# An mHealth intervention to deliver personalized messages to increase adherence to OSA evaluation and treatment among transportation workers

> **NIH NIH K01** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2021 · $141,494

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
In this K01 application, I will design and conduct a pilot study of a novel behavioral intervention to improve
obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) evaluation and treatment among transportation workers. I will also explore
whether improved adherence to recommended OSA evaluation and treatment is mediated by OSA self-
efficacy. The proposed study will use qualitative and quantitative methods to design a tailored text messaging
intervention with the aim of increasing OSA self-efficacy, leading to recommended OSA evaluation and
treatment among transportation workers. Candidate: The proposed K01 will provide me with critical training in
the development and evaluation of novel behavioral interventions. Training in (1) OSA research, (2) designing
novel intervention packages, (3) clinical trials design to test behavioral interventions, (4) collecting and
analyzing ecological momentary assessment data, and (5) designing and evaluating adaptive interventions,
and (6) career development will bridge my prior training in health communication (doctoral training, Cornell
University) and behavioral sleep medicine research (postdoctoral training, NYU School of Medicine). This
training in underdeveloped areas of my background will allow me to reach my career goal, which is to transition
to become a leading health communication researcher specializing in novel intervention approaches to
improve sleep disorders awareness, evaluation, and treatment. In consultation with my Primary Mentor, Dr.
Girardin Jean-Louis, I have assembled a comprehensive training plan, including coursework and apprentice-
ship like training, which will be delivered and monitored by a cadre of outstanding scientists who will serve as
scientific and career mentors . Environment: The superb educational and training environment at the NYU
School of Medicine will provide me with the optimal training experience to become a federally funded,
independent researcher designing interventions to improve adherence to sleep disorders evaluation and long-
term treatment adherence. Research: The goal of this K01 application is to identify OSA barriers and
facilitators, develop tailored health messages, and conduct a pilot study assessing their feasibility for improving
adherence to recommended OSA evaluation and treatment among transportation workers. I will design an
adaptive intervention to nudge and navigate transportation workers along their individual position on a
spectrum of readiness to change. Messages will be delivered via text messaging in a mobile health (mHealth)
approach. Messages will be designed to increase self-efficacy (i.e., belief in one’s ability to perform a
recommended behavior such as adhering to recommended OSA evaluation and treatment) in accordance with
Social Cognitive Theory. Future Directions: Results from this K01 will provide the necessary preliminary data
for my first R01 submission to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed intervention for improving OSA
evaluation and...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10255495
- **Project number:** 5K01HL150339-02
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Rebecca Robbins
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $141,494
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-05 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10255495

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10255495, An mHealth intervention to deliver personalized messages to increase adherence to OSA evaluation and treatment among transportation workers (5K01HL150339-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10255495. Licensed CC0.

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