Introduction 30₁ – 95₂% of adults search online for health information, and online systems are increasingly used to optimise GP clinical time. Intra-oral devices (MADs) are recommended by NICE₃ for snoring, mild OSA and where PAP is refused or not complied with.

If SRBD services are to cope with increasing demand, signposting non-somnolent patients (without major co-morbidities) directly to sleep-trained dentists could offer a way to optimise both GP time and improve access to MADs.

A significant challenge is that most patients and medics don’t consider ‘going to the dentist’ a treatment option.

This abstract explores the hypothesis that online signposting could optimise GP clinical time and SRBD service use, while facilitating direct access to MADs for non-somnolent patients.

Note Signposting is a form of triage or care navigation - not screening.

Method We created Snorer.me Signposting an online signposting tool (Clinical Decision Support System, CE marked, Software as a Medical Device) and began assessing outcomes from 4th June 2019 using online surveys of both patients and sleep-trained dentists.

Results (Preliminary data - survey ongoing)

• 115 patients used Snorer.me Signposting with 7 survey respondents. 5 sleep–trained dentists responded

• 100% of surveyed patients considered they needed signposting to snoring treatment (figure 1)

• Sleep–trained dentists said 60% of their snoring patients had already seen a GP. (Figure 2)

• Snorer.me Signposting captured assessment data in the patient’s own time, further optimising clinical time

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Abstract P076 Figure 1

When you [patient] think about signposting for snoring do you think of it as something you do or don’t need?

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Abstract P076 Figure 2

Before their appointment with you [dentist], had your snoring patients tried any these?

Discussion Results suggest GP clinical time may be optimised and access to MADs improved through use of online signposting that:

• Builds a primary care network (GP & dentist) to serve the patient and ‘filter’ SRBD referrals to secondary care

• Facilitates direct access to NICE recommended MAD therapy for benign snorers

• Avoids the pitfalls of self–diagnosis and self–treatment with OTC ‘cures’

References

1. From Listening to Understanding, Treato, Whitepaper, [Accessed 16th October 2017]

2. ITV, ‘Tonight’. ‘Dr Google: Does DIY Diagnosis Work?’: http://www.itv.com/news/2018-01-18/dr-google-do-diy-diagnosis-work-tonight/[accessed 8th Feb 2018]

3. NICE CKS: Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome > Intra oral devices >