Adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure in Existing Users: Self-Efficacy Enhances the Association between Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Adherence.
OBJECTIVE
Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) is a common sleep disorder associated with a myriad of sequelae. OSAHS is effectively treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. However, fewer than 50% of patients are compliant with their CPAP therapy prescriptions. The current study sought to explore an integrated, biopsychological approach to CPAP adherence among experienced CPAP users.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of a cohort of veterans with a diagnosis of OSAHS (n = 191) who were prescribed CPAP therapy and returned for adherence download at the Miami VA Sleep Clinic. The relationships between biomedical characteristics (e.g., CPAP pressure, self-reported sleepiness, and change in sleep efficiency) and psychological factors (e.g., self-efficacy beliefs and psychological diagnoses) and objectively measured CPAP use were examined to determine whether psychological factors moderated the relationships between biomedical characteristics and CPAP adherence.


RESULTS
Hierarchical regression analyses predicting CPAP adherence (adjusting for time since CPAP prescription, age, education, prescribed CPAP pressure, daytime sleepiness, changes in sleep efficiency with CPAP, and psychiatric conditions) revealed the following: (1) CPAP self-efficacy and CPAP pressure were positively related to adherence, and (2) CPAP self-efficacy moderates the relationship between CPAP pressure and CPAP adherence.


CONCLUSIONS
There was no relationship between CPAP pressure and adherence in individuals with low self-efficacy beliefs. However, for individuals with high self-efficacy beliefs, there was a significant positive relationship between CPAP pressure and adherence. Self-efficacy beliefs appear to be a prime target for focused interventions aimed at improving CPAP adherence among those individuals with higher pressure prescriptions.
David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA.|Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, North Hills, CA.
Joseph M
JM
Dzierzewski
Department of Neurology, Sleep Medicine Division, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL.|Neurology Service, Bruce W. Carter VA Medical Center, Miami, FL.
Douglas M
DM
Wallace
Department of Neurology, Sleep Medicine Division, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL.
William K
WK
Wohlgemuth
D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology; D011581:Psychological Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020377:Self Efficacy; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
CPAP; adherence; continuous positive airway pressure; moderation; self-efficacy; sleep apnea