Orientador: Fernando Mazzilli LouzadaDissertaçao (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciencias Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduaçao em Biologia Celular e Molecular. Defesa: Curitiba, 2008Inclui bibliografia e anexosAdolescent sleep delay has been well-documented and is related to greater social
pressures as well as to ontogenetic trends. As a consequence, a partial sleep deprivation is
observed and morning school routine can promote excessive daytime sleepiness during
schooldays and a poorly academic performance. Some studies have pointed out the positive
effect of sleep educational programs. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of an
Educational Sleep Program (ESP) on adolescent sleep/wake cycle, subjective sleepiness and
psychomotor vigilance performance. 21 adolescents (13-14y) of a public school in Curitiba –
Brazil participated in the study. Two groups were formed: Experimental (n=10), submitted to
the EPS, and Control (n=11), not submitted to the EPS. Sleep/wake cycle data, onset, offset,
sleep duration and sleep efficiency were recorded with actimeters; subjective sleepiness were
obtained by means Karolinska Sleepiness Scale and psychomotor performance were
performed by means Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT), before and after the ESP. The ESP
consisted in activities related to the importance of sleep and sleep hygiene. It lasted four
hours. Data of sleep patterns, psychomotor performance subjective sleepiness were compared
by means two-way ANOVA for dependent samples - treatment (before or after intervention)
and group (Control and Experimental) were considered factors. Results did not show any EPS
effect on adolescents sleep/wake pattern, subjective sleepiness and psychomotor performance.
Further studies with longer ESPs should be carried out to evaluate the validity of such
programs as a countermeasure to prevent excessive daytime sleepiness among adolescents
