Evaluating the Effect of Education and Follow-up on Non-compliance With Positive Airway Pressure Devices Among Male Patients Over the Age of 50 Years Old

Negative symptoms of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) are often the result of preventable circumstance related to the lack of adherence with positive airway pressure device (PAP) use. Research by Gabryelska et al. (2021) notes polysomnography and pap devices are the golden standards of diagnosis and treatment of OSA, yet non-compliance rates average 50% (Askland et al., 2020). Obesity, at times, is seen as a comorbid disorder with OSA, yet is not proven to be the predecessor of OSA. Chronic health conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease can be exacerbated by OSA (Gabryelska et al., 2021). The goal of this doctoral project was to learn if education and follow-up are effective in the increase of compliance with PAP use. Askland et al. (2020) provides evidence that compliance to PAP device use can be positively influenced by support, behavioral modification, education, and regular follow-up. To address increasing pap adherence Magnan (2021) references the use of the Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycle. The PDSA cycle is a problem-solving model utilized to either improve a process or carry out a change. In this doctoral project the PDSA cycle improved the process of managing compliance in patients with OSA. The sample size of the doctoral project was seven males over 50 years of age and diagnosed with OSA. These participants were referred for participation in the project by their primary care provider. All participants signed treatment consent forms authorizing access their health record and the publication of their study results without noting their names. The result of the project showed participants achieved 47% compliance with their PAP device. The clinic referring the participants expressed that the project offered a good protocol and is considering adopting the doctoral project interventions as a part of the clinic’s protocol for managing OSA device compliance.