Developing a Tailored Website for Promoting Awareness about Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) Among Blacks in...

Area of Science:

• Health Communication
• Sleep Medicine
• Health Equity

Background:

• Blacks experience disproportionately higher rates of poor sleep quality and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).
• Targeted interventions are needed to address sleep health disparities in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a culturally tailored website aimed at increasing awareness of OSA among Black adults.
• To assess the usability and acceptability of tailored health communication materials.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods approach utilizing in-depth interviews, usability testing, and surveys.
• Participant demographics: n=9, 55% female, 100% Black, average age 38.5 years.
• Qualitative analysis of themes related to OSA knowledge and symptoms, alongside quantitative usability ratings.

Main Results:

• Qualitative findings revealed varied awareness of OSA symptoms and common self-reported sleep disturbances.
• Participants rated the website highly for usefulness (mean=4.9) and user-friendliness (mean=4.9).
• Website attractiveness was also rated favorably (mean=4.3).

Conclusions:

• Culturally tailored health communication, like the developed website, shows potential for advancing health equity.
• Usability testing is crucial for ensuring health materials are acceptable and actionable for the target population.