Effectiveness of mobile applications in improving insomnia symptoms among adults from multi-community: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: To clarify whether mobile sleep applications alleviate insomnia symptoms among adults from multi-community.

PATIENTS/METHODS: A literature search was conducted using the PubMed, Cochrane, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases for articles related to mobile technology and sleep interventions published between database inceptions and March 27, 2023. We pooled relevant data using a random-effects model, and a meta-analysis was performed using a web version of the Cochrane Review Manager. The effect size was estimated and reported as the combined overall effect (weighted average). Forest plots were created, and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale were used to evaluate studies.

RESULTS

After an initial screening and full-text reviews, seven studies were identified with a total of 10,139 participants (females n = 8844, 87.2 %) recruited from multi-community and not diagnosed with sleep disorders or taking medications. These studies included one cross-sectional study investigating mindfulness meditation apps and six randomized-controlled trials (RCTs), including one with sleep-feedback messaging, one comparing sleep applications with or without a wearable device, and four with multicomponent interventions based on cognitive theory and subsequent behavioral change techniques. In a meta-analysis of three cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)-based RCTs, the intervention group showed statistically significant improvements in insomnia symptoms according to the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index but with high heterogeneity, while two CBT-based RCTs showed no significant improvements in the Insomnia Severity Index with low heterogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS

A small body of evidence supports the use of CBT-based sleep applications to improve insomnia symptoms among adults from multi-community.