020). Interventional studies on adults diagnosed with ME/CFS, using one of the MBIs in comparison with any placebo, standard of care treatment or waitlist control, and measuring outcomes relevant to the signs and symptoms of ME/CFS and quality of life were assessed for inclusion. Characteristics and findings of the included studies were summarized using a descriptive approach. Results: 12 out of 382 retrieved references were included. Seven studies were randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with one including three reports (1 RCT, 2 single-arms); others were single-arm trials. Interventions included mindfulness-based stress reduction, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy, relaxation, Qigong, cognitive-behavioral stress management, acceptance and commitment therapy and isometric yoga. The outcomes measured most often were fatigue severity, anxiety/depression, and quality of life. Fatigue severity and symptoms of anxiety/depression were improved in nine and eight studies respectively, and three studies found that MBIs improved quality of life. Conclusions: Fatigue severity, anxiety/depression and physical and mental functioning were shown to be improved in patients receiving MBIs. However, small sample sizes, heterogeneous diagnostic criteria, and a high risk of bias may challenge this result. Further research using standardized outcomes would help advance the field.

Electroacupuncture Plus Auricular Acupressure for Chemotherapy-Associated Insomnia in Breast Cancer Patients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective:

Chemotherapy-associated insomnia is a highly prevalent complaint in breast cancer patients. This study was undertaken to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and preliminary effectiveness of electroacupuncture plus auricular acupressure for chemotherapy-associated insomnia in patients with breast cancer.

Materials and Methods:

In this randomized, wait-list controlled trial, thirty breast cancer patients under or post chemotherapy with insomnia were randomly allocated to the acupuncture or wait-list control group. Participants in acupuncture group received electroacupuncture plus auricular acupressure treatment twice weekly for 6 weeks. Participants in wait-list group received the same regimen of treatment after 6-week of waiting period. Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) served as the primary outcome measurement. Secondary outcomes were sleep parameters recorded with sleep diary and actiwatch, as well as the scores of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer (FACT-B).

Results:

Twenty-eight participants completed study (13 in the acupuncture group vs 15 in the wait-list control group). At week-6 post-intervention, ISI score change from baseline showed significant between-group difference favoring acupuncture group of −2.9 points (95% CI: −5.2 to −0.6, P = .014). The acupuncture group showed greater improvements in the total sleep time recorded by sleep diary (P = .026), scores of PSQI (P = .012), HADS-depression (P = .020), and FACT-B (P < .001) compared with the control group. Improvements were maintained at week-10 and week-14 follow-ups.

Conclusions:

Acupuncture is safe, feasible, and effective for chemotherapy-associated insomnia in breast cancer patients under or post chemotherapy. A larger sample size randomized clinical trial is warranted to confirm the present findings.

Clinical Trial Registration:

NCT03762694.

The prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances in COVID-19 patients: a meta-analysis

Evidence from previous coronavirus outbreaks has shown that infected patients are at risk for developing psychiatric and mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. To construct a comprehensive picture of the mental health status in COVID-19 patients, we conducted a systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances in this population. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, Wanfang Data, Wangfang Med Online, CNKI, and CQVIP for relevant articles, and we included 31 studies (n = 5153) in our analyses. We found that the pooled prevalence of depression was 45% (95% CI: 37-54%, I2  = 96%), the pooled prevalence of anxiety was 47% (95% CI: 37-57%, I2  = 97%), and the pooled prevalence of sleeping disturbances was 34% (95% CI: 19-50%, I2  = 98%). We did not find any significant differences in the prevalence estimates between different genders; however, the depression and anxiety prevalence estimates varied based on different screening tools. More observational studies assessing the mental wellness of COVID-19 outpatients and COVID-19 patients from countries other than China are needed to further examine the psychological implications of COVID-19 infections.

Evaluation of Subjective Sleep Disturbances in Cancer Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Radiotherapy Department

Background: The factors associated with sleep disturbances in cancer patients remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of sleep disorders and predictors associated with sleep disturbance in cancer patients from a radiotherapy department. Methods: Patients with cancers were recruited before the start of radiotherapy from our institution between January 2019 and February 2020. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale was used to assess sleep quality. Descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to conduct statistical analysis. Results: A total of 330 eligible patients were included. Of them, 38.3% (n = 127) had the globe PSQI score >7, indicating that they suffered from sleep disorders. Patients with lung cancer (45.2%) were more likely to suffer from sleep disturbance, followed by cervical cancer (43.8%), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (41.7%), esophageal cancer (41.5%), breast cancer (37.7%), and colorectal cancer (30%). With regard to the PSQI components, the mean sleep duration was 8 h, 20.3% (n = 67) of them reported poor subjective sleep quality, 6.1% (n = 20) needed medication to improve sleep, and 53.6% (n = 177) suffered daytime dysfunction. Multivariate logistic regression models showed body mass index (BMI) ≥ 20 kg/m² [odds ratio (OR) 0.599, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.329-0.948, P = 0.031] and the receipt of surgery (OR 0.507, 95% CI 0.258-0.996, P = 0.048) were the significant favorable predictors for sleep disturbance, while age, gender, marital status, education level, comorbidity, metastasis status, diagnostic status, and cancer type were not significantly associated with sleep disturbance. Conclusions: Approximately 40% of the cancer patients suffer from sleep disturbance before the start of radiotherapy. Patients with BMI ≥ 20 kg/m² and receiving surgery are less likely to develop sleep disturbance in comparison with others.

Sleep Quality of Students from Elementary School to University: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Sleep affects a wide array of health outcomes and is associated with the quality of life. Among students, sleep quality is affected by school stage and grade; however, data regarding the different sleep-related problems students experience at different school stages are limited. In this study, we aimed to explore sleep quality among a student sample ranging from elementary school to university level.

METHODS

Overall, data were examined for 9392 subjects aged 9-22 years. Information on sociodemographic characteristics and other variables were collected through self-administered questionnaires. Sleep quality on school nights was evaluated using the standard Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; global score >5 was classified as poor sleep quality. For the high school sample, logistic regression analysis was used to estimate associations between sleep quality and certain factors.

RESULTS

Of the elementary school, middle school, vocational high school, senior high school, and university students, 7.5%, 19.2%, 28.6%, 41.9%, and 28.5%, respectively, showed poor sleep quality. The high school students reported the highest prevalence of shorter sleep duration (70.8%), day dysfunction (84.7%), and subjective poor sleep quality (17.2%). The elementary school students showed the highest prevalence of poor sleep efficiency (17.9%). The university students showed the highest prevalence of sleep medication use (6.4%). The vocational high school students reported the highest prevalence of sleep latency (6.3%) and sleep disturbance (7.4%). Logistic regression modeling indicated that sleep quality is positively associated with school stage, grade, family atmosphere, academic pressure, and number of friends.

CONCLUSION

Sleep quality and sleep features change greatly from elementary school to university. Interventions to improve sleep quality should consider targeting the specific issues students experience at each school stage. Alarmed by the high prevalence of poor sleep quality among high school students, it is recommended that high school students should be informed of their sleep matter and the consequences.

Sleep quality and its impacts on quality of life among military personnel in remote frontier areas and extreme cold environments

BACKGROUND

Poor sleep quality negatively affects the readiness of military operations and is also associated with the development of mental health disorders and decreased quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the sleep quality of military personnel from remote boundaries of China and its relationship with coping strategies, anxiety, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was performed among military officers and soldiers from a frontier defence department and an extreme cold environment. The participants were surveyed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Trait Coping Style Questionnaire (TCSQ), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Short Form Health Survey (SF-36).

RESULTS

A total of 489 military officers and soldiers were included. The participants had a mean age of 22.29 years. The median overall PSQI score was 7.0 (IQR, 4.0 ~ 9.0), with 40.9% (200/489) of the subjects reporting poor sleep quality. The difficulties with sleep were mainly related to daytime dysfunction due to disrupted sleep, sleep latency, and subjective sleep quality. The median score of the SF-36 physical component was 83.5 (IQR, 73.0 ~ 90.5), and the median score of the mental component was 74.1 (IQR, 60.4 ~ 85.1). Significant correlations were found between the PSQI and SF-36 (r = - 0.435, P <  0.01). Anxiety symptoms, marital status, educational background, and global PSQI score were demonstrated as predictors of a low SF-36 physical component by multiple regression analysis (F = 17.06, P <  0.001, R2 = 0.117).

CONCLUSIONS

Sleep difficulty is a prevalent and underestimated problem in the military that negatively influences HRQoL, especially in physical and social functioning. Evaluation of and education on pain were recommended because of body pain and its negative impacts on sleep quality, coping strategies, anxious emotions and HRQoL.

Subgrouping Poor Sleep Quality in Community-Dwelling Older Adults with Latent Class Analysis - The Yilan Study, Taiwan

The manifestation of older adults with poor sleep quality is heterogeneous. Using data-driven classifying methods, the study aims to subgroup community-dwelling older adults with poor sleep quality. Adults aged 65 and older participated in the Yilan study. Poor sleep quality was defined using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Latent class analysis with the 7 subscores of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index as the indicators was used to generate empirical subgroups. Differences in comorbidity patterns between subgroups were compared. A total of 2622 individuals, of which 1011 (38.6%) had Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index -defined poor sleep quality, participated. Three groups for poor sleep quality were specified in the latent class analysis: High Insomnia (n = 191, 7.3%), Mild Insomnia (n = 574, 21.9%), and High Hypnotics (n = 246, 9.4%). The High Insomnia and Mild Insomnia groups shared similar profiles but different severities in the 7 domains of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. In contrast, the High Hypnotics group had the lowest Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index total scores and insomnia severity but had similar mental and physical comorbid patterns as the High Insomnia group. This finding suggests that poor sleep quality in community-dwelling older adults had various feature-based subgroups. It also implicates the development of group-centered interventions.

Relationships between Severity of Internet Gaming Disorder, Severity of Problematic Social Media Use, Sleep Quality and Psychological Distress

Internet gaming and social media use are prevalent and integral to many people's lives. However, excessive engagement in either could lead to negative health impacts. This study aimed to investigate relationships between severities of internet gaming disorder (IGD) and problematic social media use (operationalized as social media addiction; SMA) with sleep quality and psychological distress among young adults. A cross-sectional study with snowball sampling was conducted among Hong Kong university students in 2019. All participants (n = 300; mean (SD) age = 20.89 (1.48); 122 males (40.67%)) responded to an online survey that included Chinese versions of the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale-Short Form (IGDS9-SF), Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21). Multiple linear regressions demonstrated that IGDS-SF9 scores demonstrated associations with psychological distress measures (standardized coefficient (β) = 0.295 for depression, 0.325 for anxiety, 0.339 for stress, all p < 0.001). BSMAS scores showed similar albeit numerically less robust associations (β = 0.235 for depression, p < 0.001; 0.219 for anxiety, p = 0.001; 0.262 for stress, p < 0.001). BSMAS scores demonstrated associations with poorer sleep quality (β = 0.292; p < 0.001) and IGDS9-SF scores (β = 0.157; p = 0.024) showed a significantly less robust association (p = 0.01 for comparing the two βs). These findings suggest that both severities of IGD and SMA associate with more psychological distress and poorer sleep quality, although the strengths of associations may differ.

Mindfulness facets predict quality of life and sleep disturbance via physical and emotional distresses in Chinese cancer patients: A moderated mediation analysis

OBJECTIVE

Colorectal cancer survivors are at risk of symptom burden and emotional distress. Dispositional mindfulness has been linked with better sleep quality and quality of life (QoL) in these patients. This longitudinal study aimed to examine the associations among mindfulness facets, symptom burden, emotional distress, and functional outcomes.

METHODS

Study sample of this three-wave, 2-month survey was 127 Chinese colorectal cancer survivors. The participants completed the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and SF-12 health survey. Moderated mediation analyses examined the direct and indirect effects of mindfulness facets on QoLs and sleep quality via symptom burden and emotional distress, using acting with awareness as a moderator.

RESULTS

The mindfulness facets had no significant direct effects on functional outcomes 2 months later. Awareness and nonreacting showed significant and positive indirect effects on physical and mental QoL via symptom burden and emotional distress 1 month later, respectively. Awareness, nonjudging, and nonreacting significantly predicted better sleep quality indirectly via emotional distress. Nonreacting showed stronger indirect effects on the functional outcomes among patients with greater awareness.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates longitudinal linkages between dispositional mindfulness and functioning in cancer survivors via symptom burden and emotional distress. Acting with awareness and nonreacting are the two facets that displayed clinical relevance in predicting better sleep quality and QoL.

The mediating role of sleep quality in the association between nocturia and health-related quality of life

BACKGROUND

Even though the negative impacts of nocturia on sleep quality and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) have been documented in previous research, their interrelationship has been poorly studied. This study aimed to explore whether nocturia would affect sleep quality, which in turn affects HRQOL.

METHODS

Participants aged 40 and above were randomly recruited from a Hong Kong public primary care clinic. Participants were asked to report the average number of nocturia (waking up at night to void) pisodes per night over a 1-month period. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the 12-Item Short Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-12 v2) were administered. The mediation analysis was tested using multistage regression approach and bootstrap method.

RESULTS

Of the 500 subjects who completed the survey, 31.2% reported symptomatic nocturia (having ≥2 nocturia episodes per night), and 60.4% experienced poor sleep quality (a PSQI global score > 5). Respondents with symptomatic nocturia had a poorer HRQOL in the domains of physical functioning (PF), role physical (RP) and social functioning (SF), general health (GH), vitality (VT) and physical component summary (PCS) of the SF-12 v2 than those without. Compared with the respondents without poor sleep quality, those with poor sleep quality had poorer HRQOL across all domains and summaries of the SF-12 v2. Mediation analysis found that sleep quality fully mediated the association between nocturia and the PF, RP and SF domains of the SF-12 v2, respectively, and partially mediated the association between nocturia and the GH, VT and PCS domains of the SF-12 v2, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that sleep quality mediated the association between nocturia and HRQOL. To enhance the HRQOL of patients with nocturia, clinicians should not only focus on nocturia symptoms, but also on their sleep quality.

Validation of the Hong Kong Chinese version of the Support Person's Unmet Needs Survey-Short Form

This study describes the psychometric properties of a Hong Kong Chinese version of the short form of the Support Person's Unmet Needs Survey (SPUNS-SF) for caregivers of patients with cancer. A convenience sample of 280 patient-caregiver dyads was recruited between April and June 2018. A subsample of 70 caregivers completed the survey again, two weeks later. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) examined the instrument's factorial structure, ordinal alpha coefficients evaluated the internal consistency, and intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) assessed the test-retest reliability. Convergence validity was evaluated by the correlations with sleep disturbance and caregiver burden in caregivers. The Hong Kong Chinese version of the SPUNS-SF (SPUNS-SFHKC) had a high completion rate of 96.8% (271/280) among caregivers. The original five-factor model provided an acceptable fit with the data in the CFA. The ordinal alpha coefficients were 0.866-0.945, and the two-week test-retest reliabilities were 0.524-0.678. The correlations of the five domains of the SPUNS-SFHKC with caregiver burden were 0.257-0.446, and for sleep disturbance were 0.075-0.464. The SPUNS-SFHKC has a suitable factor structure and psychometric properties for use in assessing unmet supportive needs among Chinese caregivers of patients with cancer. The applicability of the instrument for long-term use still needs to be studied.

Effects of infrared laser moxibustion on cancer-related fatigue in breast cancer survivors: Study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most common and distressing symptom associated with cancer treatment that breast cancer survivors (BCS) experience. We previously found that laser moxibustion may be efficacious for CRF. The primary aim of this study is to determine the specific efficacy of 10.6 μm infrared laser moxibustion on CRF. The secondary aim is to evaluate the effect of infrared laser moxibustion on co-existing symptoms that BCS experience.

METHODS

We will conduct a randomized, sham-controlled, three-arm trial of infrared laser moxibustion (ILM) against sham ILM (SILM) and waitlist control (WLC) among BCS with moderate to severe fatigue. The two intervention groups will receive either real or sham infrared laser moxibustion on four acupoints (i.e., ST36 [bilateral], CV4, and CV6) for 20 minutes each session for 6 weeks (twice per week). The primary endpoint is the change in fatigue score from Baseline to Week 6 as measured by the Chinese version of the Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI-C). Our secondary aim is to compare the severity of co-morbidities (e.g., depression, insomnia, and pain) among the 3 groups.

DISCUSSION

The results of our trial will establish evidence for the efficacy of infrared laser moxibustion for CRF, a very common and challenging symptom.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03553355.