ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a treatable cause of daytime sleepiness and associated medical problems that can negatively impact soldier readiness and performance. This study examined adherence to positive airway pressure (PAP) by soldiers who were newly diagnosed with OSA and prescribed PAP therapy and participated in a Knowledge, Skills, and Attitudes (KSA) behavioral intervention class. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The KSA was a one-time, interactive 90-minute class attended by up to 10 patients per class. PAP adherence was examined using Medicare standard at 30-, 60-, 90-, and 180 days post class. The analytic sample comprised 379 active duty patients (93% men; mean age 40.21 ± 8.06) categorized into 3 groups: KSA (n = 235), did not show (DNS; n = 61), and mandatory education class (MEC; n = 83). The MEC group comprised patients from an education class in a previous year. RESULTS: Baseline scores on the apnea hypopnea index, body mass index, sleepiness, insomnia severity, and age were non-significant among the 3 groups. At 30 days, significantly more patients in KSA (48%) and MEC (51%) were adherent than the DNS group (16%). At 60 days, the adherence rates for the KSA, DNS, and MEC were significantly different at 39%, 22%, and 27%, respectively. At 90- and 180 days, the adherence rates among the KSA, DNS, and MEC groups did not differ significantly at 34%, 17%, and 26% (90 days) and 34%, 27%, and 25% (180 days), respectively. Consistently, more patients in KSA were adherent than those in DNS and MEC, except at 30 days. Additionally, adherence rates for KSA intervention declined more gradually over the 6 month period. The mean PAP usage on nights used was 4.6 hours that computed to a 34% non-use rate based on an optimal 7-hour/night sleep time. CONCLUSION: KSA could be a behavioral intervention that enhances PAP adherence with a booster session implemented at the 90 days mark.
Subject(s)
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure , Military Personnel , Patient Compliance , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive , Humans , Male , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/therapy , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/psychology , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/complications , Military Personnel/statistics & numerical data , Military Personnel/psychology , Female , Adult , Middle Aged , Patient Compliance/statistics & numerical data , Patient Compliance/psychology , Continuous Positive Airway Pressure/methods , Continuous Positive Airway Pressure/statistics & numerical data , Continuous Positive Airway Pressure/psychology , Behavior Therapy/methods , Behavior Therapy/statistics & numerical data , Behavior Therapy/standards , Body Mass IndexABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The incidence of obstructive sleep apnea in military personnel has increased over 500% since the early 2000s. Adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (PAP), an efficacious treatment, has been suboptimal. This article presents a behavioral intervention model for enhancing PAP therapy adherence and describes how the model was received by military personnel. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population comprised 254 out of 280 military personnel (93% men, mean age 39 years) who attended a 90-minute behavioral intervention class within the first 8 weeks of PAP use. They were coached on the Knowledge, Skills, Attitudes (KSA) model of PAP therapy success: Knowledge about obstructive sleep apnea and PAP treatment; Skills to develop a habitual loop for nightly PAP use; and Attitudes that address readiness, barriers, and solutions for sustaining PAP use. Participants completed a voluntary, anonymous postclass survey that inquired of their perception of various elements of the class. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a paired sample t-test. RESULTS: In participants' self-rating of how much they know about PAP treatment before and after the class, their ratings indicated that they experienced a significant increase in knowledge (P < 0.0001). On the postclass survey, 77% of the participants (N = 195/254) "agree a lot" or "strongly agree" that the class gave them tools to have a successful treatment and 78% (N = 198/254) noted that it was a valuable educational experience. The Knowledge portion was rated by 79% (N = 201/254) of the participants as "quite a lot" or "extremely" beneficial. The Skills segment was rated as "quite a lot" or "extremely" beneficial by 72% (N = 183/254) of the participants. The Attitudes discussion was perceived as "quite a lot" or "extremely" beneficial by 70% (N = 178/254) of the participants. Participants' free-text responses to "what was most helpful" were generally positive. CONCLUSIONS: A KSA model of behavioral intervention for enhancing PAP therapy adherence was well received by participants. Future research will assess the impact of this intervention on adherence as measured by objective indicators.