Branched-chain amino acids and sleep: a population-derived study of Australian children aged 11-12 years and their parents.

Micronutrients, particularly amino acids, are thought to play an important role in sleep regulation and maintenance. While tryptophan is a known predictor of sleep, less is known about branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), which compete with tryptophan for transport across the blood-brain barrier. The aim of this study was to determine the association between BCAAs and actigraphy-derived sleep duration, timing and efficiency, and self-reported trouble sleeping. This study examined data on children and adults collected as part of the Child Health CheckPoint study. Linear mixed models, adjusted for geographic clustering, were used to determine the association between BCAAs and sleep characteristics. Complete-case analysis was conducted for 741 children aged 11-12 years old (51% females) and 941parents (87% mothers). While BCAAs were significantly associated with children's sleep duration, timing and self-reported trouble sleeping, no associations were observed in adults, in fully adjusted models. In children, higher levels of BCAAs are associated with shorter sleep duration, delayed sleep timing, and more frequent reports of trouble sleeping.

Association between the use of weight management strategies and weight change among Australian adults over 12 months: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a growing, global public health issue. This study aimed to describe the weight management strategies used by a sample of Australian adults; examine the socio-demographic characteristics of using each strategy; and examine whether use of each strategy was associated with 12-month weight change. METHODS: This observational study involved a community-based sample of 375 healthy adults (mean age: 40.1 ± 5.8 years, 56.8% female). Participants wore a Fitbit activity monitor, weighed themselves daily, and completed eight online surveys on socio-demographic characteristics. Participants also recalled their use of weight management strategies over the past month, at 8 timepoints during the 12-month study period. RESULTS: Most participants (81%) reported using at least one weight management strategy, with exercise/physical activity being the most common strategy at each timepoint (40-54%). Those who accepted their current bodyweight were less likely to use at least one weight management strategy (Odds ratio = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.22-0.64, p < 0.01) and those who reported being physically active for weight maintenance had a greater reduction in bodyweight, than those who did not (between group difference: -1.2 kg, p < 0.01). The use of supplements and fasting were associated with poorer mental health and quality of life outcomes (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The use of weight management strategies appears to be common. Being physically active was associated with greater weight loss. Individuals who accepted their current body weight were less likely to use weight management strategies. Fasting and the use of supplements were associated with poorer mental health. Promoting physical activity as a weight management strategy appears important, particularly considering its multiple health benefits.

Secular trends in Australian school children's sleep and perceived importance of sleep between 1985 and 2013.

AIM: To examine secular trends in Australian children's actual sleep time as well as the perceived importance of sleep between 1985, 2004 and 2013. METHODS: Secular trends in children's sleep and their perception of the importance of sleep across three time points 1985 (N = 401), 2004 (N = 450) and 2013 (N = 395) were examined according to socio-economic status (SES), age and sex. The children self-reported their bedtime, wake-up time and their perceived importance of sleep, among other questions. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in sleep duration between boys and girls in any of the survey years, nor were there differences in sleep duration between SES categories at any time point. Independent of survey year, age, sex and SES, there was a graded difference in sleep duration (minutes) across response categories for perceived importance of sleep. Overall, trends in the perceived importance of sleep appeared to match trends in actual sleep time, but not for all subgroups. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that the sleep duration of high SES Australian school children is returning to, or near to, baseline sleep duration observed in 1985, while the sleep duration of low SES Australian children has remained at low levels.

The concept of capability in pre-registration nursing education: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Capability in nursing education is an emerging concept that includes various requisites, which can be applied in complex or unfamiliar clinical settings. Despite growing research for practising nurses, the requisites of capability for pre-registration nursing students entering the workforce remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to identify the requisites that constitute capability for practice among pre-registration nursing students as well as the enablers to develop capabilities. DESIGN: A scoping review was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. DATA SOURCES: Records published without date restriction were searched using MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, CINAHL, and Scopus databases. Grey literature and reference list searching was conducted. REVIEW METHODS: Sources explicitly reporting requisites of capability or enablers of capability development in pre-registration nursing education were eligible. All global sources written in English and available in full text were included. Data were extracted and synthesised using a specifically designed extraction tool. RESULTS: The number of records reviewed totalled 896. Twenty-three studies met the criteria for inclusion in the synthesis. Nineteen capability requisites for practice were reported. Whilst various enablers to support development of capability requisites were reported, some challenges were also identified. CONCLUSION: This study identified requisites of capability for practice and enablers that may support development of capability in pre-registration nursing education. This holistic set of capabilities has previously not been reported. Given the emerging nature of the concept, this collective set of requisites may not be indicative of all required capabilities of nursing students upon graduation. Efforts to develop a definitive set of requisites and explore strategies to support and enable capability development are needed to advance this concept in the pre-registration nursing education context.

Extent, range, and nature of studies examining sleep in nurses: a scoping review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: This scoping review aims to comprehensively map the extent, range, and nature of studies that examine the various dimensions of nurses' sleep across all health care settings or countries. INTRODUCTION: Over the past 2 decades, the importance of sleep for nurses has gained increasing attention from health care administrators, researchers, and policymakers. Despite growing research in the area, it remains unclear as to how research on sleep in nurses aligns with emerging concepts in sleep medicine more broadly, particularly in terms of how outcomes and predictors are associated with different dimensions of sleep. INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review will include primary studies that examine nurses' sleep. All dimensions of sleep (eg, duration, timing, variability, quality, and common disorders) and all nurses, irrespective of career stage, will be considered for inclusion. METHODS: This review will utilize the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRIMSA-ScR). Databases to be searched include MEDLINE (Ovid), Emcare, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus. A 3-step search strategy will be undertaken to identify primary studies published in English with no date limit. The data extracted will include specific details about the nursing population, sleep dimension, outcome measures, methodology, and key findings. Figurative, tabular, and accompanying narrative synthesis will be used to present the results in line with the review questions. REVIEW REGISTRATION: Open Science Framework https://osf.io/rzc4m.

Time use and dimensions of healthy sleep: A cross-sectional study of Australian children and adults.

BACKGROUND: Sleep is increasingly recognized as a multidimensional construct that occurs within the 24-hour day. Despite advances in our understanding, studies continue to consider the relationship between sleep, sedentary time and physical activity separately, and not as part of the 24-hour day. AIMS: To determine the association between the 24-hour activity composition and dimensions of healthy sleep. METHODS: This study examined data on 1168 children (mean age 12years; 49% female) and 1360 adults (mean age 44years; 87% female) collected as part of the Child Health CheckPoint study. Participants were asked to wear a GENEActiv monitor (Activinsights, Cambs, UK) on their nondominant wrist for eight consecutive days to measure 24-hour time-use. Compositional data analysis was used to examine the association between time use (actigraphy-derived sleep duration, sedentary time, light physical activity and moderate-vigorous physical activity) and dimensions of healthy sleep. Healthy sleep was conceptualized in terms of continuity/efficiency, timing, alertness/sleepiness, satisfaction/quality, and regularity. Time allocations were also examined. RESULTS: The 24-hour activity composition was significantly associated with all objectively measured and self-report dimensions of healthy sleep in both children and adults. Allocating more time to sleep was associated with earlier sleep onsets, later sleep offsets, less efficient and more consistent sleep patterns for both children and adults. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the integral relationship between daily activities and dimensions of sleep. Considering sleep within the 24-hour day activity composition framework may help inform lifestyle decisions to improve sleep health.

Patient activation in advanced chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Patient activation refers to the knowledge, confidence and skills required for the management of chronic disease and is antecedent to self-management. Greater self-management in chronic kidney disease (CKD) results in improved patient experience and patient outcomes. AIM: To examine patient activation levels in people with CKD stage 5 pre-dialysis and determine associations with sociodemographic characteristics, treatment adherence and healthcare utilisation. METHODS/DESIGN: People with CKD stage 5 not receiving dialysis from one Australian kidney care service. Patient activation was measured using the 13-item Patient Activation Measure (PAM-13). Sociodemographic and clinical outcome data (emergency department visits, admissions) were collected from medical records. Morisky Medication Adherence Scale was used to determine self-report medication adherence. RESULTS: Two hundred and four participants completed the study. The mean PAM-13 score was 53.4 (SD 13.8), with 73% reporting low activation levels (1 and 2). Patient activation scores significantly decreased with increased age (P < 0.001) and significantly increased with higher educational levels (P < 0.001). Higher patient activation level was associated with fewer hospital emergency department visits (P = 0.03) and increased medication adherence (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patient activation levels are low in people with CKD stage 5 not receiving dialysis suggesting limited ability for self-management and capacity for optimally informed decisions about their healthcare. Efforts to improve patient activation need to consider age and education level.

"I know what I'm supposed to do, but I don't do it": patient-perceived risk factors that lead to their lower extremity amputations.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to extend on our previous research by exploring patient-perceived factors that lead to their Lower Extremity Amputations (LEA). LEA are a serious complication of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), LEA are thought to be preventable with early detection and management of risk factors. Our previous study identified that these factors extend beyond the typical biological and modifiable risk factors and may also extend to patient awareness and competing priorities. Therefore, this research explored these issues in further detail, identifying patient-perceived factors that lead to their LEA. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive methodology involving non-probability purposive sampling was used to recruit inpatients at a tertiary metropolitan hospital in South Australia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data were transcribed verbatim. Data from the interviews were analysed using thematic analysis and the constant comparison approach. RESULTS: A total of 15 participants shared their perspectives of risk factors for LEA. Two main themes emerged: intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors identified in this study included identity, ambivalence, denial, inevitability, and helplessness. Extrinsic factors related to resources, rapport with healthcare professionals, and management of care. CONCLUSIONS: Through identifying that a combination of perceived personal attributes (intrinsic) and system-level (extrinsic) factors likely contribute to LEA, this study highlights the complexity of factors that contribute to patients' perceptions of what led to their diabetes related LEA. These findings support the importance of a nuanced approach in managing patients with diabetes who are at risk of LEA as it's likely patients' personal circumstances, day-to-day life's requirements and responsibilities, their interaction with healthcare professionals all seemingly contribute to how risks are viewed and managed. Tackling this challenge will require reimagining diabetes care, acknowledgement of risk factors beyond the obvious and addressing persistent access and workforce issues.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness of chatbots on lifestyle behaviours.

Chatbots (also known as conversational agents and virtual assistants) offer the potential to deliver healthcare in an efficient, appealing and personalised manner. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of chatbot interventions designed to improve physical activity, diet and sleep. Electronic databases were searched for randomised and non-randomised controlled trials, and pre-post trials that evaluated chatbot interventions targeting physical activity, diet and/or sleep, published before 1 September 2022. Outcomes were total physical activity, steps, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), fruit and vegetable consumption, sleep quality and sleep duration. Standardised mean differences (SMD) were calculated to compare intervention effects. Subgroup analyses were conducted to assess chatbot type, intervention type, duration, output and use of artificial intelligence. Risk of bias was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment tool. Nineteen trials were included. Sample sizes ranged between 25-958, and mean participant age ranged between 9-71 years. Most interventions (n = 15, 79%) targeted physical activity, and most trials had a low-quality rating (n = 14, 74%). Meta-analysis results showed significant effects (all p < 0.05) of chatbots for increasing total physical activity (SMD = 0.28 [95% CI = 0.16, 0.40]), daily steps (SMD = 0.28 [95% CI = 0.17, 0.39]), MVPA (SMD = 0.53 [95% CI = 0.24, 0.83]), fruit and vegetable consumption (SMD = 0.59 [95% CI = 0.25, 0.93]), sleep duration (SMD = 0.44 [95% CI = 0.32, 0.55]) and sleep quality (SMD = 0.50 [95% CI = 0.09, 0.90]). Subgroup analyses showed that text-based, and artificial intelligence chatbots were more efficacious than speech/voice chatbots for fruit and vegetable consumption, and multicomponent interventions were more efficacious than chatbot-only interventions for sleep duration and sleep quality (all p < 0.05). Findings from this systematic review and meta-analysis indicate that chatbot interventions are efficacious for increasing physical activity, fruit and vegetable consumption, sleep duration and sleep quality. Chatbot interventions were efficacious across a range of populations and age groups, with both short- and longer-term interventions, and chatbot only and multicomponent interventions being efficacious.

Evaluating and improving a model of nursing care delivery: a process of partnership.

INTRODUCTION: Evaluating and improving a model of nursing care is a fundamental part of clinical practice improvement. While Australian nurses are showing increasing interest in improving models of care delivery, more research is needed that addresses and articulates the processes attendant upon evaluating, re-designing and implementing improvements to the provision of nursing care. Providing nurses with an open opportunity to plan, act, observe and reflect on their practice promotes successful partnerships between academics and clinicians. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate and improve the model of nursing care delivery to patients in a general surgical ward using participatory action research. METHOD: Researchers conducted non-participant observations (n = 9) of two hours duration across the 24 h period. Focus groups (n = 3) were used to share non-participant observation data with staff, providing them with an opportunity to reflect on their practice and explore possible solutions. Data was collected in 2008-2009. RESULTS: Two main problem areas were identified as impeding the nurses' ability to provide care to patients: (i) practices and behaviours of nurses and (ii) infrastructure and physical layout of the ward. An overview of issues within each problem area is presented. CONCLUSION: Shifting the focus of task-centred care towards a more patient-centred care approach, results directly in improvements in resource utilisation, improved cost-effectiveness and job satisfaction for nursing staff. New ways of thinking about nursing processes and systems, workflow design and skill allocation will guide hospital administrators and managers in the effective and efficient allocation of nursing work in similar settings.

"I was trying to look after myself, but I really wasn't": Understanding patient's perspectives on risk factors for lower extremity amputations.

BACKGROUND: Lower extremity amputations (LEAs) as a result of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) cause considerable morbidity, mortality, and burden on the healthcare system. LEAs are thought to be preventable, yet the rate of LEAs, particularly in Australia, has risen despite the availability of preventative healthcare services. Understanding patient's perspectives of risk factors for LEAs may provide valuable insight into why many LEAs occur each year. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore patient's perspectives of risk factors for LEAs as a result of T2DM. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive methodology involving non-probability purposive sampling was used to recruit inpatients at a tertiary metropolitan hospital in South Australia. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and data were transcribed verbatim. Data from the interviews were analysed using thematic analysis and the constant comparison approach. RESULTS: A total of 15 participants shared their perspectives of risk factors for lower extremity amputations. Most (86%) of participants were male and Caucasian, with a median age of 66.4 years ranging from 44-80 years. The median duration of diabetes was 25.2 years, ranging from 12-40 years. More than half of the participants had undergone a previous amputation with 86% being unemployed or retired and 73% living in metropolitan Adelaide. Two main themes emerged: competing priorities and awareness. Finance and family care were identified as subthemes within competing priorities. While subthemes in the context of awareness related to lack of awareness of risk, experiences with health care professionals and perspectives of disease severity. CONCLUSIONS: The findings from this research indicate that addressing risk factors for LEAs for patients with T2DM require a holistic and nuanced approach which considers individual patient's circumstances, and its influence on how risks are viewed and managed.

Multidimensional Sleep and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes: Examining Self-Report and Objective Dimensions of Sleep.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to determine the association between objective and self-report measures of sleep and cardiometabolic risk factors for type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This study examines data on Australian adults, collected as part of the Child Health CheckPoint study. Sleep was examined in terms of actigraphy-derived sleep duration, timing, efficiency and variability; and self-report trouble sleeping. Cardiometabolic risk factors for type 2 diabetes were examined in terms of body mass index and biomarkers of inflammation and dyslipidemia. Generalized estimating equations, adjusted for geographic clustering, were used to determine the association between measures of sleep and cardiometabolic risk factors. RESULTS: Complete case analysis was conducted for 1017 parents (87% mothers). Both objective and self-report measures of sleep were significantly but weakly associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. CONCLUSION: Both objective and self-report measures of sleep are significantly associated with cardiometabolic risk factors for type 2 diabetes. Self-report troubled sleep is associated with poorer cardiometabolic health, independent of actigraphy-derived sleep parameters.

Australian podiatrists scheduled medicine prescribing practices and barriers and facilitators to endorsement: a cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Non-medical prescribing is one healthcare reform strategy that has the potential to create health system savings and offer equitable and timely access to scheduled medicines. Podiatrists are well positioned to create health system efficiencies through prescribing, however, only a small proportion of Australian podiatrists are endorsed to prescribe scheduled medicines. Since scheduled medicines prescribed by Australian podiatrists are not subsidised by the Government, there is a lack of data available on the prescribing practices of Australian podiatrists. The aim of this research was to investigate the prescribing practices among Australian podiatrists and to explore barriers and facilitators that influence participation in endorsement. METHODS: Participants in this quantitative, cross-sectional study were registered and practicing Australian podiatrists who were recruited through a combination of professional networks, social media, and personal contacts. Respondents were invited to complete a customised self-reported online survey, developed using previously published research, research team's expertise, and was piloted with podiatrists. The survey contained three sections: demographic data including clinical experience, questions pertaining to prescribing practices, and barriers and facilitators of the endorsement pathway. RESULTS: Respondents (n = 225) were predominantly female, aged 25-45, working in the private sector. Approximately one quarter were endorsed (15%) or in training to become endorsed (11%). Of the 168 non-endorsed respondents, 66% reported that they would like to undertake training to become an endorsed prescriber. The most common indications reported for prescribing or recommending medications include nail surgery (71%), foot infections 474 (88%), post-operative pain (67%), and mycosis (95%). The most recommended Schedule 2 medications were ibuprofen, paracetamol, and topical terbinafine. The most prescribed Schedule 4 medicines among endorsed podiatrists included lignocaine (84%), cephalexin (68%), flucloxacillin (68%), and amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (61%). CONCLUSION: Podiatrists predominantly prescribe scheduled medicines to assist pain, inflammatory, or infectious conditions. Only a small proportion of scheduled medicines available for prescription by podiatrists with endorsed status were reportedly prescribed. Many barriers exist in the current endorsement for podiatrists, particularly related to training processes, including mentor access and supervised practice opportunities. Suggestions to address these barriers require targeted enabling strategies.

Comparison of EMG signal of the flexor hallucis longus recorded using surface and intramuscular electrodes during walking.

The purpose of this study was to compare the use of intramuscular (iEMG) and surface (sEMG) electromyography electrodes to record flexor hallucis longus (FHL) muscle activity during walking, and describe the role of the FHL. Muscle activity was recorded in 12 participants using sEMG and iEMG during treadmill and overground walking. Inter-tester reliability for visual detection of onset and offset of muscle activity was high (ICC = 1.00). During the loading period, the number of bursts of muscle activity was statistically significantly greater using iEMG compared to sEMG when treadmill walking (p = 0.016), and the duration of muscle activity was significantly greater for iEMG (p = 0.01) on both walking surfaces. There were no differences for peak and mean root mean squared (p ≥ 0.07). The FHL activity observed during the loading period (heel strike to forefoot strike) supports the function of the FHL to act as a dynamic ankle stabiliser of the rearfoot, as well as contributing to propulsion during the latter part of stance. The choice of electrodes to detect FHL activity should be dependent on whether the loading and propulsive periods are of interest, and whether treadmill or overground walking will be examined.

Sleep and cardiometabolic health in children and adults: examining sleep as a component of the 24-h day.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Sleep, physical activity and sedentary time are all known to play a role in cardiometabolic health. Compositional data analysis (CoDA) enables us to examine associations between 24-h use of time and health outcomes. METHODS: Data were collected in the Child Health CheckPoint study, a one-off national population-cohort study conducted between February 2015 and March 2016. Wrist-worn actigraphy monitors (GENEActiv Original, Cambs, UK) were used to measure activity behaviours (sleep, physical activity and sedentary time) and sleep characteristics (sleep variability, midsleep, efficiency). CoDA was applied to determine the association between 24-h use of time and cardiometabolic risk markers (blood pressure; body mass index; apolipoprotein B/A1; glycoprotein acetyls; and composite metabolic syndrome score). Substitution modelling (one-for-remaining and one-for-one) examined the associations of reallocating sleep time with other activity behaviours. RESULTS: Data were available for 1073 Australian children aged 11-12 years (50% male) and 1337 adults (13% male). Strong association was found between 24-h use of time and all cardiometabolic health outcomes. Longer sleep was associated with more favourable cardiovascular health. Sleep characteristics other than duration (efficiency, timing, variability) were weakly and inconsistently associated with outcomes. Reallocating time from sleep to moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) had favourable associations with cardiometabolic health, but reallocating from sleep to sedentary time was associated with less favourable cardiometabolic health. CONCLUSION: The 24-h activity composition is strongly associated with cardiometabolic health in children and adults. Days with more sleep and MVPA are associated with improved cardiometabolic health.

Sleep and cardiometabolic risk: a cluster analysis of actigraphy-derived sleep profiles in adults and children.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Sleep plays an important role in cardiometabolic health. Although the importance of considering sleep as a multidimensional construct is widely appreciated, studies have largely focused on individual sleep characteristics. The association between actigraphy-derived sleep profiles and cardiometabolic health in healthy adults and children has not been examined. METHODS: This study used actigraphy-measured sleep data collected between February 2015 and March 2016 in the Child Health CheckPoint study. Participants wore actigraphy monitors (GENEActiv Original, Cambs, UK) on their nondominant wrist for 7 days and sleep characteristics (period, efficiency, timing, and variability) were derived from raw actigraphy data. Actigraphy-derived sleep profiles of 1,043 Australian children aged 11-12 years and 1,337 adults were determined using K-means cluster analysis. The association between cluster membership and biomarkers of cardiometabolic health (blood pressure, body mass index, apolipoproteins, glycoprotein acetyls, composite metabolic syndrome severity score) were assessed using Generalized Estimating Equations, adjusting for geographic clustering, with sex, socioeconomic status, maturity stage (age for adults, pubertal status for children), and season of data collection as covariates. RESULTS: Four actigraphy-derived sleep profiles were identified in both children and adults: short sleepers, late to bed, long sleepers, and overall good sleepers. The overall good sleeper pattern (characterized by adequate sleep period time, high efficiency, early bedtime, and low day-to-day variability) was associated with better cardiometabolic health in the majority of comparisons (80%). CONCLUSION: Actigraphy-derived sleep profiles are associated with cardiometabolic health in adults and children. The overall good sleeper pattern is associated with more favorable cardiometabolic health.

Normative data on the sleep habits of Australian children and adolescents.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To provide normative sleep data on 9-18 year old Australians. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Participants' homes. PARTICIPANTS: 4032 Australians aged 9-18 years. INTERVENTIONS: N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Participants completed a 48h use of time recall, comprising sleep data for one complete night. Sleep duration, bedtime and wake time were compared across age groups, between genders, and between school and non-school days using ANOVA. Sleep duration declined with age (P < 0.0001) at the rate of 12 min/night per year of age on school days, and 4 min on non-school days. Girls slept slightly longer than boys (5 min/night; P = 0.03). Non-school day sleep was 16 min longer than school day sleep (P < 0.0001), with the difference increasing with age. Bedtimes got later with age (P < 0.0001), however there were no differences in bedtimes between boys and girls. Bedtimes occurred 34 min later on non-school days (P < 0.0001). Wake times were very similar across age groups on school days, but increased at the rate of 10 min/year of age on non-school days. Wake times were similar for boys and girls, and occurred on average 82 min later on non-school days (P < 0.0001). Overall, 17% of school days and 20% of non-school days failed to meet the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sleep duration guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Normative sleep data will provide a valuable yardstick for health and education professionals when dealing with sleep-related issues.

Sleep profiles of Australian children aged 11-12 years and their parents: sociodemographic characteristics and lifestyle correlates.

BACKGROUND: Good sleep is a growing public health focus. Given the multidimensional nature of sleep, it is of interest to examine population sleep profiles and determine sociodemographic and lifestyle correlates. METHODS: This study uses actigraphy-measured sleep data collected between February 2015 and March 2016 in the Child Health CheckPoint study. Participants wore actigraphy monitors (GENEActiv Original, Cambs, UK) on their non-dominant wrist for seven days and sleep characteristics (duration, efficiency, timing, and variability) were derived from raw actigraphy data. Sleep profiles of 1043 Australian children aged 11-12 years and their parents were determined using K-means cluster analysis. The association between cluster membership and potential sociodemographic and lifestyle correlates were assessed using Generalised Estimating Equations, adjusting for geographic clustering. RESULTS: Four sleep profiles were identified: Short sleepers, Late to bed, Long sleepers, and Overall good sleepers. Compared to Overall good sleepers, Late to bed cluster were of lower socioeconomic position and had the least favourable diet and activity patterns. Compared to Overall good sleepers, those in the Late to bed cluster had higher sedentary time, lower levels of moderate-vigorous physical activity and a higher consumption of savoury snacks. In contrast, sugary drink consumption was higher in Late to bed children and Long sleeper adults. CONCLUSION: Examining sleep profiles may provide a more holistic way of monitoring sleep at the population level. Future health promotion strategies may be best to consider sleep in terms of profiles, with emphasis on sleep timing and duration.

Objectively measured sleep and telomere length in a population-based cohort of children and midlife adults.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Poor sleep patterns in older adults are associated with chromosomal telomere shortening, a marker of cellular senescence. However, studies have relied on self-reported sleep characteristics, with few data for younger individuals. We investigated whether sleep measured via actigraphy was cross-sectionally associated with telomere length in children and midlife adults. METHODS: A population-based sample of 1874 11-12 year olds and midlife adults (mean age 44 years, SD 5.1) had biological and physical assessments at centers across Australia in 2015-2016. Sleep characteristics, including duration, onset, offset, day-to-day variability, and efficiency, were derived from actigraphy. Relative telomere length (T/S ratio) was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction on genomic DNA from peripheral blood. Multivariable regression models estimated associations, adjusting for prespecified confounders. RESULTS: Both sleep and telomere data were available for 728 children and 1070 adults. Mean (SD) T/S ratio was 1.09 (0.55) in children and 0.81 (0.38) in adults. T/S ratio was not predicted by sleep duration (ß 0.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.02 to 0.09, p = .16, children; ß -0.004, 95% CI -0.03 to 0.02, p = .70, adults) or most other sleep metrics. The only exception was a weak association between later sleep timing (the midpoint of sleep onset and offset) and longer telomeres in adults (ß 0.03, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.06, p = .01). CONCLUSIONS: Objective sleep characteristics show no convincing associations with telomere length in two largely healthy populations up to at least midlife. Sleep-telomere associations may be a late-life occurrence or may present only with a trigger such as presence of other morbidities.

Children's sleep and health: A meta-review.

Sleep is essential for children's health and well-being. Characteristics of children's sleep such as sleep duration, timing, quality and variability are increasingly being associated with a wide range of health outcomes. The purpose of this study is to conduct a meta-review (systematic review of systematic reviews) to examine the relationship between sleep and health in children. A systematic search of four electronic databases (Medline, PsychInfo, Scopus, and Embase) was conducted to identify systematic reviews that examine the association between characteristics of children's sleep and health. Key findings, as well as areas in need of further research were synthesised descriptively. A total of 39 systematic reviews were identified for inclusion, covering areas of cognition, psychosocial health, cardiometabolic health, adiposity and other outcomes such as musculoskeletal pain. There is substantial and consistent evidence relating sleep duration to adiposity and emotional outcomes. The relationships between sleep quality and timing and blood lipids and glycaemic control merit further research. Links between sleep and metabolic syndrome in children appear to be weak and inconsistent. Key areas identified in need for further research included studies that objectively assess children's sleep and move beyond cross-sectional study designs and consider characteristics of sleep other than duration. It was also noted that covariates applied across studies varied considerably and the issue of residual confounding was raised in a number of reviews. Lastly, all reviews reported studies adopted a traditional approach of examining only one aspect of children's sleep. Systematic reviews support the notion that sleep is important for children's health. However, further studies that objectively assess sleep and consider characteristics of sleep other than duration and outcomes other than adiposity are needed. An understanding of sleep as a multidimensional construct and as a component of the 24-h d, is also needed to better understand the relationship between sleep and health in children.