Self efficacy treatment: how health belief model can influence CPAP compliance in OSAS

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS) is responsible for increased health and social costs. Gold standard therapy for OSAS is CPAP. Studies on CPAP show a lack in adherence and no predictive factors were identified for CPAP treatment compliance. Our study investigated the role of patients’ self efficacy in CPAP adherence. 60 OSAS patients were phone interviewed with a questionnaire. Frequency and total amount hours of CPAP nocturnal use were investigated. A modified SEMSA questionnaire (self-efficacy measurement for sleep apnea) was completed. The 60 patients (77% men; 71% BMI≥30; 45% aged 51-65 years; 66% smokers or former smokers) were divided for severity stages (mild 3%, moderate 32% and severe 65%). 94% had domiciliar CPAP, 83% used CPAP. 13% always used CPAP therapy and 55% rarely skipped it. Minimum of 4 hour/night CPAP use was reached in 71%. Modified SEMSA questionnaire, compared with answers about CPAP use, showed a significative statistic relation between the hour/night CPAP usage and the will of doing CPAP, even if it bothered. SEMSA items higher scores agree with higher CPAP compliance. According to international researches, our study shows how behaviours based on health belief model (HBM) and self efficacy are linked with CPAP compliance. Patients join treatment if they are convinced that they could take advantage of it. Olsen, S. et al 2008, Eur Respir J. 2008 Sep;32:710-7