Web-based provider training of cognitive behavioral therapy of insomnia: engagement rates, knowledge acquisition, and provider acceptability

ABSTRACT

Insomnia is common but severely underreported and undertreated. One possible reason for this problem is the lack of providers in cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). To address this we created CBTIweb.org, an online training platform for providers to learn the basics of sleep, assessing insomnia, and CBT-I. The present study assessed the reach of CBTIweb by examining engagement, knowledge acquisition, and perceived acceptability. Participants who registered for CBTIweb self-reported their practice setting and personal characteristics (i.e. degree, profession, licensure status). Knowledge acquisition was assessed with pre- and post-tests, and provider acceptability was assessed via a survey. In the first three months after launching CBTIweb, 2586 providers registered and 624 of these completed the training within three months of registering. Chi-square tests of independence revealed no differences in completion rates by education or profession, though trainees were more likely to initiate and complete treatment than licensed providers. Paired t tests revealed significant knowledge acquisition, and most providers positively rated the website navigation, content, aesthetics, and understanding of core CBT-I skills. This study demonstrated CBTIweb is an effective platform for training health professionals to be minimally proficient in the gold standard treatment for insomnia disorder.

KEYWORDS:

• Insomnia
• CBT-I
• web-based provider training
• online
• training
• sleep
• dissemination

Acknowledgments

Diana Dolan, PhD, William Brim, PsyD, Charles Morin, PhD, and Alan Peterson, PhD (in-person and online subject matter expert presenters), the Center for Deployment Psychology (overall support and military specific resources), Digital Health Solutions (website development), and actors (therapists and patients) in the therapy vignettes.

Disclosure statement

CBTIweb is licensed to NightRighter, Inc., the entity that oversees website maintenance and processes fees for those pursuing continuing education credits. The first author, Allison Wilkerson, is president of NightRighter, Inc. All other authors have no conflicts to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Department of Defense [W8IXWH-16].