Nursing care for obstructive sleep apnoea in obese adults

Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is an obstruction of the airway during sleep, affecting human health. OSA kills over 1 billion people yearly, and obesity which is now a global epidemic is its major cause. This study was aimed at examining the role of nurses in the management of OSA adults with obesity, guided by Jean Watson’s theory of caring. A qualitative literature review was done between March and December 2023. Boolean words and phrase searches were mainly in PubMed, EBSCO host (CINAHL Complete, Academic Search Elite, and Midline), and Google Scholar. Out of 806 articles screened, 10 were included for thematic analysis to generate 5 main themes and sub-themes. Thematic results were nurses’ roles in, OSA diagnosis, supporting Treatment therapies, Monitoring, follow-ups, and evaluations, as team players, Health promotion, and education of patients and the public. The study confirmed background studies on the need for more nurses and training in OSA management, increased routine screening, and education to promote public sleep health. Also, a need for an integrated OSA care system with multi-specialists where, nurses can play coordinating roles with professionalism, synthesized by transpersonal and caring moments generating healing to ensure patients' better quality of life.