The SIMOA survey is an online survey that is being conducted across Canada in 2022 by researchers from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The lead researchers are Drs. Andrea Murphy and David Gardner. See Contact/Team for details about the research team.
Sleeping pills can be helpful for short-term insomnia but are not recommended to be used long-term, especially in older adults due to the increased burden of side effects and risks. These side effects and risks include memory problems, unsteadiness, daytime impairments affecting driving and other activities, falls leading to injuries including broken bones, respiratory problems, and the development of a chemical dependence on them.
Stopping sleeping pills can be difficult, especially if they have been used for many months or years. Many people continue to take sleeping pills even if they are not sleeping well or are experiencing side effects. They find it difficult to stop taking them. Other people work out a way to stop them, some finding it more difficult than other to do so. Overall, the personal experiences of trying to stop the long-term use of sleeping pills has not been adequately studied. This is why we are doing the SIMOA survey.