Charge Your Brainzzz: Evaluation of the Effectiveness and Implementation of an Integrated Approach to Improve Dutch Teenagers' Sleep Health

NCT07371637 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: CYB3
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 1,200
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Poor sleep among teenagers is a major public health issue. Studies show that in the Netherlands, nearly half of adolescents don't wake up feeling rested, one in five feel sleepy during the day, one in four regularly wake up at night, 65% rate their own sleep quality as poor, and 43% sleep less than the recommended 8-10 hours per night. Over the past decade, teenagers' average sleep time has dropped by about 40 minutes. Good sleep health means having a regular sleep rhythm with about 8-10 hours of quality sleep each night. This is crucial, because poor sleep in teenagers can lead to problems with thinking, learning, concentration, and school performance. In the long run, it also increases the risk of serious health issues such as anxiety, depression, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even dementia. Because of these risks, schools, municipalities, and public health services are calling for effective ways to prevent sleep problems among teenagers. The Dutch "Healthy School" program has recently added sleep as a core theme, but proven, practical interventions are still lacking. To address this gap, the Charge Your Brainzzz (CYB) program was developed. CYB is a comprehensive approach designed to help secondary school students improve their sleep and mental well-being. It is based on the Healthy School framework and includes all four pillars: education, environment, policy, and early detection. In 2024, a pilot study tested the CYB approach for its initial effectiveness and suitability. Early results showed positive changes in sleep outcomes and strong appreciation from both schools and students. However, before CYB can be rolled out nationwide, more evidence is needed on its effectiveness, fit with schools, and how it can be sustained over time. That's why this project will conduct a large-scale evaluation of both the impact of CYB and the processes needed for successful implementation. Alongside the effectiveness study, a practical roadmap will be co-created with schools, Healthy School Advisors, and local coordinators to ensure that CYB can be optimally implemented, sustained, and scaled up across schools, municipalities, and public health services across the Dutch public health landscape.

Conditions

Intervention Effectiveness; Implementation Research

Keywords

sleep; adolescent; healthy school; charge your brainzzz; evaluation

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (4)

• Subjective sleep health

  Subjective sleep health will be assessed using a concise questionnaire that comprehensively covers the submeasures (1) sleep duration, (2) sleep quality, (3) sleep efficiency, (4) bedtime routines/sleep hygiene, (5) sleep timing, and (6) daytime sleepiness \[1,2\]. In addition to sleep health, the most relevant behavioral determinants will be measured at each assessment point, alongside the direct targets of the CYB program. These include, for example, the presence of household rules regarding bedtimes and wake-up times, as well as adolescents' sleep hygiene practices, with particular attention to evening screen use and the presence of a mobile phone in the bedroom at night. Time frame of data collection: prior to implementation of the program (T0), within two weeks after completion of the educational component, (T1), and at six-month follow-up after T1 (T2). 1. Buysse (2014). https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.3298 2. Meltzer (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2021.101425

  From the start of the intervention until 6 months after its completion

• Objective sleep duration

  A random selection of approximately two classes per participating school will wear GeneActiv sleep monitors during the three measurement periods (T0, T1, T2) to objectively assess sleep duration and sleep quality. These sleep monitors will be worn continuously on the wrist for a period of five weekdays. These devices measure the activity pattern, temperature, and ambient light surrounding the student wearing them.

  During five weekdays directly prior to the start of the intervention's implementation, within two weeks after its completion, and six months thereafter.

• Objective sleep quality

  A random selection of approximately two classes per participating school will wear GeneActiv sleep monitors during the three measurement periods (T0, T1, T2) to objectively assess sleep duration and sleep quality. These sleep monitors will be worn continuously on the wrist for a period of five weekdays. These devices measure the activity pattern, temperature, and ambient light surrounding the student wearing them. Additionally, during these days, students will complete a sleep diary each morning (approximately 5 minutes).

  During five weekdays directly prior to the start of the intervention's implementation, within two weeks after its completion, and six months thereafter.

• Subjective Sleep Duration

  All participating students will complete a sleep diary each morning (approximately 5 minutes) in which they report their sleep duration.

  During five weekdays directly prior to the start of the intervention's implementation, within two weeks after its completion, and six months thereafter.

Secondary Outcomes (9)

• Students' knowledge on healthy sleep

  Prior to intervention implementation (T0), within two weeks after intervention completion (T1), and six months after T1.

• Students' attitude towards sleep health

  Prior to intervention implementation (T0), within two weeks after intervention completion (T1), and six months after T1.

• Students' self-efficacy in relation to their sleep health

  Prior to intervention implementation (T0), within two weeks after intervention completion (T1), and six months after T1.

• Students' subjective norms in relation to sleep health of their peers and parents

  Prior to intervention implementation (T0), within two weeks after intervention completion (T1), and six months after T1.

• Students' behavioral intention to sleep healthier

  Prior to intervention implementation (T0), within two weeks after intervention completion (T1), and six months after T1.

Study Arms (2)

Intervention group

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Charge Your Brainzzz

Control group

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Charge Your Brainzzz BEHAVIORAL

Charge Your Brainzzz is a comprehensive health promoting school approach intervention, designed to help Dutch secondary school students improve their sleep and sleep hygiene habits. It is based on the Health Promoting School framework and includes all its four pillars, i.e. (1) an education component, (2) a set of components that focus on involving students' (home) environment, a set of school policy changes related to school start times, schools' digital communication activities and schools' stimulation of daytime physical activity of students, and, lastly, (4) a set of tools that school health professionals can use to facilitate the early detection of potential (future) student sleep problems.

Intervention group

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Dutch regular secondary schools that include at least one vocational track (VMBO)
• First-year students enrolled in the VMBO tracks of participating schools
• Teachers, school health professionals, school care coordinators, school management, and the regional municipal health service's (GGD) Healthy School advisors who work with at least one of the participating schools

You may not qualify if:

• non-regular Dutch secondary schools / special education

Sponsors & Collaborators

• VU University of Amsterdam: lead

Study Sites (1)

VU University

Amsterdam, North Holland, 1081HV, Netherlands

Location

Related Links

• intervention description

Study Officials

• Maartje M van Stralen, PhD

  VU University of Amsterdam

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Associate Professor

Model Details: One group will receive the CYB intervention, while the other group will serve as a control group getting regular Dutch secondary school education

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 25, 2025
• First Posted: January 28, 2026
• Study Start: September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): June 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): September 1, 2028
• Last Updated: January 28, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

NL (1)