Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable
Age: 6Years - 12Years
All Genders
ID07323069

The Dreamcatchers Programme - A Nurse-led Multicomponent Interventional Protocol to Improve Sleep Quality in Paediatric Oncology Patients: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Led by Chinese University of Hong Kong · Updated on 2026-01-07

68

Participants Needed

1

Research Sites

25 weeks

Total Duration

On this page

Sponsors

C

Chinese University of Hong Kong

Lead Sponsor

H

Hong Kong Children's Hospital

Collaborating Sponsor

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

Sleep plays a vital role in a child's development, affecting brain function, emotional health, and overall recovery. Children undergoing intensive cancer treatments often experience sleep problems such as difficulty falling or staying asleep, shorter sleep duration, or poor sleep quality. These issues, reported in a significant portion of pediatric cancer survivors, can impact treatment adherence, daily life, and social interactions, highlighting the need for better sleep management in this group. Researchers are evaluating the Dreamcatchers Programme, a nurse-led, multi-component intervention designed to improve sleep quality in children with cancer. The program involves sleep hygiene education, progressive muscle relaxation (PMR), and breathing exercises, delivered through group sessions and weekly follow-ups over four weeks. The intervention group receives these targeted strategies, while the control group continues routine hospital support without sleep-specific content, with access to the program after the study. Participants will attend initial education sessions, practice relaxation techniques, and keep sleep diaries to track habits and progress. Nurses will monitor sleep quality and overall life quality at three months using validated tools. Data will be collected securely and confidentiality maintained. This pilot study aims to assess feasibility and provide preliminary effectiveness results to guide future pediatric oncology sleep care.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

A Nurse-led Multicomponent Interventional Protocol to Improve Sleep Quality in Paediatric Oncology Patients

Who Can Participate

Age: 6Years - 12Years
All Genders

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Children who can read and communicate in Chinese
  • Aged 6 to 12 years old
  • Diagnosed with cancer and currently undergoing active treatment
  • Experiencing sleep disturbances with a Chinese Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score of 5 or higher
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • Diagnosed with hematological diseases unrelated to cancer (e.g., sickle cell anemia, thalassemia)
  • Severe cognitive impairment that hinders following instructions or engaging with the intervention

AI-Screening

AI-Powered Screening

Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility

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Your Study Journey

Screening

Duration - 2 to 4 weeks

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.

1 visit (in-person)

Education and Exercise Intervention

Duration - 4 weeks

Participants in the intervention group attend a nurse-led group education session on sleep hygiene, followed by practical demonstrations and practice of progressive muscle relaxation and breathing exercises. Support materials including video recordings are provided for home use.

1 group education session and weekly in-person follow-ups for 4 weeks

Routine Care Observation

Duration - 4 weeks

Participants in the waitlist control group continue to receive routine hospital support and general pediatric oncology education without sleep-specific content during the study period.

Routine clinic visits as per usual care

Follow-up Assessment

Duration - Up to 3 months after intervention

Participants complete outcome assessments to evaluate sleep quality and overall quality of life three months after the intervention period.

1 follow-up visit (in-person) for outcome assessment

Trial Site Locations

Total: 1 location

1

Hong Kong Children's Hospital

Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong

Actively Recruiting

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Research Team

S

Shuk Yan Mak

W

William Li

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

DOUBLE

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Model

PARALLEL

Primary Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Number of Arms

2

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