Sleepfect tracker, a researchkit based cross platform app, was created to help users keep track of their sleep patterns and behavior and thereby improve sleep health. The app also explored the feasibility and acceptability of a sleep tracking app for sleep self management.
We submitted an abstract on Sleepfect Tracker app and feasibility of app use for self tracking sleep, with Dr. Azizi Seixas, Assistant Professor from the New York University Grossman School of Medicine to the SLEEP 2020 meeting which was subsequently accepted. Due to Covid-19, the conference was conducted virtually and the abstract has since been published in the 34th Annual Meeting of the Associated Sleep Societies’ Abstract Book.
Sleepfect Tracker app was developed using Appbakery, our DIY app making platform using ResearchKit for iOS and ResearchDroid for Android users. Users answered an onboarding survey and provided permission for the app to access their step counts data and total sleep from Apple’s HealthKit or Android step count sensors or Fitbit (wearable). Users could track their sleep behavior through filling in a daily sleep diary, weekly survey on sleep patterns and a monthly survey on sleep environment.
Sleepfect App Tracker Data
| Total downloads | 395 |
| Unique users answering the surveys | 163 |
| Sleep data points collected | 6429 |
| Step data points collected | 2882 |
Sleep Environment / Sleep Behavior Data
| Worked / studied in bed | 11.1% |
| Having pets in bed | 27% |
| Reading prior to sleeping | 39.7% |
| Watched TV in bed prior to sleeping | 40.3% |
| Drank alcohol prior to sleeping | 11.3% |
| Smoked before going to bed / when awake at night | 9.8% |
| Ate snack at bedtime | 8.1% |
| Ate when awake at night | 6.5% |
| Used electronic devices in their bedroom | 74.3% |
Average Sleep Duration of users based on use of electronic devices in bedroom
| Average sleep duration | Used electronic devices in their bedroom (74.3%) | Did not use electronic devices in their bedroom (25.7%) |
| 4 – 6 hrs | 29.8% | 30.1% |
| 6 – 8 hrs | 52.1% | 31.8% |
| 8 – 10 hrs | NA | 32.45% |
Sleepfect app tracker demonstrated that users could track their sleep and sleep behavior using the app. Participants could make lifestyle changes to improve their sleep patterns and behavior based on the insights that their self reported data revealed.
Nearly 72% of Americans report owning a smartphone and about 20% download health apps on their phones. This provides an excellent opportunity to reach individuals at risk of poor lifestyle factors and support health behavior changes via mobile app interventions. Over the past 10-15 years scientific data has linked bad sleep to serious medical disorders including hypertension/cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mood disorders, overall mortality and even obesity.
