Boosting CPAP Use in Adults With Severe Sleep Apnea: Role of Motivation and Psychological Factors

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF SPLIT, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE · May 28, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how certain personality traits and psychological factors can affect how well adults with severe sleep apnea stick to using their CPAP machine, which helps them breathe better during sleep. Researchers will assess these traits through questionnaires and check if a motivational phone call, made one month after starting CPAP therapy, can help improve adherence to the treatment after three months. The main questions they want to answer are whether these traits influence how consistently patients use their CPAP and if the phone call makes a difference in adherence.

To participate, you need to be at least 18 years old and have been diagnosed with severe obstructive sleep apnea, which means you have frequent pauses in breathing while sleeping. You will undergo a sleep study before starting CPAP therapy and complete some questionnaires. After starting the therapy, you’ll be randomly assigned to either receive a motivational phone call or not. After three months, you’ll have a follow-up to check how well you’ve been using your CPAP machine. The study is currently recruiting participants at the Sleep Medicine Center, University of Split School of Medicine.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Participants aged 18 years or older
• • Diagnosis of severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), defined as AHI ≥30
• • Signed informed consent for participation in the study
• • Adequate physical and psychological capacity to participate in the intervention and complete questionnaires
• • Patients who are initiating CPAP therapy at the Sleep Medicine Center, University of Split School of Medicine
• • Availability for follow-up over a three-month period
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Presence of central sleep apnea or other primary sleep disorders
• • Cognitive impairment or psychiatric conditions that may hinder the ability to follow instructions or complete questionnaires
• • Previous experience with CPAP therapy prior to study enrollment
• • Significant comorbidities (e.g. unstable cardiovascular disease, advanced pulmonary disease) that may interfere with study outcomes
• • Pregnancy
• • Inability to participate in follow-up assessments or be contacted by telephone