Streamlining Communication of STOP-Bang Questionnaire Results

The anesthesia, sedation, and analgesia patients receive in the perioperative setting can\r\nnegatively affect adults with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (Erwin et al., 2019). Preoperative\r\nscreening and detection of undiagnosed OSA allow anesthesia providers and nurses to develop a\r\ncare plan that improves patient safety and outcomes. The STOP-Bang questionnaire is a highly\r\nresearched, reliable, and easy-to-use tool in identifying patients at risk of undiagnosed OSA\r\n(Williams et al., 2017). This project aimed to implement a preoperative OSA screening process\r\nfor bariatric surgery patients using the STOP-Bang questionnaire and to streamline\r\ncommunication of results to perioperative staff. The screening process was implemented over a\r\n12-week-period. Findings from the data collected demonstrated the following: the STOP-Bang\r\nquestionnaire is an accurate and sensitive diagnostic tool, OSA is highly prevalent among\r\nbariatric surgery patients, and nurse compliance with patient screening was a significant barrier\r\nto project success. The implications of these findings highlight the necessity of early screening\r\nand detection of sleep apnea to allow for prompt referral, evaluation, and treatment of OSA\r\npatients. This implication aligns with the Healthy People 2030 goal to increase the number of\r\npeople who seek medical evaluation for symptoms of OSA