“The first hurdle is to get patients to try CPAP. Ninety percent of patients come in with preconceived ideas and won’t accept it,” said Michael Friedman, MD, Professor of Otolaryngology and Chairmen of the Section of Head and Neck Surgery at Rush University Medical Center and Chairman of Otolaryngology at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, IL.
Early education by the physician about CPAP can help gain patient acceptance. Dr. Woodson offers education at the first office visit, showing patients the different types of masks and prescribing a mask and machine before patients visit the sleep lab. For problem patients, he introduces CPAP as a gradual process, having the patient try several different types of masks with or without either heated humidification or cool humidification.
“The goal is to keep it [education] simple and not overload patients. There is a variation in CPAP masks and chin straps, and this needs to be explained,” he said. “Work with the patient to iron out the kinks, and don’t give up on CPAP too quickly and resort to surgery,” he added.
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