Sleep Hygiene During Ramadan

NCT07639229 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: ISSEPS_SleepRamadan_2025
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 64
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Ramadan fasting often disrupts sleep patterns, which can affect alertness and physical performance in student-athletes. This study tested whether a brief sleep education program designed for Ramadan could help improve sleep quality and maintain performance. Sixty-four male sport-science students who planned to fast during Ramadan were randomly assigned to one of two groups. The first group received a 45-minute educational session about sleep hygiene specifically adapted to Ramadan practices (timing of sleep around evening and pre-dawn meals, managing light exposure, limiting caffeine and screen time before bed). They also received weekly text message reminders and completed short weekly checklists about their sleep habits. The second group continued their usual routines without any intervention. Participants wore activity monitors on their wrist to track sleep throughout the study. They also completed computerized tests of attention and reaction time, as well as physical performance tests (jumping, handgrip strength, agility) before Ramadan and during the final week of fasting. The researchers found that students who received the sleep education maintained better sleep duration and quality during Ramadan compared to those who did not receive the program. They also showed better attention, faster reaction times, and better preservation of physical performance. This suggests that simple, culturally-adapted sleep education can help student-athletes maintain their health and performance during Ramadan.

Conditions

Sleep Disruption; Sleep Hygiene; Ramadan Fasting

Keywords

Ramadan; Sleep hygiene; Psychomotor vigilance; Athletic performance; Sport-science students; Behavioral intervention; Cognitive performance

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Total Sleep Time

  Total sleep time in minutes per night, assessed continuously using wrist actigraphy (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT) from baseline (approximately 2 weeks before Ramadan) through week 4 of Ramadan. A minimum of 5 valid nights required for analysis at each time point.

  Baseline and Ramadan week 4

• Sleep Efficiency

  Sleep efficiency percentage (ratio of total sleep time to time in bed × 100), assessed continuously using wrist actigraphy (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT) from baseline through week 4 of Ramadan. A minimum of 5 valid nights required for analysis at each time point.

  Baseline and Ramadan week 4

• Wake After Sleep Onset (WASO)

  Wake after sleep onset in minutes per night, assessed continuously using wrist actigraphy (ActiGraph wGT3X-BT) from baseline through week 4 of Ramadan. A minimum of 5 valid nights required for analysis at each time point.

  Baseline and Ramadan week 4

Secondary Outcomes (6)

• Psychomotor Vigilance - Lapses

  Baseline and Ramadan week 4

• Countermovement Jump Height

  Baseline and Ramadan week 4

• Squat Jump Height

  Baseline and Ramadan week 4

• Handgrip Strength

  Baseline and Ramadan week 4

• Agility Performance

  Baseline and Ramadan week 4

Study Arms (2)

Experimental Group (Sleep Hygiene Education)

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive a single 45-minute culturally adapted sleep hygiene education session prior to Ramadan, followed by written materials, weekly adherence checklists, and bi-weekly SMS reminders throughout Ramadan.

Behavioral: Culturally Adapted Sleep Hygiene Education Program

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

Participants receive no sleep hygiene education or reminders and are instructed to maintain their usual daily routines and sleep habits throughout the Ramadan period.

Interventions

Culturally Adapted Sleep Hygiene Education Program BEHAVIORAL

A structured educational session addressing sleep scheduling relative to suhoor/iftar, evening light and screen exposure management, caffeine intake regulation, and sleep environment optimization. Delivered as a single 45-minute session before Ramadan, supplemented with written guidelines, weekly self-report checklists, and bi-weekly SMS reminders.

Experimental Group (Sleep Hygiene Education)

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Male sports science students aged 18 to 30 years
• Intend to fast for the full duration of Ramadan
• No history of diagnosed sleep disorders or medical conditions affecting sleep or cognition
• Free from musculoskeletal injuries that could limit physical performance tests

You may not qualify if:

• Chronic sleep disorders (e.g., insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea)
• Use of medications known to affect sleep or alertness
• Failure to complete the Ramadan fasting period
• Non-compliance with actigraphy monitoring procedures

Sponsors & Collaborators

• The Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax: lead

Study Sites (1)

Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax (ISSEP Sfax)

Sfax, Sfax Governorate, 3000, Tunisia

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Marino M, Li Y, Rueschman MN, Winkelman JW, Ellenbogen JM, Solet JM, Dulin H, Berkman LF, Buxton OM. Measuring sleep: accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of wrist actigraphy compared to polysomnography. Sleep. 2013 Nov 1;36(11):1747-55. doi: 10.5665/sleep.3142.

  PMID: 24179309 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sleep Hygiene

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Health Behavior; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: INVESTIGATOR, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Masking Details: Due to the behavioral nature of the sleep hygiene intervention, participants and the investigator delivering the educational session were unblinded. However, outcome assessors conducting cognitive (PVT) and physical performance tests, as well as data analysts, were blinded to group allocation to minimize measurement and analytical bias.
• Purpose: OTHER
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Model Details: Parallel-group pilot randomized controlled trial comparing a culturally adapted sleep hygiene education intervention to a control condition (usual habits). Participants were randomized 1:1 using computer-generated block randomization with allocation concealment via sealed envelopes. Outcome assessors conducting cognitive (PVT) and physical performance tests, as well as data analysts, were blinded to group allocation. Participants and the investigator delivering the educational session were unblinded due to the behavioral nature of the intervention.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 5, 2026
• First Posted: June 10, 2026
• Study Start: February 10, 2025
• Primary Completion: March 30, 2025
• Study Completion: March 31, 2025
• Last Updated: June 12, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
• Time Frame: Data will be available within 3 months following the publication of the results in a peer-reviewed journal and will remain available for 5 years.
• Access Criteria: Data can be requested by researchers with a specific, scientifically sound research proposal. Requests should be submitted via email to the corresponding author (kais.elabed@gmail.com). A data use agreement may be required prior to sharing.

Locations

TU (1)