Sleep Well At Night

Launched by OUR LADY'S HOSPICE AND CARE SERVICES · Jul 7, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This study, called Sleep Well At Night (SWAN), is a feasibility test of a non-drug, multi-component approach to help sleep disturbances in adults with advanced cancer. It uses three parts: an online cognitive behavioral therapy program for insomnia (CBT-I), daily bright light therapy in the morning, and an individualized plan to increase daytime activity. The study will take place over 8 weeks and includes baseline and final assessments, plus weekly check-ins. Participants will wear a watch to track sleep and activity and keep a sleep diary, with some readings collected in the first and last weeks.

If you are eligible, you would be 18 or older, have a diagnosis of advanced cancer, report sleep problems, score 5 or more on a sleep questionnaire, and be able to participate as an outpatient with enough health to take part (ECOG 1–3, prognosis over 3 months). The trial aims to recruit about 30 people and does not test a drug or device for approval. The main goals are to see how feasible and acceptable this approach is—how many people join, stay in the study, complete the intervention, and what they think about it—while also looking at sleep quality and physical symptoms as secondary outcomes. The study is run in Dublin at Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services, led by Prof. Andrew Davies.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. 18 years old and over
• • 2. Diagnosis of advanced cancer (locally advanced, metastatic)
• • 3. Subjective sleep disturbance
• • 4. Total score of 5 or more on PSQI
• • 5. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 1-3
• • 6. Attending outpatients (oncology and/or palliative care)
• • 7. Estimated prognosis of \> 3 months
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Inpatient
• • 2. ECOG performance status 4
• • 3. Cognitive impairment limiting the ability to complete assessment tools and sleep diary
• • 4. Engaged in shift work
• • 5. A recent exacerbation of symptoms (e.g. pain/nausea/dyspnoea) which may impact sleep
• • 6. History of uncontrolled mania or bipolar disorder
• • 7. Recent history or current thoughts of self-harm or suicide
• • 8. Recent change in antidepressant medication