Streamlining Communication of STOP-Bang Questionnaire Results

Abstract

The anesthesia, sedation, and analgesia patients receive in the perioperative setting can negatively affect adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (Erwin et al., 2019). Preoperative screening and detection of undiagnosed OSA allow anesthesia providers and nurses to develop a care plan that improves patient safety and outcomes. The STOP-Bang questionnaire is a highly researched, reliable, and easy-to-use tool in identifying patients at risk of undiagnosed OSA (Williams et al., 2017). This project aimed to implement a preoperative OSA screening process for bariatric surgery patients using the STOP-Bang questionnaire and to streamline communication of results to perioperative staff. The screening process was implemented over a 12-week-period. Findings from the data collected demonstrated the following: the STOP-Bang questionnaire is an accurate and sensitive diagnostic tool, OSA is highly prevalent among bariatric surgery patients, and nurse compliance with patient screening was a significant barrier to project success. The implications of these findings highlight the necessity of early screening and detection of sleep apnea to allow for prompt referral, evaluation, and treatment of OSA patients. This implication aligns with the Healthy People 2030 goal to increase the number of people who seek medical evaluation for symptoms of OSA.