Screening & Assessments

The screening and assessments include following measurements:

Sleep lab measurement (One night, screening/baseline)
Actigraphy measurement (tracks movement and estimates sleep)
Dreem headband EEG measurement
Online questionnaire
Sleep Journal

Below you can find more information about each measurement. You will also receive an information booklet with more details. If you have any questions, you can contact us by sending an email to SleepPainStudy@warwick.ac.uk .

Sleep Lab measurement

What is a sleep study?

An overnight sleep study involves applying polysomnography (PSG) to monitor a range of physiological functions during sleep, including brain activities, heart rate, breathing, eye movements and leg movements.

PSG is the gold standard of sleep measurement. It can be applied to provide real-time information about what your brain and body are doing when you are sleeping, or an overview of your sleep pattern if conducted over several nights and repeatedly.

For this study, we are mainly interested to screen for potential underlying sleep pathologies such as sleep apnea. Furthermore, we are interested in using PSG to obtain some information about the quality and architecture of your sleep. These may provide crucial information to help us understand the kind of sleep disturbance experienced by people with chronic pain.

What happens during the sleep study?

If you agree to take part in a sleep study, you will be asked to arrive at the Sleep & Pain Laboratory usually between 7 pm and 9 pm in the evening. One of the researchers will greet you and lead you to the sleep study room and we will show you the equipment that will be used for the study. This will also be a time for you to ask any questions you may have about the study and the procedure. You will be given time to change into night-clothes and to make yourself at home in the bedroom.

What happens during the sleep study?

Next, the researcher will attach sensors to your scalp and body and this will take about an hour. The sensor sites will be treated with a mild abrasive cream on a cotton-bud and the sensors will be attached via a paste that is a glue-like conducive adhesive and/or medical tape. This is to make sure that we are getting good quality signals from the sensors during the recording.

The bedroom is fitted with an infra-red video camera and the researcher will be able to monitor your sleep from the adjacent room. You will be able to communicate with the researcher in the control room through the intercom system, anytime and if you require any help or assistance.

Once everything is ready for the recording, the lights will be turned out when it is time for you to go to sleep. When you wake up in the morning, all sensors will be removed and there is a shower available to wash up after all the sensors have been removed.

Will the recording disturb my sleep?

None of these monitoring devices is painful. They are all designed to be as comfortable as possible. The sensors may feel strange on your skin at first. However, most people get used to them very quickly.

Sometimes, in preparing the sites for sensor application, some people experience mild skin irritation; please inform us if you have any known sensitivity to particular tapes or if you have a latex allergy. We can adjust the procedure accordingly to make the sleep study as comfortable as possible, within the constraints of a monitored setting.

What to prepare and bring for a sleep study?

Be sure to eat dinner before you arrive as most restaurants on the campus are closed by the time you arrive.
Try not to take any naps on the day of the study as this may affect your sleep overnight.
Use of caffeine, nicotine and certain medications before and during the overnight study are restricted. You will be informed of this when you sign up.
Before coming to the lab, wash your hair thoroughly, dry your hair and do not apply any hair sprays, oils or gels. If used, they could interfere the functioning of the sensors during the study.
Pack an overnight bag to bring with you to the lab - bring comfortable loose fitting (preferably two-piece) pyjamas and a change of clothes for the morning.
Bring your personal toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, shower gel, shampoo, moisturisers, comb/hairbrush, makeup remover, slippers etc.)
The lab provides towels and bedding and there is an en-suite bathroom and shower in the room. You may also want to bring your own pillow, if that helps you sleep in an unfamiliar environment.
You may also bring reading materials, tablets or a laptop for the evening, but you will not be able to use these overnight as they will interfere with your sleep.

A sleep lab measurment will only take place once, at the start of your participation in the study.

Actigraphy Measurement

What is actigraphy?

Actigraphy is a non-invasive method of monitoring human rest/activity cycles. It involves the use of a device called an actigraph, which is typically worn on the wrist like a watch. This device tracks movement (and light exposure), and can provide valuable information about sleep patterns, circadian rhythms, and overall activity levels.

What happens during an actigraphy measurement?

Actigraphs use accelerometers to detect motion and a light sensor to record the intensity and duration of light exposure. They record the frequency and intensity of movements, which can then be analysed to infer periods of activity and rest. Actigraphy allows for continuous recording over multiple days, providing a comprehensive view of a person's sleep and activity patterns.

How will this work during the study?

You will be asked to wear the monitor at your non-dominant wrist for at least a week before the intervention, after the intervention and 3 months after the intervention. While not mandatory, you will be asked to also wear the device during the intervention period. You will receive the device at your sleep lab visit. After the final measurement, you will be asked to send the device back through mail at no cost or someone will come and pick up the device.

Sleep Journal

What is a sleep journal?

A sleep journal is a tool for collecting detailed, subjective data about a participant's sleep patterns, habits, and experiences over a certain period. Sleep journals are usefull to gather information that are helpful to understand sleep behaviors, identify patterns, and associations with other factors such as mental health, physical health, or lifestyle choices.

The following elements are usually recorded using a sleep journal:

Sleep Duration
Sleep Quality
Sleep Onset and Wake Times (including duration and causes)
Daytime Naps
Pre-Sleep Activities: Details about activities before bed, such as screen time, exercise, or caffeine intake, which might influence sleep.
Physical and Emotional Well-being: Notes on the participant's mood, stress levels, or physical health each day, which can correlate with sleep patterns.

How will it work during the study?

Participants are instructed to make daily entries in their sleep journal in the morning (retrospectively documenting the previous night's sleep). We will provide a standardized template / form that participants fill out. This ensures consistency in data collection across participants.

Participants are instructed to fill out the journal at the same times each day to maintain consistency. They are also encouraged to be as accurate and honest as possible, even if some aspects are subjective.

A sleep journal will be used for at least one week before the first session. Participants will be asked ton continue using the sleep journal during the intervention (6 weeks) since it will be used during the sessions as part of the intervention. After the last session, participants will be asked to continue using the sleep journal for at least one more week. 3 months after finishing the intervention, participants will be asked to use the sleep journal for one week.

Online Questionnaire

What are the online questionnaires we use?

Online questionnaires are digital surveys that are distributed and completed over the internet, typically using web-based platforms or survey software. Throughout the project, we will use Qualtrics for setting up and distributing the digital questionnaires. These will be used to collect the following data:

Demographics
Screening variables
Validated questionnaires outcomes
The sleep journal data (through Qualtrics file upload)
Patients satisfaction and intervention safety

How will it work during the study?

Participants will receive an email at baseline, post-intervention and 3-months follow-up with the request to complete the online questionnaires. They can easily access the questionnaire by using the link in the email.