Dataset Information

Ambivalent Adherence and Nonadherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Devices: A Qualitative Study.

ABSTRACT:

Study objectives

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is considered the front-line treatment for moderate-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, nonuse rates are very high, such that adherence to CPAP has become a major concern. Although the literature on CPAP use is vast, further research is required to understand patients' experiences of CPAP use and nonuse. This is the goal of this study.

Methods

This study draws on in-depth interviews with 61 Jewish-Israeli patients with OSA who received a recommendation to use a CPAP device. The sample includes both patients who started using CPAP devices as well as patients who rejected this course of treatment. It follows principles of constructivist-grounded theory in both sampling and analysis.

Results

The study shows that regardless of patients' status of adherence, their attitudes toward CPAP devices are characterized by ambivalence. Users of CPAP expressed ambivalent adherence, pondering whether they should stop using the device; and patients who rejected the CPAP expressed ambivalent nonadherence, wondering whether they should give the CPAP another chance. This study identifies the experiences involved in using, as well as not using, CPAP devices that produce patients' ambivalence.

Conclusions

Both adherence and nonadherence to CPAP are dynamic processes that are characterized by patients' ambivalence and contingent upon diverse factors. These findings have practical implications as they suggest that all patients, regardless of their initial adherence status, would benefit from a close follow-up.

SUBMITTER: Zarhin D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5695983 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Project description:Background Studies have shown that a significant percentage of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) do not tolerate continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy and long-term use may be as low as 30%. Given the lower levels of symptoms and health-related risks, patients with mild sleep apnea may be at even higher risk for non-adherence to long term CPAP. The purpose of our study was to investigate the prevalence and associations of long-term CPAP adherence in first time users with mild sleep apnea diagnosed by home sleep apnea testing (HSAT). Methods We identified all the patients who were diagnosed with mild sleep apnea (5 = < AHI < 15) by home sleep apnea testing from 01/2013 to 06/2019 at a large, combined community and hospital-based sleep practice. Only first time CPAP users were included. Compliance was defined as CPAP usage ≥ 4 h per night on ≥ 70% of nights over 30 consecutive days. We defined long term adherence as compliance on the 12th month following CPAP set up. Patient demographics, comorbidities, and CPAP compliance at 1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th month after therapy initiation were collected. We compared and identified the factors that had significant difference (P < 0.1) between compliant and non-compliant groups at the 12th month. Results 222 patients were included in the analysis. 57 (25.7%) patients were adherent with long term CPAP treatment. The following factors were associated with a greater likelihood for long-term CPAP adherence: older age, lower body mass index (BMI), presence of a bed partner, non-smoker, presence of Diabetes Mellitus (DM), presence of Heart Failure (CHF), lack of depression, and compliance at 1st, 3rd, 6th and 9th month. Conclusions Long term CPAP compliance in mild sleep apnea patients is low. Long term adherence to CPAP can be predicted based on CPAP adherence during the first three months. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-023-02612-3.