TY - JOUR
AU - O. Alkhaldi
AU - B. McMillan
AU - J. Ainsworth
A1 - 
AB - BACKGROUND: Sleepio, a digital therapeutic offering digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the United Kingdom as an alternative to offering sleep hygiene or sleeping pills. However, understanding of the referral behavior of general practitioners (GPs) regarding Sleepio is lacking. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using an intervention targeting GPs in Scotland to increase referrals of patients with insomnia to Sleepio. METHODS: GPs working in primary care in Scotland were invited to join the study. GPs were recruited through the Primary Care Research Network in Scotland from June 10, 2024, to October 13, 2024. The behavior change wheel (BCW) was used to inform the design of the intervention. During the intervention, GPs reviewed an orientation on using Sleepio and received a visual reminder midway through the intervention. The primary outcome was the number of Sleepio referrals every 2 weeks over 2 months. The secondary outcome was the change in the GPs' reported confidence level that Sleepio will be successful in reducing patients' insomnia symptoms, and confidence in recommending Sleepio to patients. RESULTS: Of the 23 GPs who joined the study, 16 completed all stages. Overall, 68.8% (11/16) of participants were females, and the mean age was 42 (SD 8) years. The total number of Sleepio referrals in 2 months was 96 for all 16 GPs. In the first 2 weeks of the intervention, the mean referral rate to Sleepio was 22.4% for all 16 GPs, but this rate increased to 45% by the end of week 8. A repeated measures analysis indicated there was no statistically significant difference in GPs' referral rates across 4 data points. GPs' reported confidence level in recommending Sleepio increased significantly (z=-3.436; P<.001), from a mean of 5.44 (SD 1.7; somewhat confident) to 8.13 (SD 2; very confident). CONCLUSIONS: This study explored the feasibility and impact of an intervention aimed at supporting GPs to refer patients with insomnia to the digital therapeutic, Sleepio. Improvements were seen in GP-reported confidence levels at recommending Sleepio. A large-scale intervention and a longer study duration could provide useful information concerning how long the intervention effect on GPs' behavior toward Sleepio referrals might be maintained.
AD - Division of Informatics, Imaging and Data Sciences, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Vaughan House, Portsmouth St, Manchester, M13 9GB, United Kingdom, 44 7415085174.; Centre for Primary Care and Health Services Research, Division of Population Health, Health Services Research and Primary Care, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.; National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Manchester Biomedical Research Centre, Manchester University Hospitals National Health Service (NHS) Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom.
AN - 40854228
BT - JMIR Form Res
C5 - HIT & Telehealth
DA - Aug 25
DO - 10.2196/75359
DP - NLM
ET - 20250825
JF - JMIR Form Res
LA - eng
N2 - BACKGROUND: Sleepio, a digital therapeutic offering digital cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, has been recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the United Kingdom as an alternative to offering sleep hygiene or sleeping pills. However, understanding of the referral behavior of general practitioners (GPs) regarding Sleepio is lacking. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using an intervention targeting GPs in Scotland to increase referrals of patients with insomnia to Sleepio. METHODS: GPs working in primary care in Scotland were invited to join the study. GPs were recruited through the Primary Care Research Network in Scotland from June 10, 2024, to October 13, 2024. The behavior change wheel (BCW) was used to inform the design of the intervention. During the intervention, GPs reviewed an orientation on using Sleepio and received a visual reminder midway through the intervention. The primary outcome was the number of Sleepio referrals every 2 weeks over 2 months. The secondary outcome was the change in the GPs' reported confidence level that Sleepio will be successful in reducing patients' insomnia symptoms, and confidence in recommending Sleepio to patients. RESULTS: Of the 23 GPs who joined the study, 16 completed all stages. Overall, 68.8% (11/16) of participants were females, and the mean age was 42 (SD 8) years. The total number of Sleepio referrals in 2 months was 96 for all 16 GPs. In the first 2 weeks of the intervention, the mean referral rate to Sleepio was 22.4% for all 16 GPs, but this rate increased to 45% by the end of week 8. A repeated measures analysis indicated there was no statistically significant difference in GPs' referral rates across 4 data points. GPs' reported confidence level in recommending Sleepio increased significantly (z=-3.436; P<.001), from a mean of 5.44 (SD 1.7; somewhat confident) to 8.13 (SD 2; very confident). CONCLUSIONS: This study explored the feasibility and impact of an intervention aimed at supporting GPs to refer patients with insomnia to the digital therapeutic, Sleepio. Improvements were seen in GP-reported confidence levels at recommending Sleepio. A large-scale intervention and a longer study duration could provide useful information concerning how long the intervention effect on GPs' behavior toward Sleepio referrals might be maintained.
PY - 2025
SN - 2561-326x
SP - e75359
ST - Encouraging General Practitioners to Refer Patients With Insomnia to a Digital Therapeutic (Sleepio): Feasibility Repeated-Measures Intervention Study
T1 - Encouraging General Practitioners to Refer Patients With Insomnia to a Digital Therapeutic (Sleepio): Feasibility Repeated-Measures Intervention Study
T2 - JMIR Form Res
TI - Encouraging General Practitioners to Refer Patients With Insomnia to a Digital Therapeutic (Sleepio): Feasibility Repeated-Measures Intervention Study
U1 - HIT & Telehealth
U3 - 10.2196/75359
VL - 9
VO - 2561-326x
Y1 - 2025
ER -