Nursing Professionals’ Role in the Comprehensive Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea: A Literature Review

Background: obstructive sleep apnoea is a common and burdensome condition, characterised by obstruction of the airway during sleep at the level of the pharynx, which may occur with symptoms or without any symptoms. The most common place for obstructive sleep apnoea management is in specialised sleep units. Aim: to identify what is known about nurses’ role in comprehensive management of obstructive sleep apnoea, and to determine the effectiveness of nurse-led interventions as well as the cost effectiveness of management of obstructive sleep apnoea in primary care settings. Methods: a scoping review was carried out by searching PubMed/Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and ScienceDirect. The study findings were synthesised using a thematic analysis approach. Results: In this review, 12 articles were included, and three key themes emerged, namely the role of nurses in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea, role of nurses in the follow up and support of obstructive sleep apnoea patients, and role of nurses in the management of obstructive sleep apnoea in primary care and the cost-effectiveness. Conclusion: Nurses can play a critical role in obstructive sleep apnoea. There are many ways in which nurses can contribute, including screening, assessment, diagnosis, promotion of therapy adherence, and following up with patients, including monitoring for any side effects associated with the CPAP machine, such as irritation of the face. Additionally, nurses can provide patient education and coordinate with other health care providers. Nursing interventions such as patient education have been demonstrated to be highly effective in promoting adherence to PAP therapy in both sleep units and primary care settings. Based on the findings of this review, the primary care model is more cost-effective than the sleep unit model in the management of obstructive sleep apnoea patients. The role of nurses in managing Obstructive Sleep Apnoea in both paediatric and adult populations shares similarities, but also includes differences that should be carefully considered and explored. In this review, one article only explored the role of nurses in paediatric OSA care. Thus, there is a need to identify the potential role of nursing in the comprehensive management of paediatric obstructive sleep apnoea, as well as to explore alternative cost-effective approaches that include primary care settings.