title: A pilot study of CPAP adherence promotion by peer buddies with sleep apnea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate patient ratings of the acceptability of a peer buddy system (PBS). To promote continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy adherence in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). To obtain preliminary data on the effectiveness of PBS on sleep-specific health-related quality of life and CPAP adherence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, and controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic Center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-nine patients with OSA and 13 patients with OSA who were experienced CPAP users.
  
  
  METHODS
  Recently diagnosed patients with OSA were randomly assigned to either the PBS to promote CPAP adherence (intervention group) or usual care (control group).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient satisfaction, Functional Outcomes of Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ), CPAP adherence, vigilance, self-efficacy, and patient activation were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-one percent of the subjects rated the PBS as very satisfactory (68%) or satisfactory (23%). During the 90 days of therapy, weekly CPAP adherence was greater in the intervention than the usual care group (MANOVA; F = 2.29; p = 0.04). Patient satisfaction was positively correlated with CPAP adherence (R(2) = 0.14; p = 0.02). We did not find any group differences for FOSQ, vigilance, self-efficacy, or patient activation in this pilot study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our pilot study suggests that the PBS intervention is feasible and received high patient satisfaction ratings. CPAP adherence may be improved by peer-driven intervention, but a larger, adequately powered study is needed.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01164683.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A commentary on this article appears in this issue on page 551.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Parthasarathy S; Wendel C; Haynes PL; Atwood C; Kuna S. A pilot study of CPAP adherence promotion by peer buddies with sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med 2013;9(6):543-550.
authors.affiliation: Southern Arizona Veterans Administration Health Care System, Tucson, AZ 85723, USA. spartha@arc.arizona.edu
authors.forename: Sairam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parthasarathy
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wendel
authors.forename: Patricia L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Haynes
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Atwood
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuna
mesh_terms: D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010379:Peer Group; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*; D012944:Social Support
keywords: Adherence; adherence; adult; artificial respiration; compliance; continuous positive airway pressure; obstructive sleep apnea; sleep apnea