221519 Addressing Adolescent Sleep Needs through Later High-School Start Times Policy Development

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 : 9:15 AM - 9:30 AM

Zahid Samad, MD, MPH, MBA , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Pete Hunt, MA , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Adolescent and School Health, Atlanta, GA
Janet B. Croft, PhD , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Population Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Letitia Presley-Cantrell, PhD , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adult and Community Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Lela McKnight-Eily, PhD , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adult and Community Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Daniel Chapman, PhD , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adult and Community Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Mohamed G. Qayad, MD, MSc, MPH, MSPH , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adult and Community Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Stephanie Sturgis, MPH , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adult and Community Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Geraldine S. Perry, DrPH, RD , National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adult and Community Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Issue: There is growing evidence about the negative impact of chronic insufficient sleep among adolescents. However, the debate on benefits of later high-school start times and resulting fiscal and logistical burden on school systems continues. Research on the sleep needs of adolescents suggests various biological and psychosocial changes during this developmental period, including a change in the circadian rhythm which results in a 2-hour delay in the sleep-wake cycle. Most school districts' school start time policies and practices do not allow high school students to get sufficient sleep. Description: There is evidence that delaying high school start time can achieve positive education and health outcomes. School districts that have delayed start times have reported improvement in students' grades, attendance, concentration levels, and a decrease in students' tiredness. Experts are attempting to bridge the gap between the existing evidence on adolescent sleep needs and its translation into effective later high-school start time policies. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is convening an expert work-group to discuss the impact of early high-school start times on adolescent health, implications for schools and communities, and suggestions for strengthening policies and practices. Lessons Learned: Lessons learned resulting from the expert workgroup will be discussed. Recommendations: Based on expert work-group's suggestions, CDC will develop a strategic action plan for promoting practical strategies to improve adolescent sleep time through high-school start time policy change by engaging key partners and coalitions, and building collaborations. Findings from the expert work-group will be discussed in the presentation.

Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Other professions or practice related to public health
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe relationships of later high-school start times on adolescent sleep needs 2. Identify various policy challenges and solutions to improve sleep among high-school students 3. Explain how later high-school start times policy change could lead to better health and academic performance of high-school students.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Mental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a Public Health Analyst working on sleep related issues. I have training in public health and policy development and implementation.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.