University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee

Experiences of Persons Living with Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Beth L. Rodgers, PhD, RN, FAAN, Project Director

SummaryObstructive sleep apnea affects an estimated 18 million persons in the U.S., approximately 4% of middle-aged men and 2% of middle-aged women. This condition can cause excessive daytime sleepiness that leads to accidents and deterioration in quality of life. OSA has been associated with sequelae such as stroke, heart failure, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, depression, and gastrointestinal disturbance. The administration of Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) through an apparatus worn by the individual while sleeping is a mainstay of treatment. PAP has been documented to result in decreases in daytime sleepiness and lessening of the development of complications of OSA. In addition, other strategies often are recommended for further management of the condition, such as weight loss and better sleep hygiene. In spite of the effectiveness of PAP therapy, adherence is known to be poor for persons with this condition. There is a tremendous gap in knowledge regarding the experiences of persons living with OSA that is essential to effective therapy. Various lifestyle adjustment activities consistent with self-management are known to promote improved sleep, yet the perspectives of persons engaged in these activities is essentially absent from the literature. I propose an in-depth exploration of the experiences of persons living with OSA, the barriers to treatment effectiveness, self-management, and adherence, and the self-identified strategies employed by persons to manage their condition. A diverse sample of 80 adults living with OSA will be recruited to provide detailed descriptions of their experiences and their perceptions about living with and managing this condition. A combination of telephone, electronic, and face-to-face means of data collection will be used to maximize the variety in subjects and their experiences. A substantive theory will be derived from the data to facilitate understanding of the experiences as well as to contribute to a broader understanding of self-management practices of persons with chronic conditions.

PERFORMANCE SITE(S)

College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Milwaukee, WI