
Thank you for helping GPs manage insomnia
Flinders University researchers will soon develop a world-first pathway to help GPs treat insomnia, in the hope of reducing reliance on sleeping pills for the estimated 2.5 million Australian adults who suffer with chronic insomnia.
With the help of a Flinders Foundation Health Seed Grant, Dr Alexander Sweetman will develop the pathway to help GPs identify and refer patients to a specialised digital Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) program for insomnia.
CBT works by targeting the underlying psychological, physiological and behavioural causes of insomnia, as opposed to medications which only mask the surfacing symptom temporarily.
“It has been difficult to administer CBT in general practice because session-based programs are too time consuming, costly and inconvenient for overburdened GPs and patients,” Dr Sweetman explains.
“Consequently, 90 per cent of insomnia patients managed by Australian GPs are prescribed (sleeping pills).”
However, face-to-face CBT programs have recently been translated into an effective self-administered digital program called Sleepio, which has been shown to improve sleep and reduce the need for sleeping pills.
This project will directly improve the sleep, health, and quality of life of individuals participating in the study and contribute to gradually changing the way that insomnia is managed in general practice throughout Australia," says Dr Sweetman.
Other stories from our Spring 2021 Newsletter
Improving the lives of children with glaucoma
Thanks to generous supporters of eye health at Flinders, researchers are hoping to improve the lives of children with glaucoma by identifying genes which lead to more severe outcomes, while also focusing on methods to improve quality of life for patients, and their families. Read More
Grateful Ollie’s neonatal journey
Little Oliver Slade was born at only 25 weeks weighing just 535 grams. He spent 140 days in the Flinders Medical Centre (FMC) Neonatal Unit. Read More
The gift that keeps giving
Ralph Ernst, a patient at Flinders more than three decades ago, has left a long-lasting legacy to help researchers develop new treatments for men with incurable, metastatic prostate cancer. Read More
Ralph’s gift – the Ralph Ernst PhD Scholarship in Prostate Cancer Research
Sam Rollin, recipient of the inaugural Ralph Ernst PhD Scholarship in Prostate Cancer Research, says Ralph and Pixie’s generosity is providing him with the opportunity to make an incredible difference. Read More
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, a time when your support can make a difference to the wonderful men in your life. Read More
Dean and Angie’s prostate cancer mission!
Having recently recovered from back surgery, Dean Dimmock, 48, couldn’t have imagined the news he was about to receive after visiting his doctor about new back pain. Read More
Men’s health and wellbeing receives a boost
Research focusing on male health and wellbeing has received a considerable boost, with Flinders University and Flinders Foundation joining the Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing. Read More
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