title: A new educational program for patients suffering from sleep apnea syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Patients' knowledge and beliefs about their chronic illnesses such as OSAS are known to influence a range of health related variables, including treatment compliance. It is for that reason that this interdisciplinary program centred on the therapeutic education of the patients was conceived by two medical teams with the aim of creating a new coverage of the patients affected of OSAS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five OSAS patients were consecutively collected among those regularly followed at the Service of pneumology outpatient facility. The psycho-educational methodology as well as the courses are described in detail. Patients were admitted for 36 h at the Service of Therapeutic Education for Chronic Diseases for both individual and group multidisciplinary approach to their disease. Groups of 3-4 patients discuss benefits, inconvenience as well as CPAP representations and manipulation of the device in small workshops.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The therapeutic objectives, the educational methods, the program evaluation are presented. Preliminary results show a clinical improvement of the duration of CPAP use (0.7 +/- 0.2 h/night). 24% of patients increased the CPAP use more than one hour per night 3 months later. The Epworth sleepiness scale is significantly improved 3 months later (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We describe a new therapeutic educational interdisciplinary program for patients affected by OSAS. Its efficacy will be tested prospectively in a larger group and in the long term.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The educational methods were applicable to the patients affected of OSAS bringing new specific strategies to improve the CPAP use. Patients had a positive attitude towards the CPAP treatment.
authors.affiliation: Service of Therapeutic Education for Chronic Diseases, University Hospital Geneva, 24, rue Micheli-du-Crest, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland. Alain.Golay@hcuge.ch
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golay
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Girard
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grandin
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Métrailler
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Victorion
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lebas
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ybarra
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rochat
mesh_terms: D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D013030:Spain