Sawaira Ghaffar, Alina Junaid, Zubia Fatima Mirza, Mahrukh Safeer, Umaima Athar Khan, Muhammad Ali, Rabia Noor, Uroosa Kanwal, Noor Kamil, Sana Ejaz

ASSESSMENT OF PHARMACOLOGICAL INTERVENTIONS AND COPING STRATEGIES FOR MANAGEMENT OF INSOMNIA: A SURVEY-BASED STUDY AMONG MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS AND THE PATIENTS WITH INSOMNIA

Introduction

Assessment of pharmacological interventions and coping strategies for management of insomnia: a survey-based study among medical practitioners and the patients with insomnia. Survey assesses pharmacological interventions & coping strategies for insomnia management among medical practitioners & patients. Reveals awareness gaps, medication effectiveness & need for personalized care.

Abstract

Background: Insomnia is a common sleep problem that profoundly impacts health and quality of life globally, influencing everyday functioning and mental well-being. Objectives: The study aims to assess the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions and coping strategies for managing insomnia. Methodology: A cross-sectional, online survey-based study was conducted with 238 participants, comprising 196 non-practitioners (NPs) and 42 medical practitioners (MPs). Statistical analyses evaluated relationships between insomnia awareness, prescribed medications, and demographic factors. Results: The study revealed that 30.43% of individuals with secondary education and 16.67% of those with a bachelor's degree were unfamiliar with the term insomnia. A significant relationship was observed between MPs encountering insomnia patients and the most effective medications they prescribe regarding patient satisfaction (p = 0.021). The relationship between MP types and their medicines for managing insomnia was significant (p = 0.058). The statistical association between participants' gender and the sleep issues they experienced was one of the study's significant findings (p = 0.019 and 0.012). Participants of all ages, genders, and socioeconomic groups knew "insomnia" (p = 0.04, 0.000, and 0.024). Conclusion: This study concluded the significance of a comprehensive and individualized approach to insomnia treatment. It also pointed out that more awareness, proactive screening, and a balanced approach to both psychological and prescription drug therapies are required.

Review

This study addresses the highly relevant and impactful public health issue of insomnia management, drawing insights from both medical practitioners and individuals experiencing insomnia (referred to as non-practitioners). The dual-perspective approach is a commendable strategy to understand current practices, awareness levels, and perceived effectiveness of interventions. By employing a cross-sectional online survey, the authors aimed to gather broad data on pharmacological interventions and coping strategies, providing a snapshot of the landscape of insomnia awareness and treatment from different stakeholders' viewpoints. However, the abstract reveals several methodological and reporting limitations that temper the impact of its findings. While the study aimed to assess the "effectiveness" of interventions, the reported results primarily highlight statistical associations related to awareness, practitioner prescribing patterns, and gender differences in sleep issues, rather than direct measures of therapeutic efficacy or patient outcomes beyond satisfaction. The sample imbalance, with a significantly larger group of "non-practitioners" (196) compared to "medical practitioners" (42), could skew findings, particularly given the broad term "non-practitioners" for what are presumably patients with insomnia. Additionally, some reported findings regarding insomnia awareness appear contradictory (e.g., initial reports of unfamiliarity versus later claims of broad awareness across demographics). The presentation of p-values without corresponding effect sizes or confidence intervals also makes it challenging to gauge the clinical significance of the observed relationships. Despite these limitations, the study's conclusion—emphasizing a comprehensive, individualized approach, increased awareness, proactive screening, and a balanced integration of psychological and pharmacological therapies—is well-aligned with contemporary best practices in sleep medicine. For future research, a more robust methodological design would be beneficial, incorporating longitudinal data collection, objective measures of sleep quality and effectiveness, and a more balanced representation across participant groups. A clearer definition of the "non-practitioner" group and a more detailed exploration of specific coping strategies and their perceived effectiveness would further enhance the utility of such studies in improving insomnia management.

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