Mahtab Matin’s Lab Exchange at McGill University

I am thrilled to share my experiences from the lab exchange at Dr. Pennestri’s Lab in Montreal! Immersing myself in new techniques, navigating through sleep assessment tools, and delving into statistical analyses have expanded my horizons in the realm of nursing research.

The Facts

Who? Mahtab Matin, Nursing PhD Student, UBC Okanagan University

Supervisor: Dr. Elizabeth Keys, SLUMBER lab

What? Consortium Lab Exchange Program

When? April 2024

Where? McGill Univeristy and Hôpital en santé mentale Rivière-des-Prairies Pediatric Sleep Lab (Once Upon a Night)

Partnered Investigator: Dr. Marie-Hélène Pennestri

Why? Training in administering sleep assessment tools, with a specific emphasis on the utilization of actigraphy for objective measures and the integration of sleep diaries for subjective measures

The main project I was involved in aims to examine the link between infant sleep patterns and parental mental health indicators and evaluate the mediating effect of parental sleep duration and quality (funded by CIHR). This longitudinal study comprises 3 time points: pregnancy (T1), 3 months postpartum (T2), and 6 months postpartum (T3). The team is currently recruiting first-time parents during pregnancy and are still collecting objective and subjective sleep measures from mothers, fathers, and infants at T1, T2, and T3. During the exchange, I had the opportunity to access the objective and subjective sleep measurements (preliminary data) collected at T1.

Throughout the lab exchange, several highlights stood out to me, including:

  • Gaining proficiency in various sleep assessment tools, administering them, and analyzing data.

  • Networking with the research team at McGill University and the Hôpital en santé mentale Rivière-des-Prairies Pediatric Sleep Lab (Once Upon a Night), expanding my connections and understanding of diverse projects.

  • Experiencing the vibrant Montreal city during my stay, coinciding with an amazing eclipse.

  • Preparing a comprehensive document encompassing the knowledge acquired during the exchange for sharing with Dr. Keys’ lab at the University of British Columbia Okanagan

Upon my arrival, Pennestri’s Lab warmly welcomed me, shared the daily schedule, and facilitated an enriching exchange. Under the guidance of Dr. Pennestri and her team, I delved into actigraphy, sleep diaries, polysomnography, and statistical analyses. Training commenced with analyzing actigrams and mastering the nuances of administering sleep assessment tools for adults and infants. Learning how to use the actigraphy, analyze its data, and analyze sleep diaries were challenging yet rewarding. By integrating objective and subjective data, I gained a holistic understanding of sleep behaviors and their impact on parental mental health. Further, developing skills in Excel and SPSS enabled me to analyze results related to infant sleep patterns. Discussions with lab members (researchers, graduate students, clinical team, technicians) enriched my learning, fostering camaraderie and shared knowledge.

Visits to the Hôpital en santé mentale Rivière-des-Prairies Sleep Lab provided training in polysomnography principles and evaluating results, offering insights into other sleep monitoring techniques, that are complementary to those I already know.

Since the shared information and our discussions were invaluable, I have compiled a comprehensive report containing all the pertinent details about working with Philips actigraphy, data analysis procedures, and other key points essential for thorough data interpretation. This report is a summary of everything I have learned with the graduate students and other professionals in the Once Upon a night’s Pediatric Sleep Laboratory. Once approved by the Dr. Pennestri’s Lab team, I plan to share this report with the members of the SLUMBER Lab to ensure that our collective insights and learnings are disseminated effectively.

The knowledge gained in sleep assessment techniques, coupled with practical insights from Pennestri’s Lab, will undoubtedly aid in selecting appropriate sleep assessment tools for my PhD dissertation and analyzing actigrams for future research projects. I extend immense gratitude to Dr. Pennestri for hosting me and to the sleep consortium for facilitating this invaluable opportunity. Special thanks to Malka Hershon, Marjolaine Chicoine, Élyse Chevrier, Michelle Ly, and Adrienne Vandenberg for their teaching, sharing informative documents, and support during this period.

As I return to the The SLeep solUtions to proMote Better Early childhood Relationships (SLUMBER) Lab, I carry a wealth of knowledge and a renewed sense of purpose. I am confident that the skills acquired during this exchange will propel my research forward, contributing to advancements in nursing science and the well-being of families worldwide.