I am currently planning for a 4-month project that might help people reduce their Obstructive Sleep Apnoea symptoms.
“Reduce” because the method I intend to replicate in Sligo did not entirely eliminate their problems. But they did feel less tired during the day because of having slept better. Quality of life also improved for both them and their partners thanks to the reduced frequency, intensity and volume of snoring.
What will participants have to do?
Sorry, the details are still being worked out… but to give themselves the best chance of progress, participating snorers need to be prepared to commit 20-25mins per day to a specific activity for the four months duration.
Of course, if they want to do less per day (or not do it all) then that’s their choice. But the scientific, peer-reviewed study on which this project is based showed that an average of 25mins per day, 6 days a week made a big difference to:
- Daytime Sleepiness (Epworth Scale)
- Sleep quality (Pittsburgh Quality of Sleep Index
- Partner rating of sleep disturbance (visual analogue scale)
- Apnoea-Hypopnoea index
- Health related quality of life.
Is there a fee?
Yes there is – but it has yet to be fully established.
I will need to be paid for the materials needed, my time interviewing participants, their partners as well as teaching this self-help method to participants and monitoring their progress (perhaps once monthly). The Wine Street Wellness Centre (my hosts for this) will also need to be paid for the use of their large room during the project.
However, the final cost will be divided equally between participants – of whom I hope to work with between 15 and 20 people. So the cost should not be prohibitive.
As soon as I have more details clarified I will update you.
