Comparing two referral methods for sleep apnea monitoring in veterans
Improving Access to Sleep Apnea Care: A Pragmatic Study of New Consultation Models
This study is testing whether a new way of referring veterans for sleep apnea monitoring without a clinic visit works better than the usual method that includes an in-person appointment.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 2413 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | VA Office of Research and Development Federal |
| Locations | 3 sites (San Francisco, California and 2 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT05419323 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This project aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a new health care delivery model called Direct Referral for Apnea Monitoring (DREAM) against the traditional in-person clinic appointments for veterans at risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Patients will be assigned to either the DREAM pathway, which skips the initial provider encounter, or the Traditional pathway, which includes various forms of initial consultations. The study will track patients from referral through 90 days post-treatment initiation and will also assess the negative predictive value of home sleep apnea testing by comparing it with polysomnographic procedures. The research is conducted across three VA sleep medicine clinics in San Francisco, Portland, and Pittsburgh.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are veterans aged 18 and older who are being referred for a new evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea.
Not a fit: Patients under 18 years old or those not seeking a new evaluation for OSA will not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could streamline the referral process for veterans with sleep apnea, leading to quicker diagnosis and treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in similar approaches, but this specific model is relatively novel in the context of veteran care.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Age 18 years Agrees to be seen by a VA sleep program Reason for referral to sleep clinic: New OSA Evaluation Exclusion Criteria: Age \< 18 years Declines to be seen by a VA sleep program Reason for referral to sleep clinic: anything other than a new OSA evaluation
Where this trial is running
San Francisco, California and 2 other locations
- San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA — San Francisco, California, United States (Recruiting)
- VA Portland Health Care System, Portland, OR — Portland, Oregon, United States (Recruiting)
- VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Kathleen Fumiko Sarmiento, MD MPH — San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA
- Study coordinator: Kathleen F Sarmiento, MD MPH
- Email: Kathleen.Sarmiento@va.gov
- Phone: (410) 818-9643
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.