Work package 9: Prospective OMTa study

Lead: Akershus Universitetssykehus

Dr Harald Hrubos-Strøm, senior consultant at the ear-, nose, and throat department at Akershus University Hospital (Ahus) is the leader of work package 9. The main aims of this work package are to study the effect of and adherence to orofacial myofunctional therapy (OMT) in motivated patients with mild to moderate sleep apnea. 

Participants will be recruited among patients referred to the Ear-Nose-Throat Department’s of Ahus and the university hospital in Tartu, Estonia. Patients will be randomized to either following active treatment or placebo. All participants will receive a three day sleep test and clinical examination at the beginning of the study and after 3 months of treatment. 

Akershus University Hospital is leading work package 9 in close collaboration with the University of Oslo, the university of Tartu and Norsk E-helse AS. Together, they also will contribute to the development of the project digital platform with the delivery of an electronical sleep diary and treatment modules for OMT and placebo.  

The University of Oslo contributes with competence in psychosomatic medicine, co-ordinated by professor Toril Dammen. The Norwegian contribution to the project also consists of Professor Anne Moen, associate professor Helge Skirbekk, senior Consultant Petter Hurlen.  

“This project is a strong collaboration of research in the crossing of in e-health, behavioural medicine and ear- nose- and throat”, dr Hrubos-Strøm explains. “We are extremely proud and look forward to continue building our sleep research with strong academic and industrial partners in the coming years.” 

Participants: