title: Adherence to CPAP therapy: comparing the effect of three educational approaches in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)-therapy is the first-line treatment for moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). A significant limitation of CPAP treatment is the poor therapy adherence, compromising the beneficial effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates three different educational approaches and their effect on therapy adherence.
  
  
  METHODS
  This single-center, retrospective study compared three groups of 100 consecutive, CPAP-naive patients with moderate to severe OSA who were started on CPAP therapy. Group 1 and 2 received the same individual structured education on two consecutive days with an extra phone call 7 to 10 days after CPAP start in group 2. Group 3 received individual structured education on the first day and participated in a group education using a slide presentation open for discussion on the second day. Re-evaluation was performed after 24 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baseline characteristics did not differ significantly between groups. During the 24 weeks follow-up there was a drop-out rate of 16% (group 1), 12% (group 2) and 5% (group 3). In the patients still on CPAP after 24 weeks, the mean nightly CPAP usage was, respectively, 4.7 ± 1.8, 5.2 ± 2.3 and 5.7 ± 2.1 h/night. In group 3 both the drop-out rate and mean CPAP usage were significantly different (P values, respectively, P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) compared with group 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improving CPAP adherence is an ongoing challenge. This study shows that a multi-modality approach, using a combination of individual and group education using a slide presentation open for discussion resulted in improved therapy adherence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Delanote
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.|Department of Pulmonology, Louvain University Center for Sleep and wake disorders (LUCS), University Hospital Gasthuisberg Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borzée
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.|Department of Pulmonology, Louvain University Center for Sleep and wake disorders (LUCS), University Hospital Gasthuisberg Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Catharina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belge
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.|Department of Pulmonology, Louvain University Center for Sleep and wake disorders (LUCS), University Hospital Gasthuisberg Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bertien
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Buyse
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.|Department of Pulmonology, Louvain University Center for Sleep and wake disorders (LUCS), University Hospital Gasthuisberg Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dries
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Testelmans
mesh_terms: D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017286:Polysomnography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: CPAP adherence; CPAP education; Group education; obstructive sleep apnoea