Document Type
Report
College
College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Department
Occupational Therapy
Degree
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Report Date
2022
Faculty Mentor
Adams, Brittany
Doctoral Experiential Coordinator
Latour, Debra
Abstract
"Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder defined as the partial or complete blockage of the upper airway resulting in decreased oxygen movement to the lungs, reducing in decreased oxygen saturation levels and can cause multiple arousals throughout sleep duration [1,2,5]. Approximately 25 million Americans are affected by OSA and the “gold standard” treatment is Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) with adherence rates ranging from 30-60% [3,4,6]. To enhance awareness of the condition of OSA and adherence to recommended therapy, a student researcher implemented a five-week educational occupational therapy (OT) program to bridge a gap in care that exists for this population. This program served as a pilot study for the development of a student-run OT center entitled BEAR PAW (Bringing Equity, Accessibility, and Rehabilitation to People Achieving Wellness) Center. The results of this study supported the use of the educational program to provide greater education about the condition of OSA and increase adherence to therapy as well as, the use of the BEAR PAW center for surrounding community members to have access to the necessary resources."
Recommended Citation
Lyda, Haley E., "Providing Occupational Therapy Services to Individuals with OSA to Support Implementation of the BEAR PAW Center at Western New England University" (2022). OTD DEx Reports - College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. 50.
https://digitalcommons.law.wne.edu/otd/50
