Abstract
Black women in the U.S. disproportionately suffer from insomnia and related cardiometabolic health burdens. However, there is a lack of sleep intervention and implementation research specifically targeting Black women. The aim of this study is to co-design and evaluate equity-focused, community-engaged implementation strategies for an online, group-based mindfulness-based therapy for insomnia (MBTI) tailored for Black women, and to test the effectiveness of MBTI. The study will utilize trained registered nurses to deliver the online MBTI sessions and integrate community health workers (CHWs) to address social determinants of health. This two-phase, study includes: (1) qualitative individual interviews with Black women, CHWs, and clinicians to identify barriers/facilitators to online MBTI (N = 10-40) (2) the development of equity-focused implementation strategies through community engagement process with the Community Advisory Board (clinicians, CHWs, social workers, and community-based organization members), and (3) a Hybrid Type 1 randomized controlled trial comparing online group-based MBTI to a waitlist control (N = 340). Implementation outcomes include acceptability (mean summary score ≥ 3.5 out of 5-point Likert scale), feasibility (≥ 80 %), fidelity (≥ 85 %), cost, and contextual factors; effectiveness outcomes include changes in Insomnia Severity Index scores (≥ 7-point reduction post-intervention) and actigraphy-measured sleep (an increase in total sleep time 20-40 min post-intervention). This study addresses the urgent need for equity-focused intervention and implementation research in sleep health. The study will evaluate how tailoring evidence-based interventions to community needs, leveraging CHWs, and embedding community partnership throughout the process improves access, uptake, and outcomes in Black women with insomnia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06348082.