Increasing Recognition of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Primary Care: Implementing the STOP-Bang Questionnaire into Practice

Abstract

Problem Statement: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent disorder that is often undiagnosed due to a lack of screening within outpatient settings. A multitude of OSA screening tools are available for use, but are not regularly implemented. Purpose: This DNP project aimed to determine the feasibility and the impact of introducing a validated screening tool, the STOP-Bang Questionnaire (version 2014), in a primary care office with the intent of increasing recognition of OSA in adult patients. Methods: Project participants included three providers and 121 patients seen during the implementation period. Pre-intervention charts were chosen via random number generator until the desired number of patients had been reached (n=25). The charts of patients chosen were examined for age, race, gender and documentation of previous OSA screening. The survey revealed that none of the charts indicated documentation of sleep apnea screening or associated sleep specialist referrals. Data collection sheets were then given to patients 40 years of age or older with no previous history of OSA seen in the primary care office during the observational period. Data collection sheets included demographic data and a STOP-Bang Questionnaire assessment completed by the provider. Results: The project found that of 121 participants, 22 were at risk of moderate to severe OSA. Only 11 of the 22 patients were referred for further sleep testing. Significance: The STOP-Bang Questionnaire is an easy-to-use OSA screening tool that can be implemented in the primary care setting and enable providers to better direct preventative plans of care.