Physician evaluation among dental patients who screen high-risk for sleep apnea

Physician evaluation among dental patients who screen high-risk for sleep apnea Public Deposited

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Creator

Dillow, Kristin Dawn
- Affiliation: School of Dentistry, Division of Allied Dental Education, Dental Hygiene Master's Program

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the feasibility of screening for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk in a dental practice and to examine patient response to a recommendation for physician evaluation. OSA risk was assessed for 119 adults using the validated STOP screening questionnaire and overnight pulse oximetry. Patients classified as high-risk on one or both instruments were advised to seek physician evaluation. Fifty percent (50.4%) of patients screened high-risk on STOP questions, 58% on pulse oximetry, and 31.9% on both instruments. Follow-up information obtained from 111 patients (93.3%) revealed that 42 patients (35.3%) sought physician evaluation within three months of OSA screening. Probability of care seeking was similar for patients at high-risk by simple questions or pulse oximetry when instruments were jointly administered. Findings have implications for the establishment of recommendations for clinically based OSA screening.

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