BACKGROUND:Obstructive sleep apnea is underdiagnosed. We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial of an online intervention to promote obstructive sleep apnea screening among members of an Internet weight-loss community. METHODS:Members of an Internet weight-loss community who have never been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea or discussed the condition with their healthcare provider were randomized to intervention (online risk assessment+feedback) or control. The primary outcome was discussing obstructive sleep apnea with a healthcare provider at 12 weeks. RESULTS:Of 4700 members who were sent e-mail study announcements, 168 (97% were female, age 39.5 years [standard deviation 11.7], body mass index 30.3 [standard deviation 7.8]) were randomized to intervention (n=84) or control (n=84). Of 82 intervention subjects who completed the risk assessment, 50 (61%) were low risk and 32 (39%) were high risk for obstructive sleep apnea. Intervention subjects were more likely than control subjects to discuss obstructive sleep apnea with their healthcare provider within 12 weeks (11% [9/84] vs 2% [2/84]; P=.02; relative risk=4.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.002-20.21). The number needed to treat was 12. High-risk intervention subjects were more likely than control subjects to discuss obstructive sleep apnea with their healthcare provider (19% [6/32] vs 2% [2/84]; P=.004; relative risk=7.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.68-37.02). One high-risk intervention subject started treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. CONCLUSION: An online screening intervention is feasible and likely effective in encouraging members of an Internet weight-loss community to discuss obstructive sleep apnea with their healthcare provider.
RCT Entities:
BACKGROUND:Obstructive sleep apnea is underdiagnosed. We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial of an online intervention to promote obstructive sleep apnea screening among members of an Internet weight-loss community. METHODS: Members of an Internet weight-loss community who have never been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea or discussed the condition with their healthcare provider were randomized to intervention (online risk assessment+feedback) or control. The primary outcome was discussing obstructive sleep apnea with a healthcare provider at 12 weeks. RESULTS: Of 4700 members who were sent e-mail study announcements, 168 (97% were female, age 39.5 years [standard deviation 11.7], body mass index 30.3 [standard deviation 7.8]) were randomized to intervention (n=84) or control (n=84). Of 82 intervention subjects who completed the risk assessment, 50 (61%) were low risk and 32 (39%) were high risk for obstructive sleep apnea. Intervention subjects were more likely than control subjects to discuss obstructive sleep apnea with their healthcare provider within 12 weeks (11% [9/84] vs 2% [2/84]; P=.02; relative risk=4.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.002-20.21). The number needed to treat was 12. High-risk intervention subjects were more likely than control subjects to discuss obstructive sleep apnea with their healthcare provider (19% [6/32] vs 2% [2/84]; P=.004; relative risk=7.88; 95% confidence interval, 1.68-37.02). One high-risk intervention subject started treatment for obstructive sleep apnea. CONCLUSION: An online screening intervention is feasible and likely effective in encouraging members of an Internet weight-loss community to discuss obstructive sleep apnea with their healthcare provider.
Authors: Virend K Somers; David P White; Raouf Amin; William T Abraham; Fernando Costa; Antonio Culebras; Stephen Daniels; John S Floras; Carl E Hunt; Lyle J Olson; Thomas G Pickering; Richard Russell; Mary Woo; Terry Young Journal: J Am Coll Cardiol Date: 2008-08-19 Impact factor: 24.094
Authors: Najib T Ayas; J Mark FitzGerald; John A Fleetham; David P White; Michael Schulzer; C Frank Ryan; Reza Ghaeli; G William Mercer; Peter Cooper; Michael C Y Tan; Carlo A Marra Journal: Arch Intern Med Date: 2006-05-08
Authors: Charlotte A Gaydos; Karen Dwyer; Mathilda Barnes; Patricia A Rizzo-Price; Billie Jo Wood; Toni Flemming; M Terry Hogan Journal: Sex Transm Dis Date: 2006-07 Impact factor: 2.830
Authors: Ann Haas; Bethany Koestner; Jill Rosenberg; David Moore; Steven J Garlow; Jan Sedway; Linda Nicholas; Herbert Hendin; J John Mann; Charles B Nemeroff Journal: J Am Coll Health Date: 2008 Jul-Aug