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. 2018 May 1;21(5):700–717. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2017.0152

Table 3.

Characteristics of Included Studies

References Study objective Setting and location Sample and participant characteristic Design and data collection Sleep measure and other outcomes Intervention Nighttime sleep and other applicable results
Alessi et al.43 To test whether an intervention combining increased daytime physical activity with improvement in the nighttime environment improves sleep and decreases agitation in nursing home residents. LTCF; one community nursing home, Los Angeles, California n = 29 residents with incontinence; mean age 88.3 years, 90% female RCT with one group receiving intervention + nighttime program and the control group receiving only the nighttime program Sleep: actigraphy (wrist) at night + behavioral observations of sleep Multicomponent—physical activity (increased daytime physical activity) + Sleep hygiene (reduce nighttime disruptions) Positive: Nighttime% sleep increased in intervention group from 51.7% to 62.5% compared with 67.0% to 66.3% in controls
Alessi et al.28 To test a multidimensional, nonpharmacological intervention to improve abnormal sleep/wake patterns in nursing home residents LTCF,a four nursing homes; Los Angeles, California n = 118
Residents with sleep problems; mean age = 86.9 years, 90% nonHispanic white, 77% female
RCT, facility clustered Sleep: Actigraphy (wrist) for 72 consecutive hours of nighttime sleep plus structured behavioral observations of daytime sleep
Other outcomes: Social and physical activities
Multicomponent: Environmental (increased daytime light with 30 minutes sunlight and decreased nighttime light and noise), Physical activity, and sleep hygiene (decreased daytime in-bed time and structured bedtime routine) × 5 days/nights Positive: Significant decrease in daytime sleeping and modest decrease in mean duration of nighttime awakenings in intervention group vs. control
Birocco et al.60 To investigate the role of Reiki in the management of anxiety, pain, and global wellness in cancer patients Outpatient; Italy n = 118
Adults with cancer at any stage and receiving any kind of chemotherapy; mean age 55 years, 57% female
Pre–post test design with one group recruited over three years Sleep: Symptom survey questions Other outcomes: Pain, anxiety, and physical feelings during each session Complementary health practices—Touch: Reiki sessions were provided a maximum of four times during chemotherapy infusions for about 30 minutes Positive trend: 34% of patients reported improved sleep quality, not statistically significant
Cheville et al.39 To estimate the effect of a limited intensity and duration REST (Rapid, Easy Strength Training) exercise program and pedometer-based walking program on self-reported mobility, as well as pain, quality of life, fatigue, sleep quality, and the ability to perform daily activities Home; Mayo Clinic Outpatient Oncology Clinic, Minnesota n = 66
Adults with Stage IV lung or colorectal cancer recruited from an oncology center. Intervention group: 33 patients, mean age 63.8 years, 52% female. Control group: 33 patients, mean age 65.5 years, 42% female. Mostly Caucasian.
RCT, data collected immediately before and after the eight-week intervention Sleep: Symptom Numeric Rating Scales
Other outcomes: Self-reported measures of mobility, function, quality of life, fatigue, and pain
Physical exercises over eight weeks of incremental walking and home-based strength training. A 90-minute instructional session plus bimonthly phone calls by physical therapist to review and advance program goals. Positive: Intervention group reported improved sleep quality compared with the usual care group
Dowling et al.31 To test the effectiveness of morning bright light therapy in reducing rest and disrupting circadian rhythms in institutionalized patients LTCF, two large skilled nursing facilities; San Francisco, California n = 46 Participants with Alzheimer's disease and staff-identified rest–activity disruption; mean age 84 years, 78% female, 80.4% Caucasian RCT, placebo-controlled clinical trial; 12-week protocol with assessments at weeks 1 and 11 Sleep: Actigraphy (wrist) Environmental: Increased daytime light; morning bright light exposure for one hour Monday through Friday for 10 weeks Negative: No significant improvement in experimental group; only those with the most impaired rest–activity rhythm had significantly positive results
Dowling et al.37 To test whether the addition of melatonin to bright light therapy enhances efficacy in treating rest–activity (circadian) disruption in institutionalized patients with Alzheimer's disease LTCF, two nursing homes; San Francisco, California n = 50
Residents with Alzheimer's disease and a rest–activity rhythm disruption; mean age = 86 years, 86% female
RCT, three groups:
Morning bright light + melatonin, morning bright light + placebo or usual indoor light (150–200 lux; control group)
Sleep: Actigraphy (wrist) continuously during each monitoring period, which consisted of five nights and four days (Monday 8:00 p.m. through
Saturday 8:00 a.m.) for a total of 108 possible hours per subject
Multicomponent: Environmental and mind–body practice; two interventions 10 weeks of either morning (9:30–10:30 a.m.) bright light exposure (≥2500 lux in gaze direction) + evening administration of 5 mg of melatonin or morning bright light exposure plus evening lactose placebo administration Mixed: Daytime sleep decreased and daytime activity increased significantly in the light + melatonin group compared with either the light alone or control groups. Neither intervention significantly improved nighttime sleep.
Ducloux et al.51 To assess whether relaxation therapy can improve satisfaction with sleep in hospitalized patients with advanced cancer and sleep disorders Hospital; Switzerland n = 11
Inpatients with advanced metastatic cancer and sleep problems; mean age 61 years in immediate-intervention group and 66 years in delayed-intervention group
RCT; two groups—either immediate (treatments on days three through six) or delayed-intervention group (treatment on days six to nine) Sleep: Numerical rating scale of satisfaction with sleep and a daily sleep diary Mind–body practice—relaxation: One-hour training session (deep breathing exercises, somatic tension release, somatic relaxation), and audio recording before sleep Positive: No significant changes, but both groups' sleep improved
Espie et al.44 To investigate the clinical effectiveness of a protocol-driven cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for persistent insomnia, delivered by oncology nurses Outpatient; two outpatient cancer centers; Scotland n = 150
Adults who had completed active therapy for breast, prostate, colorectal, or gynecological cancer and had problems with sleep; mean age 61 years, 68.7% female
RCT; data collected at baseline, post-treatment, and at six-month follow-up Sleep: Actigraphy (wrist) for 10 days at each of three assessments and sleep diary
Other outcomes: Health-related quality of life, psychopathology, and fatigue
Mind–body practices—CBT: Five weekly 50-minute, group sessions of CBT (stimulus control, sleep restriction, and cognitive therapy strategies) Positive: The intervention group, compared with the control, experienced a mean reduction in wakefulness of 55 minutes per night immediately post-intervention and 6 months after treatment
Fetveit et al.34 To evaluate the effects of bright light therapy among nursing home patients with dementia and sleep disturbances LTCF; one nursing home; Norway n = 11
Residents with dementia; mean age 86.1 years, 91% female
Pre–post test design with one group (subjects served as their own controls) Sleep: Actigraphy (wrist) and nursing staff ratings of sleep/wakefulness disturbances as measured during a two-week pretreatment period and a two-week treatment period Environmental:
Bright light exposure (bright light box with a light intensity
of 6000–8000 lux at a distance of 60–70 cm) for two hours per day (08:00–11:00) for two weeks
Positive:
Following the intervention, sleep efficiency improved, and total wake time and sleep onset latency were reduced. Nurse ratings improved for sleep onset latency, nocturnal awakenings, and daytime sleepiness.
Fetveit et al.35 To investigate the duration of treatment effect on sleep disturbances after the termination of a two-week bright light intervention LTCF; one nursing home; Norway n = 11
Residents with dementia; mean age 86.1 years, 91% female
Same population as in Fetveit et al.34 study
Pre–post test design with one group (subjects served as their own controls) Sleep: Actigraphy (wrist) and nursing staff ratings of sleep/wakefulness disturbances measured at one-week intervals post-treatment and at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after treatment termination, for a total of 462 days of data Environmental:
Bright light exposure (bright light box with a light intensity of 6000–8000 lux at a distance of 60–70 cm) for two hours per day (08:00–11:00) for two weeks
Mixed.: The variables sleep efficiency, sleep onset latency, wake after sleep onset, early morning awakening, total wake time, and time in bed remained positive for four weeks, but then gradually returned to pretreatment levels. After 16 weeks, there was no significant difference from pretreatment for any variable. Sleep onset latency remained statistically reduced up until 12 weeks post-treatment.
Fetveit et al.36 To evaluate the effects of bright light therapy on daytime sleep and waking among nursing home residents LTCF; one nursing home; Norway n = 11
Residents with dementia; mean age 86.1 years, 91% female.
Same population as in Fetveit et al.34 study.
Pre–post test design with one group (subjects served as their own controls) Sleep: Actigraphy (wrist) and nursing staff ratings of average nap duration and total nap duration during the day period (rising time to 3 p.m.) measured at preintervention; at post-intervention; at one-week intervals after treatment; and at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks after treatment termination Environmental:
Bright light exposure (bright light box with a light intensity of 6000–8000 lux at a distance of 60–70 cm) for two hours per day (between 08:00–11:00) for two weeks
Mixed: Average nap duration and total nap duration were significantly reduced post-treatment, but returned to pretreatment levels at four weeks and remained so until 16 weeks post-treatment.
Feng et al.56 To compare acupuncture and an SSRI medication on depression and insomnia in malignant tumor patients Hospital; China n = 80
Adults with malignant tumor, insomnia, and depression with expected survival time greater than three months; age range: 18–75 years
RCT; Control group received anti-depressant SSRI (Fluoxetine HCL); data collected before and after 30-day treatment Sleep: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Complementary health practices—Touch: Acupuncture administered once per day for 20–30 minutes for 30 days Positive: Significant improvement in sleep vs. comparison group.
Fleming et al.45 To examine associations between symptom clusters (sleep, fatigue, anxiety, and depression) following cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) compared with usual practice Outpatient; Scotland n = 113
Participants with insomnia and fatigue, anxiety, or depression among a larger sample of participants who had completed anticancer therapy. Mean age: intervention group, 63; and usual care group; 58. Primarily tumors of breast, prostate, or bowel; most patients were female.
RCT; Secondary analysis (Espie et al., 2008) Sleep: Actigraphy (wrist) for 10 days at each of three assessments and sleep diary
Other outcomes: Health-related quality of life, psychopathology, and fatigue
Mind–body practices—CBT: Five, weekly, 50-minute, group sessions of CBT (stimulus control, sleep restriction, and cognitive therapy strategies) Positive: Most participants at baseline had insomnia and fatigue which significantly decreased post-intervention
Innominato et al.64 To assess the effect of melatonin on circadian biomarkers, sleep, and quality of life in breast cancer patients Outpatient; Canada n = 32
Women with metastatic breast cancer (5–220 months post-diagnosis); median age 55.4 years; 100% female
Pre–post design, one group; repeated measures design Sleep: Actigraphy (wrist), diurnal patterns of serum cortisol and expression of the core clock genes PER2 and BMAL1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Other outcomes: quality of life Complementary health practices—Supplement: 5 mg of melatonin at bedtime for two months Mixed: Significant improvement in a marker of objective sleep quality, sleep fragmentation and quantity, subjective sleep. Morning clock gene expression was increased following bedtime melatonin intake. Melatonin did not affect actigraphy measure of circadian rhythmicity or the diurnal cortisol pattern.
Karaday et al.66 To assess the effect of baby oil on itching, sleep quality, and quality of life in patients receiving hemodialysis for end-stage renal disease Outpatient hemodialysis units; Turkey n = 70
Adults with end-stage renal disease; 35 in intervention group and 35 in control group. Mean age of 54 years; 39% female.
Pre–post design, two groups. Data collected before and 30 days after the end of the intervention. Sleep: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Other outcomes: Level of itching and quality of life
Complementary health practices— Supplement (external): Application of cooled baby oil for 15–20 minutes three times per week on the day before dialysis Positive: Significant improvement in sleep following the intervention, compared with controls
Kwekkeboom et al.46 To test the feasibility and initial efficacy of a patient-controlled cognitive behavioral intervention for pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbance of advanced cancer patients Outpatient oncology clinics; Midwest United States n = 27
Adults with advanced (recurrent or metastatic) colorectal, lung, prostate, or gynecological cancer receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy. 89% women; 96% Caucasian
Pre–post test design, one group. Log of intervention use and symptoms during two-week intervention. Symptom rating immediately post intervention. Sleep: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Other outcomes: Pain, fatigue, and 13 common cancer-related symptoms
Mind–Body Practices: Cognitive behavioral treatment encompassing relaxation, distraction, and imagery exercises Neutral: No significant reductions in sleep problems or other symptoms at the end of intervention, but severity in ratings was reduced immediately after use of each strategy
Low et al.47 To test the effects of emotionally expressive writing in a randomized controlled trial of metastatic breast cancer patients and to determine whether effects of the intervention varied as a function of perceived social support or time since metastatic diagnosis Home; United States n = 62
Women with Stage IV breast cancer. Eighty-seven percent white women, diagnosed a mean of 7.9 years before study, and living with metastasis for a mean of 3.3 years
Pre–post study, two groups. Data collected at baseline and three to four weeks into intervention Sleep: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Other outcomes: Depressive symptoms, cancer-related intrusive thoughts, negative somatic symptoms, and perceived emotional support
Mind–body practices: Expressive therapy, four 20-minute sessions within a three-week interval delivered by phone Negative: No significant effect on sleep among more recently diagnosed women; intervention was associated with increased sleep disturbances for women who had been diagnosed more than 4.7 years ago
Lund (2015)79 To investigate the effect of melatonin on fatigue and other symptoms in patients with advanced cancer Palliative care unit and outpatient; Denmark n = 50
Adults with stage IV cancer (lung, breast, GI, GYN, and others) and reported fatigue; n = 23 treatment group and n = 27 control group; 18 completed all five weeks; mean age of 65 years; 71% female
RCT and prospective follow-up of those continuing to take melatonin Sleep: 15-item (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL) at the beginning and end of each treatment period (days 1, 7, 10, and 17). In part two, patients completed it at the end of each week. Other outcomes: fatigue, quality of life Complementary health practices—Supplement: 20 mg melatonin one hour before sleep while control group received placebo Negative: No significant improvement in insomnia, fatigue, or other symptoms
McCurry et al.27 To investigate the feasibility of implementing a Sleep Education Program for improving sleep in adult family home residents with dementia determining the relative efficacy of this program compared with usual care LTCF, Adult family home; Washington n = 47
Residents with comorbid dementia and sleep disturbances and 37 staff caregivers
RCT; Data collected at baseline, one-month post-treatment, and at six-month follow-up Sleep: Actigraphy (wrist) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale given by caregiver
Other outcomes: Caregiver reports of resident daytime sleepiness, depression, and disruptive behaviors
Sleep hygiene—Education/Information: Caregivers received a four-session sleep education trainings of nonpharmacological approaches to sleep problems and how to implement an individualized sleep plan Positive: Intervention group had decreased frequency of nocturnal behaviors and improved actigraph-measured sleep percent and total sleep time over the six-month follow-up period compared with the control condition
McCurry et al.29 To evaluate whether a comprehensive sleep education program (Nighttime Insomnia Treatment and Education for Alzheimer's Disease [NITE-AD]) could improve sleep in dementia patients living at home with their family caregivers Home; Washington n = 31 Community-dwelling patients with Alzheimer's Disease and their family caregivers; patient age range of 63–93 years; predominantly male and white. n = 17 intervention and n = 19 control RCT; Data collected at baseline and at two and six months after intervention Sleep: Actigraphy (wrist), Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and daily sleep logs. Caregiver self-reports with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and daily sleep diary Multicomponent —Environmental (increased daytime light), sleep hygiene (education/information), and physical activity (daily walking). Three weekly treatment sessions; each treatment component monitored at three biweekly sessions over the following six weeks.
Positive: NITE-AD subjects' sleep improved and control subjects' sleep worsened; NITE-AD patients spent an average of 36 minutes less time awake at night (32% reduction from baseline) and had 5.3 fewer nightly awakenings than controls
McCurry et al.67 To test the effects of walking, light exposure, and a combination intervention (walking, light, and sleep education) Home; Washington n = 132 Community-residing adults with Alzheimer's disease and sleep disorders and their in-home caregivers. Participants were mostly white, female, and around 80 years old. RCT; four groups (three intervention, one control) Sleep: Actigraphy (wrist) of total wake time and caregiver ratings of patient sleep quality on the Sleep Disorders Inventory Multicomponent: Environmental (increased light exposure), physical activity (walking), and a combination. Patients randomly assigned to one of three active treatments (walking, light, or a combination of walking, light, and guided sleep education (NITE-AD) or control group. Positive: Participant in each of the three treatment groups demonstrated similar pattern reductions in actigraph-measured total wake time compared with the control group. Patients in the walking, light, and combination groups were awake 33.1, 39.0, and 39.8 fewer minutes per night, respectively. No differences in caregiver reports of patient sleep among the groups. No differences at six-month follow-up.
Milbury et al.54 To establish the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a dyadic mind–body intervention Outpatient clinic; Houston, Texas n = 10
Patients with small-cell lung disease, including advanced stage three (70%), who were to receive at least five weeks of radiotherapy and their family caregivers
Pre–post test, one group. Outcomes assessed at baseline and during the last week of radiotherapy Sleep: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Other outcomes: Anxiety, fatigue, health-related quality of life, and spiritual well-being
Mind–body practices—Yoga: Attended two or three weekly sessions of couples-based Tibetan yoga that focused on breathing exercises, gentle movements, guided visualizations, and emotional connectedness. The 15-session intervention was delivered over the course of each patient's radiotherapy treatment schedule. Positive: Nonsignificant improvement in sleep; feasible, safe, and acceptable supportive-care program
Milbury et al.55 To establish the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a couple-based yoga intervention Outpatient clinic; Houston, Texas n = 9
Adults with small-cell lung disease, including advanced stage three (70%), and their family caregivers; mean age of 73 year, 65% female
Pre–post test design, one group. Outcomes assessed at baseline and following the intervention. Sleep: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Other outcomes: Fatigue, psychological distress, overall quality of life, spirituality, and relational closeness
Mind–body practices—Yoga: Participants attended up to 15 sessions of couples-based Vivekananda Yoga (two to three weekly sessions of 60 minutes each over the course of the five to six weeks of radiotherapy). The program consisted of four main components: joint loosening with breath synchronization, postures/deep relaxation, breath energization, and meditation Negative: No changes in sleep for patients although caregivers' sleep significantly improved
Milbury et al.48 To examine the quality-of-life benefits of an expressive writing intervention for patients with renal cell carcinoma and identify a potential underlying mechanism of intervention efficacy Home; United States n = 277
Adults with stage I to IV renal cell carcinoma (28% stage IV). Mean age of 58; 41% female
RCT; Data collected by mail at baseline and 1, 4, and 10 months after the intervention Sleep: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Other outcomes: Depression, fatigue, quality of life, and intrusive thoughts
Mind–body practices —Expressive therapy: Both groups completed four 20-minute writing assignments in their homes over a 10-day period. Negative: No changes in sleep problems. Intervention was significantly associated with reduced cancer-related symptoms and improved physical functioning.
Mosher et al.49 To determine the effect of expressive writing on well-being and sleep quality Home; United States n = 86
Women with metastatic breast cancer and distress. Mean age of 59 years; 81% Caucasian
RCT; Data collected by mail at baseline and eight weeks following the intervention Sleep: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Other outcomes: Fatigue, existential well-being, and psychological well-being
Mind–body practices—Expressive therapy: Four 20-minute home-based writing sessions over four to seven weeks prompted by phone-based psychology research fellow. Negative: No improvement in sleep or other outcomes following the intervention in either group
Nakamura (2013)80 To evaluate the effects of two mind–body interventions (mind–body bridging and mindfulness meditation) on sleep disturbance and comorbid symptoms, as compared with sleep hygiene education (control) Outpatient cancer support center; Utah n = 55
Adults with cancer who have completed treatment and have clinically significant self-reported sleep disturbance, randomly assigned to treatment groups. Mostly white females with breast cancer, including metastatic disease.
RCT, three-arm parallel groups. Data collected at baseline, post-intervention, and at two-month follow-up Sleep: Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale (self-report)
Other outcomes: Life/well-being, stress, depression, mindfulness, self-compassion, emotional functioning, and affect
Mind–body practices—Meditation (mindfulness meditation) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (mind–body bridging) compared with an active control (sleep hygiene education). All interventions delivered in three two-hour sessions, once a week for three consecutive weeks Positive: All groups demonstrated improved sleep following the intervention, with mean improvements in self-reported sleep scores of 22.29 mind–body bridging, 18.70 for mindfulness meditation, and 12.11 for sleep hygiene control. Compared with control, meditation and mind–body bridging continued to be effective at two-month follow-up.
Ouslander et al.26 To improve nighttime sleep in nursing home patients LTCF Nursing home; Georgia n = 160
Residents without the ability to walk without assistance from eight urban nursing homes (96–240 beds)
RCT (cluster-unit crossover intervention). Data collected at baseline assessments, during immediate-intervention phase, and following the intervention Sleep: Actigraphy (wrist) in all participants and polysomnography in a subgroup of 45 participants chosen randomly Multicomponent—Environmental (Increased light exposure from 5 to 8 p.m. and noise abatement), Physical activity (out of bed during the day), and Sleep hygiene (keep out of bed during day and consistent bedtime routine) Negative: No significant changes in any of the actigraphic measures of nighttime sleep; significant decrease in daytime sleep based on behavioral observations and actigraphy
Palesh et al.50 To examine depression, pain, life stress, and participation in group therapy in relation to sleep disturbance Outpatient; United States n = 93
Women with metastatic breast cancer who participated in a group therapy intervention
RCT; Secondary analysis of a large intervention trial examining the effect of group therapy on symptoms. Data collected at baseline and after 4, 8, and 12 months. Sleep: Six-item version of Structured Insomnia Interview Other outcomes: Depression, pain, and life stress Mind–body practices—Expressive therapy: One year of weekly group therapy and educational materials (existential concerns, expression and management of disease-related emotions, increasing social support, and improving symptom control) Negative: Primary study did not reduce sleep issues and this analysis found worsening of sleep disturbances over 12 months, which was predicted by baseline depression, pain, and life stress scores and was strongly associated with increases in depression and pain scores over that time
Park et al.63 To compare the effects of aroma hand massage vs. hand massage among hospitalized hospice patients Hospice n = 30
Hospice patients; 53% age 50–69 years; 41% female
Pre–post test design (two groups). Data collected Sleep: Verran and Snyder-Halpern Scale
Other outcomes: fatigue
Complementary Health practices—Touch + Smell: Hand massage and aromatherapy Positive trend toward improved sleep in the aroma massage group compared with hand massage only
Plaskota et al.52 To assess the effectiveness of hypnotherapy in the management of sleep disturbance in palliative care patients Hospice palliative care unit (28 beds); England n = 11
Hospice patients with cancer; median age of 60 years, 73% female
Pre–post test design, one group. Surveys at baseline, the second and last hypnotherapy sessions. Actigraphy recorded continuously for five nights prior and following intervention. Sleep: Actigraphy (wrist) and Verran and Snyder-Halpern Scale
Other outcomes:
Anxiety, depression, and symptoms
Mind–body practice—Relaxation: Four sessions of hypnotherapy, including self-hypnosis, visualization, installation of an anchor, and immune system visualization Negative: Improvement in sleep after intervention but not significant. Found safe and acceptable.
Royer et al.32 To investigate the effects of light therapy on cognition, depression, sleep, and circadian rhythms in a general, nonselected population of seniors in a long-term care facility LTCF; Pennsylvania n = 28
Residents of care facility, about half with dementia; treatment group n = 15 (mean age = 84.3; 53% female), control group n = 13 (mean age = 86.4; 77% female)
RCT; Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of all residents, regardless of diagnosis or symptoms of mood, sleep, or cognitive disorders Sleep: Epworth Sleepiness Scale
Other outcomes: Cognition, depression, and mood state
Environmental—Increased daytime light: Both treatment and placebo groups received the light stimulus in the morning for four weeks in May and June, Monday through Friday each week for a total of 20 sessions Negative: No significant differences between groups
Savard et al.42 To assess the efficacy of individual cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in women with metastatic breast cancer, as well as the treatment's effect on immune functioning and other symptoms Outpatient cancer clinic; Canada n = 37
Canadian women with metastatic breast cancer randomly assigned to treatment (n = 21; mean age of 51.5 years) or waitlist control (n = 16; mean age of 51.7 years) groups; 100% Caucasian
RCT; Data collection at baseline, immediately after treatment and at three and six months post-treatment Sleep: Insomnia Severity Index
Other outcomes: Depression, anxiety, fatigue, quality of life, health behaviors, and several immunological measures
Mind–body practices—cognitive behavioral therapy: Cognitive therapy was conducted individually with eight weekly sessions of 60–90 minutes to develop an optimistic but realistic attitude toward the situation. Positive: Reduced insomnia symptoms post-intervention
Simeit et al.30 To examine the effects of two multimodal psychological sleep management programs combining relaxation techniques with sleep hygiene, cognitive techniques, and stimulus control technique education on sleep and quality of life Inpatient cancer rehabilitation clinic; Germany n = 229
Cancer rehabilitation clinic patients in three groups: control (n = 78; mean/SD age = 57.6/10.9), progressive muscle relaxation group (n = 80; mean/SD age = 60.2/9/2), or autogenic training (n = 71; mean age = 57.6/11.7). Most were women with breast cancer.
Pre–post design, three groups (two interventions). Data collected four times: at start and end of rehabilitation and at six weeks and six months after treatment. Sleep: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQ I-German version) with additional scale of daytime energy
Other outcomes: Cancer quality of life
Multicomponent —Sleep hygiene (education) and Mind–body practice (relaxation): Over three- to four-week stay, all received standard rehabilitation. Two intervention groups received three 1-hour relaxation/sleep hygiene instruction with one choosing progressive muscle relaxation and the other autogenic training Positive: Over time, all groups showed improvement in sleep disturbance, sleep quality, and daytime energy. However, the treatment groups demonstrated a significant improvement compared with the control. There were no significant differences in outcomes between the two intervention groups.
Sloane et al.33 To determine whether high-intensity ambient light in public areas of long-term care facilities will improve sleeping patterns and circadian rhythms of persons with dementia LTCF; North Carolina and Oregon n = 66
Older adults with dementia recruited from a psychiatric facility and a dementia-specific residential care facility
RCT (cluster-unit crossover intervention) Sleep: Actigraphy (wrist) at night and during daytime activity with 48 randomly distributed one-minute observations of each participant, as alert, drowsy, or asleep. Environmental—Increased daytime light: Ambient bright, low-glare light in dining and activity areas under four conditions: morning bright light, evening bright light, all-day bright light, and minimum standard light Positive: Morning light and all-day light were associated with a small increase in nighttime sleep, whereas standard light and evening light with the least amount of sleep; daytime sleepiness varied by cognitive level
Soden et al.58 To compare the effects of four-week courses of aromatherapy massage and massage alone on physical and psychological symptoms and on sleep quality in patients with advanced cancer Hospice palliative care units in hospitals; England n = 42
Patients with advanced cancer (36% with breast cancer). Median age of 73 years, 76% female.
RCT, three groups (two intervention and one control). Data collected at baseline and a week after the last massage, and weekly pain assessments Sleep: Verran and Snyder-Halpern Sleep Scale.
Other outcomes: Pain, anxiety, depression, and symptoms
Complementary health practices—Combination touch (massage) and aromatherapy: All received an inert oil carrier and one group received lavender essential oil through a 30-minute back massage weekly for four weeks. Positive: Compared with controls, sleep improved significantly in both intervention groups (massage and massage/aromatherapy), but the addition of lavender essential oil did not increase the beneficial effects of massage.
Swenson et al.40 To evaluate whether an outpatient, physical therapy treatment (supervised Cancer Rehabilitation Strengthening and Conditioning program) improved conditioning level, functional status, quality of life, and symptoms, including sleep disturbances Outpatient fitness center; Minnesota n = 75
Patients with cancer who were referred to the Cancer Rehabilitation Strengthening and Conditioning program by their medical oncologist and completed the study; median age = 62.6 years
Pre–post test design, one group. Data collected at baseline, at the end of the intensive eight week program and at the end of the maintenance program. Sleep: M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (self report of disturbed sleep)
Other outcomes: Functional status, conditioning level, symptoms, and quality of life
Physical activity: Aerobic exercise and strength training with a physical therapist to increase endurance, strength, and flexibility and decrease oncology-related symptoms × 8-weeks in individual or group sessions plus six-month maintenance Positive: Results following the six-month maintenance program demonstrated significant decreases in severity, relative to baseline, of symptoms, including disturbed sleep. Those who showed the worst performance at baseline showed the greatest improvement.
Tang et al.59 To explore the effects of acupressure on fatigue in patients with lung cancer undergoing chemotherapy Hospital; Taiwan n = 45
Adults with lung cancer (most at Stage IV)
RCT, three groups. Two interventions (acupressure and acupressure with essential oil) and one control (sham acupressure). Data collected one day before initial chemotherapy, and on the first, third, and sixth days of chemotherapy. Sleep: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
Other outcomes: Fatigue, functional status, anxiety, and depression
Complementary health practices—Combination touch (massage) and aromatherapy: During chemotherapy participants e taught how to self-administer acupressure and received a handbook. Then a RA confirmed accuracy. Then participants self-administered acupressure once daily at home. One group received a 5% essential oil compound Positive: Patients who received acupressure with essential oils and acupressure had significantly better sleep quality at the third session than the controls. Those who received acupressure with essential oils had significantly better sleep quality at the final or sixth chemotherapy than controls.
Tang et al.41 To determine the effect of a home-based walking exercise program on the sleep quality and quality of life of cancer patients and to determine whether enhanced sleep quality was associated with improvement in quality of life over time Home; Taiwan n = 71
Adults with cancer; mean age of 54, 55, and 66 years, respectively, for the three groups; 27% female
RCT; Data collected at baseline) and two follow-up visits: one and two months after the initial visit in person by interview format. Sleep: Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (Taiwanese) Other outcomes: Quality of life, perceived exertion, and walking exercise log Physical activity: eight-week walking program Positive: Intervention group reported significant improvements in sleep quality and the mental health dimension of quality of life. Of those that exercised, enhanced sleep quality was associated with reduced bodily pain and improved quality of life.
Tsay and Chen57 To test the effectiveness of acupressure on sleep quality in end-stage renal disease patients Outpatient dialysis centers; Taiwan n = 98
Adults with end-stage renal disease; mean age of 55.5 years; 54.8% female
RCT, three groups; patients randomly assigned to an acupressure group, a sham acupressure group, and a control group Sleep: Pittsburgh sleep quality index and sleep log Complementary health practices —Touch: Acupressure (intervention) or no acupressure (control) massage three times a week for four weeks. The acupoints were chosen on the ears, hands, and feet. Positive: Acupressure group had a significantly greater improvement in sleep reports compared with the control group; however, there were no differences between those in the acupressure group and the sham group or the sham group and the control group).
Toth et al.61 To determine the feasibility and effects of providing therapeutic massage at home for patients with metastatic cancer Home; Massachusetts n = 39
Adults with metastatic cancer; mean age of 55.1 years; 82% female
RCT, three groups (touch, no touch, and usual care). Data collected at baseline and at one week and one month following the intervention. Massage therapists documented (anxiety, pain, and alertness scale). Sleep: Richards–Campbell scale
Other outcomes: Pain, anxiety, alertness, and quality of life
Complementary health practices —Touch: Massage treatment of three 15- to 45-minute home visits by massage therapists. The no-touch group received a sham intervention and the usual—did not receive any visits from the massage therapists. Positive: Trend toward improvement in sleep after therapeutic massage, but not in the control groups
Vilela et al.53 To measure the effects of the Nucare program, a short-term psychoeducational coping strategy intervention, on quality of life and depressive symptoms in head and neck cancer patients Outpatient oncology clinic of hospital; Canada n = 101
Head and neck cancer patients; intervention group: n = 45, mean age of 57.3; control group: n = 56, mean age of 63.9; 95% Caucasian
Pre–post, two groups. Data collected at baseline and at three to four weeks after beginning intervention. Sleep: European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life survey (single item, self-report of sleep disturbance) Other outcomes: Health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety, and fatigue Mind–body practice —Relaxation: The Nucare program teaches coping techniques, ways of thinking, communication, use of social support, healthy lifestyle, and relaxation training. Delivered as small group, one-on-one at clinic, or one-on-one at home. Positive trend for sleep
Weze et al.62 To study the healing effects of gentle touch on physical and psychological functioning in cancer patients and to determine whether or not the treatment is safe. Outpatient center for complementary care; England n = 35
Adults with cancer; median age of 57 years; 66% female
Pre–post test design with one group. Data collected at baseline and following the final (fourth) session. Sleep: Visual Analog Scale
Other outcomes: Stress, pain, and coping ability
Complementary health practices —Touch: Noninvasive touch on the head, chest, arms, legs, and feet for 40 minutes, plus 10-minute rest. Each received four sessions within a four- to six-week period. Treatment meant to enable self-healing mechanisms. Positive trend for sleep
Young-McCaughan et al.38 To investigate the feasibility of an exercise program to improve selected physiological and psychological parameters of health in patients with cancer Outpatient oncology clinics at military medical centers; United States n = 46
Adults with cancer recruited from two military clinics; mean age of 59; approximately half female
Pre–post test design with one group. Actigraph data collected four times, and other data collected pre- and post-intervention. Sleep: Actigraphy (wrist)
Other outcomes: Daytime activity, as well as quality of life and exercise tolerance
Physical Activity: 12-week cardiac rehab program designed to increase exercise tolerance, modify risk factor behavior, and enhance psychological state Negative: No significant improvement in objective measures of sleep, although participants reported significant improvement in sleep

GI, gastrointestinal; GYN, gynecologic; LTF, long-term care facilities; RA, research assistant; RCT, randomized control trial; SD, standard deviation; SRRI, selective seratonin reuptake inhibitors.