Impact of an obstructive sleep apnea screening protocol on provider adherence in a primary care setting

Abstract

The aim of this quality improvement project is two-fold. First, to implement a practice change of annual OSA screening in patients with hypertension and/or obesity, specifically between the ages of 30-70 years, with the use of the STOP-Bang Questionnaire (SBQ) in a primary care setting. Second, the project aims to increase the proportion of screening and referral rates for individuals who screen positive on the SBQ. The project proposal intends to create an algorithm, based on AASM 2016 guidelines, for staff to refer to when deciding who to screen, how to screen, and when to refer for sleep studies (Kapur et al., 2017). The overall purpose of the project intends to increase early detection of OSA which is a crucial step in preventing disease burden and aids the process of expedited treatment. This aligns with previous QI project aims focusing on enhancing OSA screening in primary care (Miles et al., 2017; Ononye et al., 2019). As outlined in the SMARTIE goals, these are measured by comparing pre-and-post intervention screening rates, with secondary goals of enhancing referral rates to sleep centers to confirm diagnosis. Ultimately, long-term goals include early detection and expedited treatment of OSA, via CPAP, thereby reducing and preventing serious health and financial complications of OSA.