Natasha Williams|João Nunes|Ferdinand Zizi|Kola Okuyemi|Collins O. Airhihenbuwa|Gbenga Ogedegbe|Girardin Jean-Louis
Factors Associated with Referrals for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Evaluation among Community Physicians
City College of New York|University of Minnesota|Pennsylvania State University
study objectives study assessed knowledge attitudes toward obstructive sleep apnea osa among community physicians explored factors associated referrals osa evaluationmethods medical students residents collected data convenience sample 105 physicians practicing communitybased clinics large metropolitan areaaverage age 48 14 years 68 male 70 black 24 white 6 identifi ed otherphysicians completed obstructive sleep apnea knowledge attitudes questionnaireresults average year physician practice 18 19 yearsof sample 90 reported providing care black patientsthe overall osa referral rate made physicians 75osa knowledge attitudes scores ranged 5 18 mean 14 2 7 20 mean 13 3 respectivelyosa knowledge associated white race ethnicity r p 026 p 005 fewer years practice r p 038p 001 patients inquiring osa r p 031 p 001 number osa referrals made osa evaluation r p 030 p 001positive attitude toward osa associated patients inquiring osa r p 020 p 005adjusting osa knowledge attitudes showed physicians whose patients inquired osa nearly 10 times likely make referral osa evaluation 938 95 ci 2323801p 001conclusion independent physicians knowledge attitudes toward obstructive sleep apnea likelihood making referral obstructive sleep apnea evaluation infl uenced whether patients inquired condition