P084 General practitioner training on obstructive sleep apnoea and long-term care: a pilot study

Abstract General practitioner training on obstructive sleep apnoea and long-term care: a pilot study Introduction Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) can be treated using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy; however, many patients experience difficulties acclimatising and persisting with this treatment. In view of the increasing prevalence of OSA, evidence-based models of care not limited to sleep physicians are urgently required. A pilot study was conducted on the feasibility of implementing an education session for general practitioners (GPs) on OSA and its long-term care. Methods Fourteen GPs from a university practice-based research network participated in a 1-hour education session on the chronic nature and management of OSA, aiming to develop a format for structured follow-up. Quizzes were administered to assess knowledge before and after the sessions, with pre and post-session data compared using McNemar’s test. Prior to these sessions, surveys were sent to GPs to identify areas they wanted to cover to maximise engagement. Results Twelve GPs completed both pre and post-session questionnaires. Key areas demonstrating an improvement in knowledge were awareness of established treatment measures for OSA (p=0.008), compliance data parameters to assess CPAP use (p=0.014) and assessment of leak (p=0.014). All participants found sessions to be either “helpful” or “very helpful”. Discussion This study demonstrated that a focused education session for GPs on OSA and CPAP therapy is feasible, implementable, and led to improved knowledge and confidence in providing structured follow-up. Further work is required to determine potential benefits for patients and access to health services.