Calgary researchers looking for young cancer survivors for sleep study

CALGARY – Researchers with Alberta Health Services and the University of Calgary are looking for children between the ages of eight and 18 who have had leukemia, as well as healthy kids, to participate in a sleep study.

“Sleeping well is critical for children’s cognitive, physical and social development,” Dr. Lianne Tomfohr-Madsen, a researcher with the Alberta Children’s Hospital Research Institute, said in a release.

“Many people will occasionally experience difficulties falling asleep but, when it happens regularly, it can seriously impact health and quality of life.”

Researchers are hoping to develop therapies to help cancer survivors and their families sleep better after they’ve returned home from hospital.

According to Dr. Fiona Schulte, an AHS psychologist and co-investigator in the study, stress often keeps both children and their parents awake.

“Parents and children often have fears about monitoring the child’s condition when they return home. That anxiety turns bedtime into a challenge and may lead to a cycle of waking up in the middle of the night.”

Study participants will be asked to fill out a series of questionnaires, keep a sleep diary and wear a sleep monitoring device every night for seven days. For more information, visit www.familysleepstudy.com or call 403-220-5086.