Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Korean Pulmonologists: A Nationwide Survey

Kyu Yean Kim; Hyeon Hui Kang; Young-Jae Cho; Sang-Ha Kim; Sang Haak Lee; Sei Won Kim

doi:10.7759/cureus.61747

Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Korean Pulmonologists: A Nationwide Survey

Cureus. 2024 Jun 5;16(6):e61747. doi: 10.7759/cureus.61747. eCollection 2024 Jun.

Authors

Kyu Yean Kim¹, Hyeon Hui Kang², Young-Jae Cho³, Sang-Ha Kim⁴, Sang Haak Lee², Sei Won Kim²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Uijeongbu, KOR.
² Department of Internal Medicine, Eunpyeong St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, KOR.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University, Bundang Hospital, Seongnam, KOR.
⁴ Department of Internal Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, KOR.

Abstract

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) significantly impacts cardiovascular, metabolic, and respiratory health. In Korea, OSA patients are treated by specialists in internal medicine, otolaryngology, neurology, and psychiatry, but the participation rate of pulmonologists in OSA management is relatively low compared to other specialties. This study investigated the knowledge and attitudes about OSA among Korean pulmonologists.

Materials and methods: An online survey was conducted, targeting respiratory specialists listed in the Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases directory. The survey used the validated "Obstructive Sleep Apnea Knowledge and Attitudes" (OSAKA) questionnaire, which consists of questions about knowledge and attitudes on OSA. To maximize participation, email invitations were sent three times to the target audience.

Results: Out of 634 queried pulmonologists, 127 (20%) responded to the survey. The mean age of respondents was 45.4 ± 8.6 years. The respondents' years of specialty acquisition ranged from the 1980s to the 2010s. Additionally, 74 (58.3%) held a doctor's degree, and 96 (75.6%) worked in hospitals with a sleep center. Furthermore, 71 (55.9%) of the pulmonologists reported having experience with OSA patients. Pulmonologists with experience managing OSA patients had significantly higher knowledge and attitude scores compared to those without such experience. Interestingly, older respondents and those who completed their pulmonology training earlier had higher attitude scores. In addition, the knowledge score significantly correlated with responses to the five items of the attitude questionnaire.

Conclusion: This study provides valuable insights into the knowledge and attitudes of Korean pulmonologists regarding OSA. The findings indicate that their knowledge levels are comparable to or better than those in previous studies. These results underscore the need for targeted educational programs and practical training, especially for younger pulmonologists, to enhance their proficiency in managing OSA and to encourage a more active role in its treatment.

Keywords: attitude; knowledge; korea; obstructive sleep apnea; pulmonology.