Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial of motivational interviewing-based intervention to improve adherence to continuous positive airway pressure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: The MotivAir study

Abstract

ObjectiveThis study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the MotivAir program—a phone-based intervention based on Motivational Interviewing (MI) principles and techniques—in enhancing adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) therapy among patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS).MethodsA multicenter randomized controlled trial (RCT) design with random allocation at the level of the individual will be conducted to compare the impact of the experimental program (usual care plus MI) with a control group receiving usual care only in improving selected clinical and psychological parameters in the patients. A minimum sample of 80 participants (40 patients per group) will be recruited in each center according to the inclusion criteria. After the initial screening, participants will be randomly assigned to either the experimental group or the control condition. The program will last 180 days and will be delivered by a trained nurse. The impact of the MotivAir program on selected primary (adherence to CPAP in terms of average hours of usage per night and the Apnea-Hypopnea Index, AHI) and secondary (motivation, perceived competence, quality of life, sleepiness) outcomes will be measured at baseline, and after 1-, 3-, and 6-month from CPAP initiation.DiscussionParticipants are expected to show an increased level of adherence to CPAP and to acquire the skills and self-confidence necessary to deal with the psychological consequences of their chronic condition.

Assessing the needs and perspectives of patients with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome following continuous positive airway pressure therapy to inform health care practice: A focus group study

“…Moreover, as also demonstrated in previous studies (Hagedoorn et al, 2000;Rapelli et al, 2020Rapelli et al, , 2021b, receiving support (both emotional and in dealing with technical issues of the machine) from the partner leads to improved adherence and clinical outcomes in patients with OSAS using CPAP. On the contrary, adherence appears scant among patients living alone (Luyster et al, 2016;Rapelli et al, 2022). Indeed-as shown in other research (Sawyer et al, 2010)-unmarried patients in this study reported lower perceived ability to manage the device and fewer positive experiences with the CPAP compared to their married counterparts.…”

“…The results presented in this article are from the preliminary phase of a larger project to develop and implement a telephone-based behavioral and motivational intervention to improve adherence to recommended OSAS treatment (Rapelli et al, 2022).…”

Motivational interviewing—an evidence-based, collaborative, goal-oriented communication approach in lifestyle medicine: A comprehensive review of the literature

“…Further studies should be valuable in increasing understanding of how MI intervention increases CPAP adherence and the Apnea-Hypopnea Index, as well as secondary outcomes, such as motivation, perceived competence, QoL, and sleepiness at various intervals (1-, 3-, and 6-months). 56 …”