Education, Screening, and Follow Up to Reduce Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a Prison Reentry Residential Community

Obstructive sleep apnea affects an estimated 936 million people worldwide (Pivetta, 2021). Untreated OSA can lead to adverse metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurocognitive consequences, possibly reducing one’s lifespan. Education and screening can spread awareness among a community which typically has limited access to resources and may promote early recognition and treatment.
In a Christian-based prison reentry residential community, a pre-test survey was provided to a total sample of 19 participants to measure baseline knowledge of OSA. After administration of the pre-survey, education was provided in a group setting, using a detailed brochure the DNP student created. After participants read through the material and questions were answered, the post-survey was administered to measure if knowledge regarding OSA increased. Screening using the STOP-Bang questionnaire occurred after the post-surveys. The DNP student followed up with participants found to be at high risk for OSA patients over a 3-month period. A 37% of participants scored high risk for OSA, 37% scored intermediate risk, and 26% scored low risk. The p-value calculated to measure pre-and-post OSA knowledge using the survey total score was statistically significant (< .001.). Of the seven total participants who scored high risk, two were newly diagnosed with OSA after referral to a PCP for a sleep study with the help of the telephonic phone sessions. Education and screening demonstrated to be beneficial, resulting in positive outcomes. Project partakers were successfully able to define OSA, list risk factors, and describe how to diagnose and treat the condition. Participants who were newly diagnosed, previously diagnosed, or refused the sleep study managed to adjust modifiable risk factors over the summer such as weight loss, diet, and management of chronic conditions.