Clinical Research Directory

Sleep Optimization to Aid in Recovery Digital Program

The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the usability and feasibility of SOAR (Sleep Optimization to Aid Recovery), a brief and self-guided digital program designed to share evidence-based sleep hygiene information with individuals seeking treatment for an eating disorder. The SOAR program delivers well-established recommendations promoted by the National Sleep Foundation and other professional sleep health organizations. The purpose of this study is not to test a new treatment or intervention per se, but rather to examine how effectively this existing information can be delivered through a digital platform to people preparing for or engaged in eating disorder treatment. By providing these evidence-based strategies in a user-friendly and accessible format, SOAR aims to support healthy sleep habits that may enhance overall well-being and facilitate recovery. The investigators will compare SOAR against a control condition, which would be no intervention (treatment-as-usual). Participants randomized to the control will receive access to SOAR after the follow-up period has ended, if they wish to use it.

Decentralized Clinical Trial of Effectiveness of EnergyPoints App in Cancer Survivors

The purpose of the study is to evaluate whether EnergyPoints, a mobile phone health app that guides the participant to do self-acupressure, can decrease fatigue and improve sleep. Acupressure consists of applying physical pressure with fingers or a device to small locations on the body called acupoints. * The investigators will conduct this clinical trial remotely, allowing participants to use the app wherever they are. Participation will involve using the app daily while wearing a fitness tracker (a Fitbit) on the wrist, answering questions on the app and online, as well as completing a questionnaire and participating in an online interview at the end of the study. Participants will be assigned by chance to one of two groups. In both groups, participants will have a 1 week baseline week (Week 0) to get used to the Fitbit. Participants in the Immediate Group will start the 6 week trial of EnergyPoints immediately (Week 1). Participants in the Wait-List Group will be on a wait-list for 6 weeks during which time they will wear the Fitbit and answer online questions daily and weekly. At the end of the waiting period (week 7), these participants will begin the 6 week trial of EnergyPoints. * The risks to participating are minimal. There is a small risk of bruising or getting sore at a point where participants apply pressure. As with any mobile app, there is the possibility that electronic information could be viewed by third parties not involved in the study. The investigators cannot promise any benefits from participating in the study. However, it is possible that using acupressure might improve fatigue or sleep. Participants may use any other approaches to improve fatigue and sleep while in the study. A pilot study will be conducted first with 8 participants and 1 week periods (1 week baseline, 1 week waitlist, and 1 week intervention followed by an End of Study Questionnaire and Exit Interview

Effects of Latin Dancing on Sleep Quality in Hispanic Cancer Survivors

The primary objective is to assess the feasibility, acceptability and explore the impact of a culturally appropriate Latin Dance intervention vs. Usual Care on sleep quality for Hispanic cancer survivors. Secondary objectives are to examine the preliminary efficacy of a culturally appropriate Latin Dance intervention on secondary cancer- and treatment-related side effects (e.g., Quality of Life, distress, insomnia, fatigue).

Home-Based Auricular Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) for Sleep Quality and Psycho-Academic Outcomes in Health Sciences Students

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and feasibility of a home-based auricular transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) program in Health Sciences university students with poor sleep quality. Participants will be randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either active auricular stimulation (cymba conchae/tragus) or a control stimulation applied to the earlobe. The intervention will be self-administered at home using a low-frequency TENS-like device for 60 minutes per session, 5 sessions per week for 3 weeks. Sleep quality will be primarily assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) before and after the intervention. Secondary outcomes include insomnia severity, daytime sleepiness, perceived stress, anxiety, quality of life, and psycho-academic outcomes.

Low-intensity Hippocampal Transcranial Ultrasound Stimulation for Managing Cognitive and Sleep Dysfunction in Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease

Background: Sleep disturbances, as a common symptom, can jeopardize the brain health and cognitive function and even lead to cognitive impairments in older adults. The co-occurring sleep disturbances cognitive complaints can significantly affect brain functions, and even be implicated as a key contributing factor in the development of prodromal Alzheimer's disease (AD). At present, very few non-pharmacological therapies are developed for managing these comorbidities in older adults. Focused low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) enables to stimulation the deep brain structures, such as hippocampus, with optimized focality and specific frequency. Objectives: 1) To investigate the safety, feasibility and efficacy of a 2-week focused low-intensity hippocampal TUS on the severity of sleep disturbances and cognitive impairments in elderly patients; 2) to determine the sample size of a full-scale randomized clinical trial of low-intensity TUS in patients with preclinical AD; 3) to evaluate the effects of low-intensity TUS on the severity of sleep quality and cognitive functions at 2, 6 and 10 weeks after the treatments. Design: A 2-week randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. Methods: Chinese right-handed preclinical AD patients with sleep disturbances (aged from 60 to 90 years) will be randomly assigned to a 2-week intervention of either low intensity TUS or sham TUS, with 10 participants per arm. Before intervention, T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data is used to construct individual realistic head model. Comprehensive assessments, including sleep quality, cognitive performance and plasma p-tau217, Aß42 and Aß40 will be conducted at baseline, 2nd week, 6th week and 10th week. Program adherence and adverse effects will be monitored throughout intervention.

The Effect of Non Invasive Stellate Ganglion Disrupting on Sleep Disturbances on Postmenopausal Female

The goal of this clinical trial is to asses the effect of non invasive stellate ganglion disrupting on sleep distyrbances on postmenopausal female . The primary hypothesis: There is no effect of noninvasive stellate ganglion disrupting on sleep disturbance parameters of postmenopausal women. There is no effect of noninvasive stellate ganglion disrupting on quality of female's life Non invasive stellate ganglion disrupting with physical modality TENS will be applied on participants of study group. The participants will be screened for estradiol level and assed for the quality of sleep by specialized questionnaire.

Resistance Exercise and Sleep Quality by Chronotype

This study examines whether doing moderate resistance exercises in the morning can improve sleep quality and well-being in young adults. Participants with different daily activity patterns (morning or evening types) will take part in an 8-week online exercise program. The study will compare how exercise affects sleep, mood, and daily rhythm across these groups.

Sleep Disturbances and Their Association With Serum Magnesium Level in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder

This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between serum magnesium levels and the presence of sleep disturbances among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Neurobiological Investigations of Mindfulness, Depression and Sleep Disturbances in Medical Staffs and Community Elders

The research team proposes a multi-year study with the first year focusing on the developmental phase. In this initial phase, we aim to recruit 40 participants (including healthcare staff and older adults) from Shuang-Ho Hospital and the surrounding community to undergo two mindfulness intervention sessions, each lasting four months. We anticipate that these interventions will prevent and alleviate stress and depressive symptoms while enhancing self-awareness and psychological health.

Sleep Hygiene Plus Physiotherapy for Sleep and Disability in Chronic Neck Pain

This study investigates the effectiveness of a combined intervention that integrates sleep hygiene education with physiotherapy exercises in patients suffering from chronic neck pain. Chronic neck pain is often associated with both musculoskeletal dysfunction and secondary sleep disturbances, which in turn may exacerbate pain perception, fatigue, and disability. Traditional physiotherapy exercise programs focus primarily on improving cervical mobility, muscle strength, and postural control, but they do not typically address sleep-related problems that can hinder recovery. The intervention in this study consists of two main components: Physiotherapy Exercise Program - A structured regimen targeting cervical spine mobility, deep cervical flexor strengthening, scapular stabilization, and postural correction. These exercises aim to reduce pain, restore function, and improve overall physical performance. Sleep Hygiene Education - A structured educational module covering principles of healthy sleep habits, including maintaining consistent sleep-wake schedules, creating an optimal sleep environment, limiting stimulants before bedtime, and adopting relaxation strategies to promote better sleep initiation and maintenance. By combining these approaches, the intervention addresses not only the physical impairments associated with chronic neck pain but also the psychosocial and behavioral factors contributing to poor sleep quality. Outcome Measures: Primary Outcomes: Sleep quality, assessed using validated tools such as the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Secondary Outcomes: Disability and functional limitations, measured by the Neck Disability Index (NDI), along with pain intensity assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Fatigue will be assessed by fatigue inventory index Study Hypothesis: The combined intervention of sleep hygiene education and physiotherapy exercise will lead to greater improvements in sleep quality and reductions in disability and fatigue compared to physiotherapy exercise alone. Clinical Significance: If effective, this integrative approach may provide a cost-effective, non-pharmacological management strategy for patients with chronic neck pain, targeting both physical and behavioral contributors to their condition.

Cross-sectional Study of Sleep Disturbance in Hong Kong Children With Cancer Comparing With Healthy Counterparts and Children With Other Chronic Diseases

Sleep disturbances are prevalent among children with chronic illnesses, yet the specific impact of cancer on sleep remains underexplored. This prospective and cross-sectional study aims to evaluate the prevalence, severity, and characteristics of sleep disturbances in Chinese children with cancer compared to healthy peers and children with other chronic diseases. By leveraging validated sleep assessment tools and parental reports, the goal is to identify unique challenges faced by children with cancer. Results might influence the design of personalized interventions aimed at enhancing the overall well-being of children with cancer. This study will enroll Chinese children aged 6 to 18 years, divided into three distinct groups based on their health status: children with cancer, children with other chronic illnesses, and healthy children. A total sample size of 150 participants (50 per group) will be targeted to ensure adequate statistical power for comparative analyses. Recruitment will occur at Hong Kong Children's Hospital or the cancer and chronic illness groups, and healthy children will be recruited from healthy siblings of participants or the healthy children of hospital staff with specific inclusion and exclusion criteria applied to each group to maintain homogeneity and minimize confounding variables.

Low-intensity TUS for Sleep Disturbances in Patients With Chronic Tinnitus

Background: Tinnitus, as a common symptom, can jeopardize the sleep quality and brain function and even lead to hearing loss and cognitive decline in elderly patients. The co-occurring tinnitus and sleep disturbances can significantly affect the cognitive functions and quality of life, and even be implicated as a key contributing factor in the development of prodromal dementia. At present, very few non-pharmacological therapies are developed for managing these comorbidities in elderly patients. Focused low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) enables to stimulation the deep brain structures, such as hippocampus, with optimized focality and specific frequency. Objectives: We aim to 1) investigate the safety, feasibility and efficacy of a 2-week focused low-intensity TUS on the severity of tinnitus and sleep disturbances in elderly patients; 2) determine the sample size of a full-scale randomized clinical trial of low-intensity TUS in patients with tinnitus; 3) evaluate the effects of low-intensity TUS on the severity of tinnitus, sleep quality and cognitive functions at 2, 4 and 6 weeks after the treatments. Design: A 2-week randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial. Methods: Chinese right-handed tinnitus patients with sleep disturbances (aged from 60 to 90 years) will be randomly assigned to a 2-week intervention of either low intensity TUS or sham TUS, with 7 participants per arm. Before intervention, T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) data is used to construct individual realistic head model. Comprehensive assessments, including sleep quality, cognitive performance and quality of life will be conducted at baseline, 2nd week, 4th week and 6th week. Program adherence and adverse effects will be monitored throughout intervention.

Exploring Substance Use, Sleep Disturbances and Reward Sensitivity

According to foreign medical studies, substance use is closely related to reward sensitivity and sleep patterns. The purpose of this research is to understand the relationship between these three factors, which will help improve medical treatment and overall care for substance misuse in the future. Participants will be randomized into CBTi and sleep education groups, and their substance/ alcohol use, sleep parameters and reward sensitivity will be measured at multiple time points.

Better Lifestyle Counseling for African American Women During Pregnancy

The purpose of this randomized controlled trial is to establish the effectiveness of a culturally targeted and individually tailored behavioral intervention to promote maternal glucose metabolism in African American women.

Intervention With Weighted Blankets for Children With ADHD and Sleep Problems: Implementation and Effectiveness

The aim is to study a sleep intervention with weighted blankets in children with ADHD and sleep problems regarding 1) short- and long-term effects on sleep and health-related outcomes in comparison with standard treatment (melatonin), 2) barriers and facilitators to implementation in routine clinical practice, and 3) health-economic outcomes.