Effects of Afternoon and Evening Light on Teenagers' Melatonin Levels, Alertness, Sleepiness and … (NCT05483296) | Clinical Trial Compass
CompletedNot Applicable
Effects of Afternoon and Evening Light on Teenagers' Melatonin Levels, Alertness, Sleepiness and Sleep
Switzerland27 participantsStarted 2022-09-22
Plain-language summary
Many teenagers are familiar with this: on school days, they have to get up early; during the day, they hardly get any light exposure; in the evening, they go to bed late - and are then tired at school the next day! Around the world, teenagers are sleep deprived, with studies suggesting that almost half (\~45%) suffer from inadequate sleep. Previous investigations have shown that people's sleep-wake rhythm is related to the light conditions that they are exposed to during the day and at night. However, little is known about how different light levels in the afternoon can modulate teenagers' sleep and their bodily responses to light in the late evening. Therefore, the investigators aim to study which lighting conditions have a favourable effect on these aspects and how the potentially harmful effects of light at night can be prevented.
Who can participate
Age range
14 Years – 17 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Healthy
* Capable of judgment
* Normal BMI (Age-related Body-Mass-Index Percentile \> P3 \& \< P97; approx. corresponding to 28.5 ≥ BMI ≤ 16)
* Signed consent form of participants
* Signed consent form of a legal representative
Exclusion Criteria:
* Pregnancy or breastfeeding (only female)
* Current participation in other clinical trials
* Extreme chronotype (Extreme early or late chronotype/mid sleep time: mid-sleep time \< 1:00 / \> 7:00)
* Extremely short or long sleep durations during school- or work days (\< 6 hours \> 11 hours)
* Sleep disorders
* High myopia (\< -6 diopters)
* High hyperopia (\> +6 diopters)
* Non-normal best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA \< 0.5 \[20/40\])
* General health concerns or disorders, including heart and cardiovascular, neurological, nephrological, endocrinological, and psychiatric conditions
* Ophthalmological or optometric conditions
* Medication impacting visual, neuroendocrine, sleep, and circadian physiology
* Drug and alcohol use (urinary drug screening \& breathalyzer test)
* Non-compliance with sleep-wake times: \>1 deviation from ±60 minute window sleep and wake-up time
* Non-compliance with caffeine intake (\> 1 times caffeine intake)
* Transmeridian travel (\>2 time zones) \<1 month prior to the first session of the study
* shift work \<3 months prior to the beginning of the study
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Salivary melatonin
Timeframe: Through study completion, estimated 1.5 years (within 3 weeks for each participant)