Engaging African American Couples to Improve CPAP Adherence for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Official title: Engaging African American Couples in the Management of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Funded at Case Western Reserve University · NIH-11383537 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A couples-based behavioral approach is being tested to help African American adults with obstructive sleep apnea use their CPAP therapy more consistently.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Case Western Reserve University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cleveland, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $682,975 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL169588-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11383537 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21+ with obstructive sleep apnea who are using CPAP and have a bed partner willing to participate.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a bed partner or those unwilling to participate with their partner may not experience the intervention benefits.
What this research studies
This project focuses on African American adults with sleep apnea and involves their bed partners in a couple-oriented intervention to improve CPAP adherence. The study design will test a full-scale randomized controlled trial across two large urban health systems, comparing usual CPAP education to the couple-oriented therapy plus standard CPAP care. Participants will include adults 21 and older with active follow-up, and their partners, to see if involving partners supports better nightly CPAP use and related outcomes. The goal is to determine whether the intervention increases adherence and improves sleep-related quality of life for patients and their partners.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could have better sleep, fewer symptoms, and improved daily functioning thanks to more consistent CPAP use.
How similar studies have gone: Prior interviews indicated bed partners may positively influence CPAP adherence, and a couple-focused approach is being tested in a full randomized trial.
Where this research is happening
-
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thornton, John Daryl — Case Western Reserve University
- Study coordinator: Thornton, John Daryl
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.