Use of an electric fan to improve sleep quality in hot overnight environments

If you are found eligible and decide to take part in this study, you will be asked to attend the Thermal Ergonomics Laboratory located in the Susan Wakil Health Building on 4 separate occasions to sleep overnight. On two occasions you will stay overnight in warm conditions (35°C and 40% relative humidity) for the experimental trials and on two occasions in thermoneutral conditions (~18°C) for the habituation trials.

Experimental conditions will involve a fan facing forwards you with an air velocity of ≥0.8 m/s (Fan) on one occasion or away from you (No-Fan) on a separate occasion. The conditions will occur in a randomised order.

Each experimental sleep will be separated by 7 days and will be preceded by a habituation sleep that will take place in the climate chamber under thermoneutral (~18°C) conditions.

The time commitment for the study will be approximately 1 hour for preliminary screening questionnaires and experimental and habituation sessions will take approximately 15 hours each (arrive at 530pm, leave at ~830am). 

You may be eligible to participate in this study if you:

• Between the ages of 18-40 years
• Able to understand the demands of the protocol, has had any questions answered and has voluntarily signed the participant consent form prior to any study procedures
• Must have a usual sleep time before midnight, a self-reported sleep latency of 30min or less, and a usual waketime between 5am and 8am

If you are interested in assisting with this important and exciting area of research, please contact the study facilitator: Dr Edward Ashworth: edward.ashworth@sydney.edu.au

Ethics committee approval number: 2023/HE000633