OurSleepKit

Name: OurSleepKit
Author: Northwestern University

Northwestern University

DOCUMENTED

Published in academic literature

For:General Public & EnthusiastsPatients & Caregivers

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App Summary

OurSleepKit is a supportive mobile app for couples navigating obstructive sleep apnea, designed to promote positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment adherence by engaging both partners in the therapeutic process. Its couple-focused design, informed by an iterative development process with 14 patient-partner dyads, provides tailored conversational prompts and video-based coaching to facilitate mutual support. The associated research concludes that by engaging both the patient and their partner, this novel approach holds great promise for improving adherence to PAP treatment.

App Screenshots

Detailed Description

Functionality & Mechanism

OurSleepKit is a mobile health system designed for couples managing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It leverages a dyadic intervention model to support positive airway pressure (PAP) treatment adherence. The system delivers customized content via a Coaching Board, including video testimonials from other couples. It facilitates partner engagement through periodic assessments and tailored push notifications designed to prompt supportive conversations and in-the-moment actions, structuring the user journey around mutual participation in the treatment process.

Evidence & Research Context

The associated research frames the system as a novel mHealth intervention that engages both the patient and their partner to support PAP treatment adherence.
Its prototype was informed by an iterative participatory design process involving in-depth interviews with 14 patient-partner dyads.
The development study demonstrated high acceptability and engagement with the app's core functions, including its coaching board and dyadic communication features.

Intended Use & Scope

This system is intended for use by patients with OSA and their partners as an adjunctive behavioral tool to promote adherence to prescribed PAP therapy. It is designed to supplement, not replace, professional clinical care. The tool does not provide medical advice or diagnosis and is not a substitute for guidance from a qualified healthcare provider.

Studies & Publications

1 publication

Peer-reviewed research associated with this app.

Development/Design Paper

Developing OurSleepKit: A Couple-focused mHealth Tool to Support Adherence to Positive Airway Pressure Treatment

Ye et al. (2021) · Behavioral Sleep Medicine

Describes the research-driven development of this app

Background and Aim Existing interventions promoting positive airway pressure (PAP) adherence focus only on the diagnosed individual, despite the fact that partners are often the most impacted by obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and are delivered mostly by health professionals, with limited success. The goal of this work is to develop a prototype of OurSleepKit, a couple-focused mobile health (mHealth) tool to coach mutual engagement and promote adherence to PAP treatment. Methods We used an iterative participatory approach working with future end users of OurSleepKit to support the development of this prototype. We conducted a total of 14 semi-structured in-depth open-ended dyadic interviews with OSA patients and their partners. Phase 1 of the development was to inform key functions of an engaging tool. Phase 2 focused on developing functions to engage positive conversation in the dyad and obtained feedback for this initial prototype. Results The OurSleepKit prototype was developed and demonstrated high acceptability and engagement. Three key functions included periodic assessments based on developmental stages of PAP treatment, a Coaching Board which provides customized and dynamically updated support content – primarily brief story-telling videos featuring real-life couples' experiences – and timely tailored prompts (for action, learning, and conversation) through push notifications in the evening to facilitate positive conversation in the dyad and offer in-the-moment support for PAP use. Conclusions Going beyond the traditional and prevailing view of PAP use as an individual phenomenon, OurSleepKit is a novel mHealth intervention engaging both the patient and partner holding great promise to promote PAP adherence.