The Effects of Using a Bright Light Visor on Post-partum Women

Primary Investigators:
Shih-Yu Lee, RNC, PhD, Georgia State University

Hypotheses:
Sleep, fatigue, energy, depression and perceived stress in post-partum women can be improved by bright light treatment with the Feel Bright Light.

Method:
10 post-partum women (7 test and 3 control) with low-birth-weight newborns were treated 3-4 weeks each morning with ½ hour of bright light via the visor-mounted, Feel Bright Light that delivers 8000 lux of blue-green light into the eyes, or an identical-appearing control device that delivered less than 5 lux of red light.  Pre- and post-treatment test scores were obtained using:

  • General Sleep Disturbance Scale (GSDS)
  • Total Sleep Time (TST)
  • Numerical Rating Scale – Morning Fatigue (NRS-F)
  • Numerical Rating Scale – Morning Energy (NRS-E)
  • Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EDPS)
  • Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

Results:

  Test Group Control Group
GSDS improved 41% worse
TST improved 23% improved 10%
NRS-F improved 58% worse
NRS-E improved 49% worse
EDPS improved 39% improved 11%
PSS improved 38% worse

Conclusion:
Use of the Feel Bright Light in the post-partum period holds promise for improving sleep, decreasing fatigue, increasing energy, decreasing depression and perceived stress.

 

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