| PHILIPPINES NURSES ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC. |
JNPARRJNPARR Publications
| JNPARR - Publications - Volume 14 Issue 1 - AbstractScreening for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a Primary a Care Setting: A Quality Improvement ProjectWritten by Sandra Ferris, Katherine Prihoda, & Cynthia Ayres doi: https://doi.org/10.13178/jnparr.2024.14.01.1406 DownloadAbstract Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is severely underrecognized and underdiagnosed, leaving 82% of men and 93% of women who have OSA undiagnosed. Although the exact cost of undiagnosed individuals to the healthcare system is unknown, it is estimated to be $150 billion each year and is analogous to other chronic diseases. OSA is associated with several comorbidities including multiple cardiovascular diseases, arrythmias, stroke, diabetes, and even early death. Despite the risk of these comorbidities, primary care providers do not consistently implement OSA screening practices.
Objective: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to improve the screening and referral rates for OSA by implementing the STOP-Bang questionnaire to screen for OSA in a primary care office. Methods: This quality improvement project sought to increase screening for OSA by implementing the STOP-Bang questionnaire for all eligible patients seen at a primary care office over a three-month period. One provider and two staff members were educated on the screening protocol, risk assessment for OSA, and referral criteria for a sleep study. Retrospective chart reviews were used to evaluate the improvement of OSA screening rates and sleep study referrals. Results: A total of 16 out of 46 patients over age 18 with no history of OSA diagnosis or treatment were assessed and identified as high risk for OSA and referred for a sleep study. Three patients confirmed the diagnosis with sleep study. Four patients that were not obese nor hypertensive still met the criteria for a sleep study, indicating a need to screen even those without overt risk factors for OSA. Conclusions: Use of the STOP-Bang questionnaire increased referral rates for sleep studies. Early detection allows for targeted interventions, improved sleep, fewer complications from OSA, and better quality of life. Keywords: Obstructive sleep apnea, screening for sleep apnea, STOP-Bang questionnaire |