Cooper Jenna R, Acker Kristi A, Geyer James D, Henderson Monica M, Henderson-Mitchell Randi, Higginbotham John C
Alabama Neurology and Sleep Medicine, Tuscaloosa, AL 35406, USA.
School of Nursing, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2025 Mar 29;22(4):522. doi: 10.3390/ijerph22040522.
Telehealth approaches have demonstrated benefits in improving positive airway pressure (PAP) compliance in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), improving access to healthcare resources, and improving health outcomes for rural communities.
This quality improvement (QI) pilot study implemented weekly telemedicine visits for four weeks of PAP therapy in rural patients newly diagnosed with OSA. Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores were compared prior to and at one month of therapy. PAP compliance was compared between rural patients who received the telemedicine intervention and a group of patients not receiving the telemedicine intervention.
Compliance rates were higher in the intervention group. There was not a significant difference in compliance for the intervention group (M = 63.22, SD = 32.78) versus the control group (M = 46.40, SD = 36.24), t (46) = 1.69, = 0.099. ESS scores were significantly greater prior to one month of therapy (M = 8.38, SD = 5.70) compared to after one month of therapy (M = 2.83, SD = 2.65), t (23) = 5.22, < 0.001, d = 1.07.
This QI pilot study utilized telemedicine to remove barriers to care, improve PAP compliance, and improve health outcomes for this underserved, rural population.
远程医疗方法已证明在改善阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停（OSA）患者的持续气道正压通气（PAP）依从性、增加医疗资源获取机会以及改善农村社区健康结局方面具有益处。
这项质量改进（QI）试点研究对新诊断为OSA的农村患者实施了为期四周的PAP治疗的每周远程医疗问诊。比较了治疗前和治疗一个月时的爱泼华嗜睡量表（ESS）评分。比较了接受远程医疗干预的农村患者与未接受远程医疗干预的一组患者之间的PAP依从性。
干预组的依从率更高。干预组（M = 63.22，标准差 = 32.78）与对照组（M = 46.40，标准差 = 36.24）的依从性无显著差异，t（46） = 1.69，P = 0.099。治疗一个月前的ESS评分（M = 8.38，标准差 = 5.70）显著高于治疗一个月后（M = 2.83，标准差 = 2.65），t（23） = 5.22，P < 0.001，d = 1.07。
这项QI试点研究利用远程医疗消除了护理障碍，提高了PAP依从性，并改善了这个服务不足的农村人群的健康结局。
