A better night’s sleep for those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea — and more Zzzz’s for their families — is one of the goals of a new study funded by The Center for Innovation and Research, a formal partnership between Sparrow and Michigan State University.
The study will examine whether involving and engaging Patients and their families in their treatment plans improves how they follow, and adhere, to the treatment, including the use of CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machines used for sleep apnea.
The seven-person research team consists of faculty from MSU, including David K. Young, D.O., a Sparrow pulmonologist.
“We know that Patients have better outcomes when they follow their prescribed treatment plan. For many people with obstructive sleep apnea, that means using a CPAP machine,” said the study’s lead investigator Nazia Naz S. Khan, M.D., MS, assistant professor of internal medicine, MSU College of Human Medicine. “Unfortunately, studies have found that only 30 to 58 percent of Patients use their machines as directed.”
Patients who are engaged in their healthcare have a better clinical outcome and have lower costs of care. For those with sleep apnea, the consequences of not engaging in their treatment can be serious: without proper treatment, obstructive sleep apnea can impair daytime activities and is associated with an increased risk of traffic accidents. It’s also an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
The study’s findings would provide preliminary data to support the development and implementation of similar intervention programs on a larger scale, improving health outcomes for countless Patients.
The Center for Innovation and Research is a formal partnership between Sparrow and MSU, bringing together innovators and supporting partnerships between the systems to identify problems, design new approaches, strategies, processes and technologies that address care problems and challenges. An important key to helping Sparrow fulfill its mission and vision is through medical research.
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