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Dr. Corkum’s major research interests are in the areas of child psychopathology (particularly ADHD) and pediatric sleep. Dr. Corkum and her team are in the process of creating an network of eHealth programs under the umbrella of Better Nights, Better Days and ASSIST. Below are brief descriptions and contact information for each study:

Better Nights, Better Days

Better Nights, Better Days for Typically Developing Children (BNBD):

This is funded through a CIHR Team Grant in Sleep and Circadian Rhythms. The goal of this project is to develop, evaluate and disseminate an eHealth intervention for parents of children ages 1-10 years who are experiencing difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep and trouble with morning awakenings.

Better Nights, Better Days during COVID-19

This project is funded through the CIHR COVID-19 Mental Health and Substance Use Service Needs and Delivery Operating Grant. Better Nights, Better Days during COVID-19 is an evidence-based online program to support parents of children ages 1-10 years old who experience sleeping problems including difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep, and waking too early.  This research program aims to test how to scale-out a modified version of the Better Nights, Better Days program that has been adapted for the COVID-19 context throughout Canada. Information has been integrated to help improve parents’ sleep as well as their child’s.

Our findings will direct the launch of BNBD as a self-contained virtual program to improve sleep and wellbeing in children and families in the context of COVID-19. Findings may also be used to increase scale and spread of other virtual mental health programs.

Better Nights, Better Days for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders (BNBD-NDD):

This study is funded through Kids Brain Health. We have modified our original Better Nights, Better Days program so that it is appropriate for parents of children ages 4 to 12 years who have a neurodevelopmental disorders. For the current Implementation study, we are focusing on children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, and Cerebral Palsy. The research team has also developed a transdiagnostic stream to the program.

Better Nights, Better Days for Youth:

This is an online sleep education program for adolescents and university students. The project is also extended to adolescents and university students with pain. To date, focus groups have been conducted with adolescents, university students and relevant stakeholders to gather ideas and opinion on how to best design the online program and what information/sleep strategies should be included. 

Accessible Strategies Supporting Inclusion for Students by Teachers (ASSIST):

This project is funded by the Kids Brain Health Network. The goal of this project is to develop, evaluate, and disseminate modules for classroom teachers to support their work with students with ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Learning Disability. Teachers have consistently expressed the need for readily accessible and vetted information along with support to help them implement best-practice interventions in a feasible and adaptable ways to support to help them implement best-practice interventions in a feasible and adaptable way.

ASSIST Website

ABCs of Sleeping: 

This project is funded by Springboard Atlantic. The goal of this project is to address the need to disseminate information about healthy sleep practices to parents of children who have some sleep challenges but are not considered to have a sleep disorder. A mnemonic has been developed that captures all the components of healthy sleep practices (ABCs=Age-appropriate Bedtimes with Consistency; S = Schedules; L = Location; E = No Electronics in the Bedroom; E = Exercise & Diet; P = Positivity; I = Independence when falling asleep; N = Needs met during the day; and G = Great Sleep). The ABCs of Sleeping is currently going through an effectiveness study.

If you are interested in participating or would like more program information, please email abcs@dal.ca!

Healthy Sleep for Healthy Schools

This project is funded by the Waterloo Foundation and Kids Brain Health Network. The goal of this project is to provide teachers with the knowledge and materials to teach healthy sleep practices to students in their classroom, and to educate adolescents about healthy sleep practices, in order to improve sleep behaviour and sleep outcomes. The Healthy Sleep for Healthy Schools program is currently undergoing a usability and pilot study.

If you are interested in participating or would like more program information, please email hs4hs@dal.ca!

Promoting Healthy Sleep Program

This project is funded by the Waterloo Foundation and Kids Brain Health Network. The goal of this project is to provide accessible online education to healthcare providers about screening, assessing, and treating pediatric insomnia. Promoting Healthy Sleep is currently going through a usability study, and we are recruiting physicians, psychologists, nurses and allied health professionals.

If you are interested in participating or would like more program information, please email hs4hc@dal.ca!