timeframe, research staff received many calls from the patient, which resulted in several unscheduled visits to provide emotional and technical support. The staff members adjusted pressures, re-educated her about the use of the ramp button to manage the machine's pressure and addressed her concerns about nosebleeds, nasal dryness, and nasal bridge soreness. During many visits, the participant revealed forgetfulness and confusion related to the use of the machine; during one visit, staff discovered she was wearing the nasal mask upside-down. 

Between her fourth and fifth months in the study, she did not use CPAP. At her sixth month of participation, Patient B continued to complain of her inability to sleep for more than a few hours because of a sensation that the air pressure of the machine was too high, despite having loweredfor between four and five hours per night, consistent with "good" use.

Patient C

Patient C was a 47-year-old white female with a recent transient ischemic attack (TIA) and an AHI of 10, consistent with mild sleep apnea. She described her husband as very supportive of her efforts to use CPAP. The study staff identified several salient positives, leading to the judgment that she had a high probability of successfully using CPAP. First, she was a nurse and had a greater understanding of the complications of OSA and the benefits of CPAP than the typical layperson. In addition, she believed that her husband might have OSA, and articulated a goal of demonstrating good CPAP adherence herself to "set a good example" that might encourage him to seek and adhere to treatment. Finally, she indicated