Most Proposed Topic :
Committed and Happy Staff (staff wellness / OSH / retention)
Proposed Topic (Second preferred): :
Research and Innovations (new projects / technology / innovations / service models)
Authors: (including presenting author): :
Chan KY (1), Chan MK (1), Chau KC (1), Cheng KL (1), Ip TYL (1), Lue CY (1), Tsui WS (1), Yeung LT(1)
Affiliation: :
(1) Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital
Introduction: :
Insomnia is associated with a higher risk of depression and can worsen depression remission. On the other hand, autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is found to be effective in promoting relaxation. Hence, this project aimed to study the impact of ASMR and sleep hygiene education by community psychiatric nurses on the sleep quality of clients with mood and anxiety issues in the community. Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scales (PSQI) were used for outcome measurement.
Objectives: :
To explore the difference of PSQI, PHQ-9 and GAD-7 ratings (1) among clients before and after receiving ASMR intervention, (2) among clients before and after receiving treatment as usual and (3) between clients after receiving ASMR intervention and treatment as usual
Methodology: :
Thirty participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group receiving ASMR and sleep hygiene education (N=15), or a control group receiving only sleep hygiene education (N=15). The intervention involved attending 2 home visits and 2 telecare with psychoeducational sessions on sleep hygiene for 6 weeks. Additionally, the intervention group listened to pre-selected ASMR recordings focusing on tapping, scratching and nature sounds via a mobile app for 30 minutes per night, suggesting at least 4 nights per week.
Result & Outcome: :
Both groups had significant reductions in GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores. Moreover, the intervention group displayed significantly greater improvements compared to the control group. Regarding sleep, both groups showed some improvements on PSQI components after their respective interventions. Notably, the intervention group had significantly better outcomes than the control group for sleep latency, duration, sleep medication usage, and overall sleep quality. Further analysis found no demographic factors significantly impacted outcomes.
This study suggested ASMR combined with sleep education could enhance sleep quality more effectively than sleep education alone. The findings indicated ASMR was a promising non-pharmacological approach to reduce anxiety, depression, and improve sleep among clients with mood and anxiety issues. Incorporating ASMR into routine care could benefit clients' well-being.
