title: Factors affecting the intention and decision to be treated for obstructive sleep apnea disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) disorder has a deleterious impact on health. Using the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device effectively lessens OSA. The purpose of this study was to examine the factors affecting patients' intention and actual decision to get treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were distributed at three sleep laboratories in Israel among 633 participants suspected of having OSA. Six months later, 194 OSA patients were contacted to verify whether they had purchased a CPAP device.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factors affecting intention to use the device included Health Belief Model variables, income level, and sleep laboratory location. The decision to get treatment was positively affected by the intention to use CPAP, the number of CPAP trial days, age, and number of years in the country.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients' attitudes and health beliefs prior to diagnosis may predict their intention to be treated for OSA, and in turn, affect their actual decision to get treatment. Awareness of behavioral intention can enable decision makers developing targeted interventions to promote treatment.
authors.affiliation: Economics and Management Department, The Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Yezreel Valley, Israel.
authors.forename: Shosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahrabani
authors.forename: Orna
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tzischinsky
authors.forename: Gili
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Givati
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Dagan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001364:Awareness; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000523:psychology*; D003469:Culture; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000523:psychology; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires