Educational Impact on Patient Adherence in Use of Continuous Positive Airway Treatment

This chapter evaluates a comprehensive educational program provided to adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea to compare improvement in Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) adherence compared to adults receiving standard education. Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a common disorder and is associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events, neurocognitive impairment, vehicular and workplace accidents, increased healthcare utilization and decreased productivity. OSA is an under diagnosed and common disorder that is associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events and neuro-cognitive impairment. Management of OSA includes treatment goals to promote optimal sleep and reduction of cardiovascular risk. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy is the mainstay of treatment for OSA. Adherence to CPAP therapy mirrors the rates of adherence seen in other chronic diseases, with up to 50% of OSA patients abandoning therapy within one year. The aim of this pilot study is to investigate if implementation of a comprehensive educational OSA program improves CPAP adherence in OSA patients. Strategies to improve CPAP adherence include providing education and support during the first two weeks of therapy when the risk abandoning therapy is highest. Descriptions of educational content are lacking in the literature and without an established curriculum, it is difficult to measure if CPAP adherence is related to education.