A new educational program for patients suffering from sleep apnea syndrome

Patients' knowledge and beliefs about their chronic illnesses such as OSAS are known to influence a range of health related variables, including treatment compliance. It is for that reason that this interdisciplinary program centred on the therapeutic education of the patients was conceived by two medical teams with the aim of creating a new coverage of the patients affected of OSAS.

Thirty-five OSAS patients were consecutively collected among those regularly followed at the Service of pneumology outpatient facility. The psycho-educational methodology as well as the courses are described in detail. Patients were admitted for 36 h at the Service of Therapeutic Education for Chronic Diseases for both individual and group multidisciplinary approach to their disease. Groups of 3-4 patients discuss benefits, inconvenience as well as CPAP representations and manipulation of the device in small workshops.

The therapeutic objectives, the educational methods, the program evaluation are presented. Preliminary results show a clinical improvement of the duration of CPAP use (0.7 +/- 0.2 h/night). 24% of patients increased the CPAP use more than one hour per night 3 months later. The Epworth sleepiness scale is significantly improved 3 months later (p < 0.05).

We describe a new therapeutic educational interdisciplinary program for patients affected by OSAS. Its efficacy will be tested prospectively in a larger group and in the long term.

The educational methods were applicable to the patients affected of OSAS bringing new specific strategies to improve the CPAP use. Patients had a positive attitude towards the CPAP treatment.