Path to Better Sleep: online insomnia program with virtual coaching for Veterans
Official title: Path To Better Sleep + Virtual Coaching: The Effectiveness and Implementation of Internet-Based Self-Management Program for Insomnia in a Regional Healthcare System
Funded at VA Connecticut Healthcare System · NIH-11231661 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This program offers Veterans with insomnia an online CBTi course called Path to Better Sleep plus virtual coaching to help them complete the program and sleep better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Connecticut Healthcare System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (West Haven, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2022 |
| Project end | September 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003366-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11231661 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are Veterans enrolled in VA care who meet criteria for insomnia disorder and are willing and able to use an internet-based program with occasional virtual coaching.
✕Less likely to help
People without insomnia, non-Veterans or those not enrolled in the participating VA system, those without reliable internet access, or those needing immediate in-person psychiatric care may not benefit from this program.
What this research studies
As a Veteran who has trouble sleeping, you might be invited to use Path to Better Sleep (PTBS), an internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy program adapted for Veterans. Some participants will also receive personal virtual coaching to help with motivation, adherence, and applying the sleep techniques. The project embeds coached PTBS into VA clinical workflows using a hub-and-spoke model so more patients in regional and rural areas can access it. Researchers will monitor who starts and finishes the program, changes in sleep, and how best to make the program part of routine VA care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, more Veterans could access evidence-based CBTi remotely with coaching, improving sleep and daily functioning while reducing barriers to care.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show online CBTi can improve sleep, and adding human coaching has been promising for engagement, though implementing coached programs widely in VA settings is still being tested.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Connecticut Healthcare System
West Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hermes, Eric — VA Connecticut Healthcare System
- Study coordinator: Hermes, Eric
Related research
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.