Supportive Care Program to Improve Sleep for Children Age 9-17 Undergoing Stem Cell Transplant at Boston Childrens Hospital

What this Trial Is About

This research focuses on pediatric patients aged 9 to 17 years who are undergoing stem cell transplant SCT and are at high risk for sleep disturbances during their extended hospital stays. Researchers aim to evaluate a program called DREAMS Developing Restful Environments and Management Strategies, designed to provide families with information and tools that may help support better sleep and circadian health during inpatient hospitalization. This single-arm pilot study is supported by the American Cancer Society and led by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The DREAMS program includes an introductory video about sleep experiences for SCT recipients, strategies to improve sleep, and a Sleep and Circadian Care Kit containing ear plugs, a white noise machine, an eye mask, a lightbox, and instructions. Participants and their families will also receive an Actigraph, Fitbit, and tablet to support the intervention. Study procedures involve a baseline survey, the standard stem cell infusion, an in-clinic visit to introduce the DREAMS program and kit, and a follow-up survey. Participants will be involved for about two weeks, during which surveys, sleep diaries, and patient-reported outcomes will be collected. Researchers will measure enrollment rate, acceptability of the intervention, usage of the care kit, and completion rates of assessments. Sleep disturbance questionnaires will be completed at baseline and follow-up. The study will help assess the feasibility and acceptability of delivering the DREAMS program to pediatric SCT patients and their families in a hospital setting.

Developing Restful Environments and Management Strategies for Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Patients