Sleep Hygiene Education in Associate Degree Health Sciences Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of a Transtheoretical Model-guided sleep hygiene education program on sleep hygiene behaviors, sleep quality, and sleep hygiene knowledge among associate degree health sciences students participating in clinical practice. A total of 100 students enrolled in Operating Room Services, Dialysis, and Emergency Medical Services programs were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to an intervention group or a control group. The intervention group received four weekly, face-to-face sleep hygiene education sessions, each lasting approximately 40 minutes, together with brief one-way WhatsApp reminders three times per week. The control group received no sleep-related educational intervention during the study period. Assessments were conducted before randomization and after completion of the four-week intervention. Sleep hygiene behaviors were assessed using the Sleep Hygiene Index, sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and sleep hygiene knowledge using a researcher-developed Sleep Hygiene Knowledge Test. The study aimed to determine whether the structured educational intervention improved sleep hygiene behaviors and sleep quality compared with no intervention.