Comparing Sleep Logs and Wearable Devices for Tracking Client Sleep

Sleep is an essential aspect of our daily lives, and getting adequate sleep is crucial to our overall well-being. It is no secret that sleep is essential for our bodies to rest, repair, and regenerate. In fact, sleep plays a vital role in maintaining a healthy immune system, metabolism, and mental health.

As healthcare providers, monitoring our patients' sleep patterns can provide valuable insights into their health. One tool that has become increasingly popular for sleep tracking is wearable technology, such as fitness trackers or smartwatches. These devices can track a variety of sleep metrics, including the duration and quality of sleep, as well as any disruptions or movements during the night.

The use of wearable technology for sleep tracking has gained popularity due to its accuracy and convenience. Studies have shown that wearable technology can be an effective tool for tracking sleep, even when compared to more traditional methods such as sleep logs. One study found that wearable technology was more accurate in measuring sleep duration and efficiency than self-reported sleep logs. Another study found that using wearable technology to track sleep patterns led to improved sleep quality and quantity.

Wearable technology can also provide helpful feedback and suggestions for improving sleep habits. This feedback can include recommendations for changes in sleep environment, sleep hygiene, or lifestyle habits that can positively impact the quality and duration of sleep.

Additionally, wearable technology can be especially helpful for tracking sleep in patients with mental health disorders. The DSM-5 lists sleep disturbances as symptoms for a variety of mental health disorders, and wearable technology can provide objective data to help clinicians assess the severity of these symptoms and monitor progress over time.

Overall, incorporating wearable technology into your practice to monitor your patients' sleep patterns can provide valuable insights into their health and improve their quality of life. If you are interested in learning more about how to incorporate wearable technologies into your practice to monitor your clients' sleep patterns, we encourage you to reach out to us for more information or to schedule a meeting.

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References:

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St-Onge, M. P., Grandner, M. A., Brown, D., Conroy, M. B., Jean-Louis, G., Coons, M., Bhatt, D. L., & American Heart Association Obesity, Behavior Change, Diabetes, and Nutrition Committees of the Council on Lifestyle and Cardiometabolic Health; Council on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young; Council on Clinical Cardiology; and Stroke Council (2016). Sleep Duration and Quality: Impact on Lifestyle Behaviors and Cardiometabolic Health: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation, 134(18), e367–e386. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000444
Walch, O., Huang, Y., Forger, D., & Goldstein, C. (2019). Sleep stage prediction with raw acceleration and photoplethysmography heart rate data derived from a consumer wearable device. Sleep, 42(12), zsz180. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/zsz180