Knowledge, attitude and perceived barriers in the practical approach of obstructive sleep apnea management

Abstract

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a clinical disorder affecting almost 1 billion people globally. Untreated OSA can cause severe medical problems. Materials and Methods: Present cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 106 dentists. Convenient sampling method was used and predesigned domain-based questionnaire was employed to gather the data. Statistical Analysis: Data was entered and analyzed with Epi Info software (CDC, Atlanta). Measures of central tendency was used to present the data. Results: Most of the respondents were female 69 (65.1%) and 37(34.9%) were male. Out of total participants 81% were general dental practioners whereas orthodontics and consultants accounted for 19%. Conclusion: OSA though highly prevalent amongst the general population but remains highly undiagnosed. Most common perceived barrier was lack of training and cost in the management of OSA.