Self-Acupressure and Social Jet Lag in Female Health Sciences Students

NCT07410936 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: 22504254-050.04/18-60
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 120
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This randomized, sham-controlled trial aims to evaluate the effects of self-administered acupressure on social jet lag, sleep patterns, and sleep quality in female health sciences students. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a self-acupressure intervention group or a sham self-acupressure control group. The intervention will be performed daily for 12 weeks. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline and at the end of the intervention period, with the primary outcome being the change in social jet lag. Secondary outcomes include changes in sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, and participant blinding assessment.

Conditions

Social Jet Lag; Sleep Disturbance; Sleep Quality; Circadian Rhythm Disruption

Keywords

Self-acupressure; Social jet lag; Sleep quality; Sleep patterns; Circadian rhythm; University students; Sham-controlled trial

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in Social Jet Lag (ΔSJL)

  Change in social jet lag (hours), calculated as the absolute difference between mid-sleep time on free days (MSF) and mid-sleep time on work/school days (MSW), derived from a Munich Chronotype Questionnaire (MCTQ)-based assessment and a 14-day sleep diary. Social jet lag values range from 0 hours upward, with higher values indicating greater circadian misalignment. The primary outcome is defined as the change in social jet lag from baseline to Week 12 (Week 12 - baseline).

  Baseline (T0) and Week 12 (end of 3-month follow-up); primary analysis uses change from baseline to Week 12 (T12 - T0)

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Participant blinding assessment (treatment guess)

  At 1 month and 3 months after baseline

• Change in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) total score

  Baseline (T0) and Week 12; change from baseline to Week 12 (T12 - T0)

• Change in Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score

  Baseline (T0) and Week 12; change from baseline to Week 12 (T12 - T0)

Other Outcomes (4)

• Average nightly sleep duration (work/school days vs free days)

  Mean nightly sleep duration calculated over the 14 days immediately preceding baseline and over the 14 days immediately preceding Week 12.

• Subjective sleep onset latency

  Mean sleep onset latency calculated over the 14 days immediately preceding baseline and over the 14 days immediately preceding Week 12.

• Participant satisfaction (0-10)

  Week 12

Study Arms (2)

Self-Acupressure Intervention (HT7, SP6, Yintang)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive structured training in self-administered acupressure at predefined acupoints (HT7, SP6, and Yintang) and are instructed to apply the protocol at home with the same frequency and session duration throughout the study period, using moderate, comfortable, non-painful pressure.

Other: Self-Acupressure Intervention

Sham Self-Acupressure

SHAM COMPARATOR

Participants receive training in sham self-acupressure matched to the experimental intervention in session duration and frequency. Sham acupressure is applied using the same instruction format and time schedule as the experimental arm, but at non-acupoint locations that are not recognized as therapeutic acupressure points. Participants are instructed to apply moderate, comfortable pressure (non-painful), consistent with the experimental arm.

Other: Sham Self-Acupressure

Interventions

Self-Acupressure Intervention OTHER

Participants receive structured training in self-administered acupressure at predefined acupoints (HT7, SP6, and Yintang). Training is provided face-to-face at baseline. Participants are instructed to apply acupressure daily at home using moderate, comfortable, non-painful pressure. Each session is performed according to the study protocol for a total duration of 12 weeks.

Self-Acupressure Intervention (HT7, SP6, Yintang)

Sham Self-Acupressure OTHER

Participants receive structured training in sham self-acupressure matched to the experimental intervention in frequency, session duration, and pressure. Sham acupressure is applied daily at non-acupoint locations that are not recognized as therapeutic acupressure points, using moderate, comfortable, non-painful pressure, for a total duration of 12 weeks.

Sham Self-Acupressure

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 25 Years
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Female undergraduate students enrolled in midwifery or medical programs
• Age 18 to 25 years
• Regular academic schedule (work/school days and free days identifiable)
• Willingness to participate and provide written informed consent
• Ability to comply with daily self-acupressure practice for 12 weeks
• Ability to complete sleep questionnaires and sleep diary

You may not qualify if:

• Current diagnosis of a sleep disorder requiring medical treatment (e.g., obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy)
• Use of medications known to significantly affect sleep or circadian rhythms (e.g., hypnotics, stimulants)
• Shift work or night work during the study period
• Transmeridian travel (≥2 time zones) within the past 4 weeks or planned during the study period
• Chronic medical or psychiatric condition that may significantly affect sleep
• Current pregnancy

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Nigde Omer Halisdemir University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University Hospital

Niğde, Merkez, 51240, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Parasomnias; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sleep Wake Disorders; Nervous System Diseases; Mental Disorders; Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic; Dyssomnias

Central Study Contacts

Pınar Erdoğan, Assoc. Prof.

CONTACT

+905233646954; drpinarerdogan@gmail.com

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Participants and outcome assessors are blinded to group allocation. Blinding success will be assessed by asking participants at follow-up to guess their group assignment (active vs sham vs unsure).
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assoc. Prof.

Model Details: This is a two-arm, parallel-group, randomized, sham-controlled trial. Participants are individually randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either a self-acupressure intervention or a sham self-acupressure control. There is no crossover between study arms, and all participants are followed for 12 weeks.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: February 7, 2026
• First Posted: February 13, 2026
• Study Start: February 15, 2026
• Primary Completion: May 15, 2026
• Study Completion: May 15, 2026
• Last Updated: February 17, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)