Up to 80 per cent of people living with arthritis experience difficulty sleeping, yet many face barriers preventing them from accessing the support they need and want. A new study from Arthritis Research Canada found that one-third of the participants did not seek care for difficulty sleeping despite feeling the need.
The study was led by research trainee Emilie McGuire under Dr. Deborah Da Costa’s supervision, and the research team included Arthritis Research Canada trainee Nicole Andersen, Scientific Director Dr. Diane Lacaille, and scientist Dr. Paul Fortin. A total of 248 adults (whose average age was 58) across Canada living with osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, or both were asked about how they manage insomnia, seek professional care, the barriers encountered in doing so, and what treatments they would prefer.
The study found that just over half of participants had discussed their sleep problems with a healthcare professional, most commonly a family doctor or rheumatologist. Fewer than 7 per cent had accessed care from a psychologist, the only professional trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), which is considered the “gold standard” treatment for insomnia.
Among those who did not seek care, common reasons included finding their own ways of coping, viewing sleep problems as a normal response to stress, being told by their doctor that little could be done, or believing their sleep difficulties could not be improved.
“Sleep is an important part of managing arthritis, but many people are not receiving the support they need,” said McGuire. The participants wanted healthcare providers to ask about sleep during appointments, investigate causes of sleep problems, and provide education on strategies to improve sleep rather than prescribe medication.
Participants commonly relied on relaxation techniques, over-the-counter sleep aids, or prescription medications to improve their sleep. However, the majority expressed a preference for non-medication approaches.
“Our findings highlight an opportunity to improve access to evidence-based insomnia care by developing resources that are tailored to the unique needs of people living with arthritis,” said McGuire. “This research suggests people with arthritis want practical, evidence-based support for sleep problems. An accessible online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy program for insomnia tailored to arthritis, offers a promising way to address many of the barriers identified in this study.” The research team is currently seeking funding for a full-scale trial to evaluate whether an arthritis-specific internet-delivered CBT-I program can help people better manage the dual burden of arthritis and insomnia.
Read the full study here.
