The overarching goal of my program of research is to improve outcomes in patients with chronic disease by optimizing treatment for sleep disorders. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is an effective treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but adherence is poor. Motivational enhancement (ME) therapy is the most promising approach, to date, for improving adherence to CPAP, but the intervention would be optimized by added support for patients and alternative strategies for intervention delivery. Significant others (SO) are likely to exert positive and negative effects on the patient's adoption and use of CPAP and are frequently described as the greatest source of social support for patients with chronic illness. Beginning the intervention before CPAP initiation would capitalize on the teachable moment shortly following diagnosis when motivation and social support may be most essential.
The first aim of the research plan is to explore critical factors for adoption and use of CPAP by both patients and SOs using qualitative research methods (focus groups); and to modify a brief motivational intervention for CPAP based on information obtained from the focus groups and incorporation of SOs in the intervention sessions.
The second aim i s to conduct a randomized controlled pilot study to examine the effects of the modified motivational intervention on CPAP adherence and the relationship between CPAP adherence and health outcomes (e.g., daytime sleepiness, sleep-related functional status, self-reported medication adherence, and blood pressure). Patients in the pilot study will be randomized to the intervention, attention control, or standard clinical care group. To achieve the goals of this research plan and my long-term goal of becoming an independent researcher developing behavioral interventions targeting adherence to sleep disorder treatments, I require further training in the following areas: (1) sleep disorder treatments, (2) behavioral intervention development incorporating motivational interviewing techniques and couple level approaches, (3) CPAP adherence methodology, assessment, and analysis, and (4) methodological and statistical techniques in designing and conducting randomized clinical trials. This proposal offers an innovative approach to improving CPAP adherence and has the potential to make a significant impact on current intervention strategies for improving adherence to an efficacious treatment in an increasingly prevalent public health problem.

Public Health Relevance

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder in the United States1. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is the most effective treatment for OSA, but adherence to CPAP is poor. The research proposed in this application will improve the lives of both patients with OSA and their significant others by using patients' and significant others' concerns about CPAP to motivate patients to adhere to CPAP therapy.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award (K23)
Project #
5K23HL105887-05
Application #
8906913
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CSR-X (M1))
Program Officer
Twery, Michael
Project Start
2011-07-20
Project End
2016-06-30
Budget Start
2015-07-01
Budget End
2016-06-30
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2015
Total Cost
$114,137
Indirect Cost
$8,455
Name
University of Pittsburgh
Department
Miscellaneous
Type
Schools of Nursing
DUNS #
004514360
City
Pittsburgh
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
15213
Luyster, Faith S; Aloia, Mark S; Buysse, Daniel J et al. (2018) A Couples-Oriented Intervention for Positive Airway Pressure Therapy Adherence: A Pilot Study of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients and Their Partners. Behav Sleep Med :1-12
Luyster, Faith S (2017) Impact of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Its Treatments on Partners: A Literature Review. J Clin Sleep Med 13:467-477
Luyster, Faith S; Dunn, Reginald E; Lauderdale, Diane S et al. (2017) Sleep-apnea risk and subclinical atherosclerosis in early-middle-aged retired National Football League players. Nat Sci Sleep 9:31-38
Chasens, Eileen R; Luyster, Faith S (2016) Effect of Sleep Disturbances on Quality of Life, Diabetes Self-Care Behavior, and Patient-Reported Outcomes. Diabetes Spectr 29:20-3
Luyster, Faith S; Strollo Jr, Patrick J; Holguin, Fernando et al. (2016) Association Between Insomnia and Asthma Burden in the Severe Asthma Research Program (SARP) III. Chest 150:1242-1250
Luyster, Faith S; Dunbar-Jacob, Jacqueline; Aloia, Mark S et al. (2016) Patient and Partner Experiences With Obstructive Sleep Apnea and CPAP Treatment: A Qualitative Analysis. Behav Sleep Med 14:67-84
Luyster, Faith S; Choi, JiYeon; Yeh, Chao-Hsing et al. (2015) Screening and evaluation tools for sleep disorders in older adults. Appl Nurs Res 28:334-40
Luyster, Faith S; Kip, Kevin E; Buysse, Daniel J et al. (2014) Traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors in comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea. Sleep 37:593-600
Luyster, Faith S; Kip, Kevin E; Aiyer, Aryan N et al. (2014) Relation of obstructive sleep apnea to coronary artery calcium in non-obese versus obese men and women aged 45-75 years. Am J Cardiol 114:1690-4