Nurse-guided app-based brief behavioral therapy for insomnia in older adults
Official title: The Effect of Nurse-Led Mobile APP-based Brief Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Run by Taipei Medical University · NCT07842250 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aging adults with insomnia will be asked to try a nurse-supported, smartphone app therapy for four weeks to see if it helps with sleep.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 65 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Taipei Medical University Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Taipei) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 31, 2026 |
| Main results expected | July 31, 2027 |
| Study ends | August 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | September 25, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07842250 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are adults 65+ with ISI ≥15 who own a smartphone and can use the app with or without assistance.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who do not respond to behavioral sleep therapies or have untreated severe sleep apnea or other exclusions may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized trial tests a nurse-guided, app-based brief behavioral treatment for insomnia (BBTI) against face-to-face BBTI and a sleep-education control in adults aged 65 and older. Participants have an ISI score of 15 or higher and own a smartphone. Over four weeks, the app group receives nurse follow-up, the in-person group receives weekly nurse-delivered BBTI, and the control group receives sleep education materials. The study aims to determine whether digital, nurse-supported BBTI can achieve comparable sleep improvements to traditional therapy. Outcomes include changes in insomnia severity and related sleep parameters.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, older adults could access effective insomnia treatment through a convenient app with nurse support.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests behavioral approaches can improve insomnia, with digital delivery showing promise when supported by clinicians.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Aged 65 years or older. * An Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) score of 15 or higher, with the presence of insomnia-related symptoms such as difficulty initiating sleep, frequent nocturnal awakenings, or early morning awakening. * Conscious and able to understand the study information. * Ownership of a smartphone. * Ability to operate the application and complete online questionnaires independently or with assistance from research staff or family. Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of severe psychiatric disorders with an unstable clinical condition. * Diagnosed or suspected moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea that has not been treated. * Adjustment of sleep-related medication dosage within the past four weeks. * Engagement in shift work or night work. * Participants with acute cardiopulmonary diseases. * Participants reporting a pain intensity score of ≥ 5 (on a 0-10 numeric rating scale) that interferes with sleep.
Where it's running
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Taipei Medical University / Taipei Medical University Hospital
Taipei, Taiwan Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: YuFang Chang
- Email: m432114001@tmu.edu.tw
- Phone: +886-906-821-933
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.