Effects of a sleep program on sleep, performance and health in university students: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

The paper describes a planned pragmatic, two-arm randomised controlled trial of a group-based sleep program for university students with insomnia; it reports no outcome data.

• A total of 118 full-time students aged 18-30 meeting diagnostic criteria for chronic insomnia disorder will be randomized 1:1.
• The comparator is a wait-list control group.
• The trial is described as among the first pragmatic evaluations of a structured, group-based sleep intervention tailored to university students with insomnia.

The intervention combines core CBT-I elements with motivational and coping strategies in an interactive, peer-supported group format.

• It consists of 12 weekly 90-minute group sessions followed by nine monthly follow-up meetings.
• Sessions are facilitated by trained coaches.
• The program aims to help students develop self-endorsed routines and competencies for better sleep, creating sustainable changes beyond the program period.

The primary outcome is change in insomnia severity, measured with the Bergen Insomnia Scale.

• Secondary outcomes include subjective and objective sleep measures, mental health, cognitive performance, and academic attainment.
• Further secondary outcomes include health behaviours, physical fitness, and biological markers.
• Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-program (12 weeks), and 12 months.

A mixed methods process evaluation is embedded in the trial.

• It will assess fidelity, acceptability, mechanisms of impact, and contextual influences.

The authors justify the trial by noting that insomnia and poor sleep are highly prevalent among university students and linked to poorer mental and physical health, cognition, and academic performance.

• CBT-I is widely recognised as effective but is difficult to access for the general population and lacks scalability, long-term follow-up, and feasibility in non-clinical settings.
• Existing interventions include CBT-I, mindfulness, and sleep hygiene.
• The authors argue that pragmatic group-based approaches deliverable within the university are needed.

The authors identify the trial's strengths as its randomised design, comprehensive outcome assessment, 12-month follow-up, and embedded process evaluation.

• If effective, the program could provide a feasible, scalable, and cost-effective model to improve sleep, health, and academic performance in young adults in higher education.