Coping Processes, Self-Efficacy, and CPAP Use in Adults With Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Area of Science:

• Sleep Medicine
• Behavioral Science
• Psychology

Background:

• Coping strategies influence short-term CPAP use in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients.
• Investigating coping styles and self-efficacy for long-term CPAP adherence is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine how active and passive coping styles, individual coping processes, and self-efficacy affect CPAP use at 1 week and 1 month.
• To identify behavioral targets for improving CPAP adherence in newly diagnosed OSA patients.

Main Methods:

• Post-hoc analysis of a prospective longitudinal study involving 66 CPAP-naïve adults with newly diagnosed OSA.
• Utilized the Ways of Coping Questionnaire and Self-Efficacy Measure for Sleep Apnea.
• Assessed objective CPAP use (mean hr/night) at 1 week and 1 month using regression analyses.

Main Results:

• Active coping was linked to higher 1-week CPAP use (p=0.0397).
• Planful Problem Solving positively correlated with CPAP use at both 1 week (p=0.0117) and 1 month (p=0.0378).
• Self-efficacy significantly predicted greater CPAP use at both 1 week (p=0.0056) and 1 month (p=0.0056).

Conclusions:

• Self-efficacy and Planful Problem Solving are effective targets for behavioral interventions.
• These strategies can promote sustained CPAP use in individuals with newly diagnosed OSA.
• Interventions should focus on enhancing self-efficacy and problem-solving skills to improve treatment adherence.