Sleep HealthNCT03389828
Qualitative Assessment of the Work-Sleep Relationship
An observational study of Sleep Health, run by National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
Background: Sleep that does not last long and is low-quality is tied to a range of serious health issues. These range from obesity to early death. Research has shown that black people who are professionals or managers are more likely to have this kind of sleep than their white counterparts. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 25 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Sleep Health
- How many people
- 263 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 8 May 2018to 28 Sep 2020
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 25 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Study population: Community sample - residents from Durham, NC and the surrounding areas as well as residents from Silver Spring, MD and the surrounding areas.
Who may be able to join
- Non-Hispanic Black or non-Hispanic White
- Female or Male
- 25 years of age or older
- Employed (38 plus hours/week)
- Residing in the area around Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC or Silver Spring, MD
Who cannot join
- Born outside the continental United States
- Not fluent in English
- Unwilling to provide answers to all screening questions
- Unwilling to provide informed consent
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
United States2 sites
Social and Scientific Systems, Inc.
Durham, North Carolina, 27703
Social and Scientific Systems, Inc.
Silver Spring, Maryland, 20910
About this study
Background:
Sleep that does not last long and is low-quality is tied to a range of serious health issues. These range from obesity to early death. Research has shown that black people who are professionals or managers are more likely to have this kind of sleep than their white counterparts. Black people are also at higher risk than whites for health problems caused by insufficient sleep. Researchers want to learn more about why these differences exist.
Read more
Objective:
To study reasons for racial differences in the work-sleep relationship.
Eligibility:
Adults at least 25 years old who:
- Are non-Hispanic black or non-Hispanic white
- Are employed and work 38 or more hours a week
- Live around Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, or Washington, DC
Design:
Participants will be screened with questions. They will give sociodemographic data like job title, annual income level, and gender. They will give their contact information.
Participants will have 1 study visit. They will be in a closed, private conference room. They will join a focus group. The focus groups will be organized by to race, gender, and occupational class.
Participants will give informed consent before the focus group begins.
During the focus group, participants will be asked about their perceptions of health in general, and their typical work day. They will be asked about sleep.
Participants will also fill out a short questionnaire about their job and sleep habits.
Focus groups will be audio recorded. The entire session will last 90 to 120 minutes.
Read the detailed description
OBJECTIVE:
Prior research has documented racial differences in sleep health by occupational class. While increasing professional responsibility has been associated with shorter sleep duration among non-Hispanic Blacks, increasing professional responsibility appears to be associated with a lower prevalence of short sleep duration among non-Hispanic Whites. The objective of the present study is to investigate reasons for these racial differences in the work-sleep relationship.
STUDY POPULATION:
The study population will range between a minimum of 238 and a maximum of 408 focus groups participants (7-12 members acceptable per focus group). All non-Hispanic black and white adults 25 years of age or older who are currently working at least 38 hours a week will be eligible for inclusion in the study. To mitigate the influence of known cultural differences in sleep behaviors, participation will be limited to English speakers born in the continental United Sates.
DESIGN:
We will conduct 34 demographically homogenous focus groups consisting of 7-12 participants each. Focus groups will be stratified based race, sex, and occupational class, and will be conducted in both North Carolina and the metropolitan DC area. Focus groups will take place in-person and be conducted by a trained facilitator according to a scripted, semi-structured focus group guide. Audio recordings of the focus groups will be transcribed verbatim by a professional transcription service. De-identified transcripts will be reviewed by the study team to identify qualitative themes in the data, which will be coded in an appropriate software program using a double-coding process. Qualitative data analysis will be conducted to identify potential reasons for racial differences in sleep health by occupational class. We will additionally assess variation by other sociodemographic determinants, including sex, education, income, and geographic region.
OUTCOMES MEASURES:
Outcome measures include the themes/patterns regarding potential system-level influences, beliefs, and behaviors that may explain racial differences in the association between occupational class and sleep health.
- Conditions
- Sleep Health
- Keywords
- Focus Group, Health Disparities, Occupational Health, Behaviors, Natural History
- Medical subject headings
- Behavior
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The study population will consist of approximately 340 focus groups participants. |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Outcome measures include the themes/patterns regarding potential system-level influences, beliefs, and behaviors that may explain racial differences in the association between occupational class and sleep health.
Data will be analyzed via qualitative coding software to identify themes/patterns in the narratives of participants in focus groups and interviews.
Measured: At the time of the focus group and in more detail during data analysis (coding)
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Jan 2018
- Study start8 May 2018
- Primary completion28 Sep 2020
- Study completion28 Sep 2020
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Sleep HealthStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 263 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
- Sponsor type
- US National Institutes of Health
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Chandra L Jackson, Ph.D., Principal investigator, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03389828
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 999918021
- Other IDs
- 18-E-N021
- Status last verified
- 23 Feb 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Jan 2018
- Last updated
- 29 May 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Publications
Jackson CL, Redline S, Kawachi I, Williams MA, Hu FB. Racial disparities in short sleep duration by occupation and industry. Am J Epidemiol. 2013 Nov 1;178(9):1442-51. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwt159. Epub 2013 Sep 9.
PubMed 24018914Luckhaupt SE, Tak S, Calvert GM. The prevalence of short sleep duration by industry and occupation in the National Health Interview Survey. Sleep. 2010 Feb;33(2):149-59. doi: 10.1093/sleep/33.2.149.
PubMed 20175398Krueger PM, Friedman EM. Sleep duration in the United States: a cross-sectional population-based study. Am J Epidemiol. 2009 May 1;169(9):1052-63. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwp023. Epub 2009 Mar 18.
PubMed 19299406
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 29 May 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Qualitative Assessment of the Work-Sleep Relationship
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT03389828
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 999918021
- Conditions
- Sleep Health
- Keywords
- Focus Group, Health Disparities, Occupational Health, Behaviors, Natural History
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 263 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)US National Institutes of Health
- Study start
- 8 May 2018 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 28 Sep 2020 (actual)
- Study completion
- 28 Sep 2020 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 Jan 2018 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Background:
Sleep that does not last long and is low-quality is tied to a range of serious health issues. These range from obesity to early death. Research has shown that black people who are professionals or managers are more likely to have this kind of sleep than their white counterparts. Black people are also at higher risk than whites for health problems caused by insufficient sleep. Researchers want to learn more about why these differences exist.
Objective:
To study reasons for racial differences in the work-sleep relationship.
Eligibility:
Adults at least 25 years old who:
- Are non-Hispanic black or non-Hispanic white
- Are employed and work 38 or more hours a week
- Live around Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC, or Washington, DC
Design:
Participants will be screened with questions. They will give sociodemographic data like job title, annual income level, and gender. They will give their contact information.
Participants will have 1 study visit. They will be in a closed, private conference room. They will join a focus group. The focus groups will be organized by to race, gender, and occupational class.
Participants will give informed consent before the focus group begins.
During the focus group, participants will be asked about their perceptions of health in general, and their typical work day. They will be asked about sleep.
Participants will also fill out a short questionnaire about their job and sleep habits.
Focus groups will be audio recorded. The entire session will last 90 to 120 minutes.
Detailed description
OBJECTIVE:
Prior research has documented racial differences in sleep health by occupational class. While increasing professional responsibility has been associated with shorter sleep duration among non-Hispanic Blacks, increasing professional responsibility appears to be associated with a lower prevalence of short sleep duration among non-Hispanic Whites. The objective of the present study is to investigate reasons for these racial differences in the work-sleep relationship.
STUDY POPULATION:
The study population will range between a minimum of 238 and a maximum of 408 focus groups participants (7-12 members acceptable per focus group). All non-Hispanic black and white adults 25 years of age or older who are currently working at least 38 hours a week will be eligible for inclusion in the study. To mitigate the influence of known cultural differences in sleep behaviors, participation will be limited to English speakers born in the continental United Sates.
DESIGN:
We will conduct 34 demographically homogenous focus groups consisting of 7-12 participants each. Focus groups will be stratified based race, sex, and occupational class, and will be conducted in both North Carolina and the metropolitan DC area. Focus groups will take place in-person and be conducted by a trained facilitator according to a scripted, semi-structured focus group guide. Audio recordings of the focus groups will be transcribed verbatim by a professional transcription service. De-identified transcripts will be reviewed by the study team to identify qualitative themes in the data, which will be coded in an appropriate software program using a double-coding process. Qualitative data analysis will be conducted to identify potential reasons for racial differences in sleep health by occupational class. We will additionally assess variation by other sociodemographic determinants, including sex, education, income, and geographic region.
OUTCOMES MEASURES:
Outcome measures include the themes/patterns regarding potential system-level influences, beliefs, and behaviors that may explain racial differences in the association between occupational class and sleep health.
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | – | –The study population will consist of approximately 340 focus groups participants. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 25 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
- Study population
- Community sample - residents from Durham, NC and the surrounding areas as well as residents from Silver Spring, MD and the surrounding areas.
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Non-Hispanic Black or non-Hispanic White
- Female or Male
- 25 years of age or older
- Employed (38 plus hours/week)
- Residing in the area around Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, NC or Silver Spring, MD
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Born outside the continental United States
- Not fluent in English
- Unwilling to provide answers to all screening questions
- Unwilling to provide informed consent
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Primary outcome
Outcome measures include the themes/patterns regarding potential system-level influences, beliefs, and behaviors that may explain racial differences in the association between occupational class and sleep health.
Time frame: At the time of the focus group and in more detail during data analysis (coding)
Data will be analyzed via qualitative coding software to identify themes/patterns in the narratives of participants in focus groups and interviews.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 29 May 2026.
- Background: PubMed 24018914Jackson CL, Redline S, Kawachi I, Williams MA, Hu FB. Racial disparities in short sleep duration by occupation and industry. Am J Epidemiol. 2013 Nov 1;178(9):1442-51. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwt159. Epub 2013 Sep 9.
- Background: PubMed 20175398Luckhaupt SE, Tak S, Calvert GM. The prevalence of short sleep duration by industry and occupation in the National Health Interview Survey. Sleep. 2010 Feb;33(2):149-59. doi: 10.1093/sleep/33.2.149.
- Background: PubMed 19299406Krueger PM, Friedman EM. Sleep duration in the United States: a cross-sectional population-based study. Am J Epidemiol. 2009 May 1;169(9):1052-63. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwp023. Epub 2009 Mar 18.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Chandra L Jackson, Ph.D. principal investigator
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Sleep Health, run by National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) at 2 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 29 May 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Outcome measures include the themes/patterns regarding potential system-level influences, beliefs, and behaviors that may explain racial differences in the association between occupational class and sleep health. (time frame: At the time of the focus group and in more detail during data analysis (coding)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03389828, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 29 May 2026.