"What would you do if you found out you had 'sleep apnea'?" Survey on behavioral intentions of 200 general men and women after SAS diagnosis
A survey conducted by the General Incorporated Association Snoring and Apnea Improvement Association targeting 200 general men and women revealed that while awareness of Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS) is high, only just over 10% of people immediately visit a hospital even after being told they stopped breathing. Many opt for online searches or a wait-and-see approach, highlighting a significant discrepancy between knowledge and action. Financial concerns and uncertainty about which medical department to visit are major barriers to seeking medical attention, while there is a high demand for non-face-to-face, home-based testing methods like apps and simple home kits.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 1, 2026 at 18:23
- 🔍 Collected: May 1, 2026 at 10:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 1, 2026 at 23:50 (13h 48m after Collected)
“Your breathing stopped while you were sleeping.” If a beloved family member or partner pointed this out to you, how would you react? Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS), which carries the risk of serious complications, is estimated to affect millions of potential patients in Japan. The General Incorporated Association Snoring and Apnea Improvement Association conducted a survey targeting 200 general men and women regarding their behavioral intentions when suspected of having SAS. The results revealed that while awareness of the name and symptoms of SAS is high, only just over 10% of people immediately visit a hospital even after being told their breathing stopped. Many instead resort to “online searches” or a “wait-and-see approach,” highlighting a significant discrepancy (gap) between knowledge and action.
**Survey Background**
Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS) is a serious condition that threatens health and social life, leading to risks such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and accidents due to severe daytime sleepiness. However, while there are many awareness campaigns highlighting the dangers of SAS, there are not many surveys that delve into the behavioral psychology of “how people think and what prevents them from seeking medical attention when they actually experience symptoms or are told about them.” Therefore, our association conducted this survey to visualize the “true feelings” of general consumers, clarify the factors hindering appropriate consultation and early detection, and explore more effective ways to promote medical visits.
**Survey Summary**
* **High awareness but slow “initial action”**: Nearly 90% of people are aware of the name and symptoms of Sleep Apnea Syndrome, but only 14.0% immediately visit a doctor after being told they have it.
* **“Information barriers” and “psychological barriers” hindering medical visits**: Reasons for hesitating to visit a doctor include “anxiety about costs (26.5%)” and “not knowing which department to visit (20.0%)” ranking high.
* **Demand for non-face-to-face, home-based testing**: The easiest testing methods are “apps (33.5%)” and “simple home kits (33.0%),” which are neck and neck.
* **Intention to solve problems “on their own” first**: After diagnosis, people are highly interested in self-care, such as “reviewing bedding like pillows and mattresses (23.4%)” and “dieting (17.2%).”
**Detailed Data**
**Q1: How much do you know about “Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS)”?**
* I vaguely know the relationship between the name and “snoring/breathing cessation”: 72.0%
* I’ve heard the name to some extent: 17.5%
* I know the symptoms, risks, and treatments in detail: 10.0%
* I learned about it for the first time this time: 0.5%
→ Approximately 90% of the total recognize the existence of SAS, indicating widespread awareness of the term itself. On the other hand, only 10% deeply understand the treatment methods.
**Q2: If a family member or partner told you, “Your breathing stopped while you were sleeping,” what would you do first?**
* Search for information online: 45.0%
* Wait and see for a while: 14.5%
* Immediately visit a hospital: 14.0%
* Try to change lifestyle habits: 10.5%
* Check myself with a snoring measurement app: 8.5%
* Other: 7.5%
→ Even when warned of the dangerous sign of “breathing cessation,” 45.0% tend to “first search online.” This highlights the high hurdle of immediately relying on specialized institutions.
**Q3: If you found out you had a high possibility of SAS, what reasons would make you hesitate to visit a hospital?**
* Anxiety about how much it will cost: 26.5%
* Not knowing which department to visit: 20.0%
* Troublesome to be hospitalized for examination: 16.4%
* Resistance to CPAP (treatment involving wearing a device while sleeping): 10.6%
* Too busy to make time for hospital visits: 8.4%
* Other: 18.1% (e.g., feeling it's an exaggeration to go to the hospital just for snoring: 6.5%, thinking it will heal if I improve my lifestyle: 6.0%, don't want others to know/embarrassed: 2.4%)
→ In addition to economic and physical burdens, a lack of basic information such as “which department to visit” is a major factor deterring people from seeking medical attention.
**Q4: Which SAS testing method do you feel has the lowest barrier (easiest to undergo)?**
* Self-check with a snoring measurement app: 33.5%
* Simple home test kit delivered to your home (attach a sensor to your finger and measure overnight): 33.0%
* Consultation/referral at your family doctor: 9.5%
* Screening at a pharmacy/drugstore: 5.5%
* Don't know: 5.5%
* Other: 13.0%
→ “Apps” and “home kits” that do not involve visiting a hospital accounted for approximately two-thirds of the total. There is a demand for easy-to-use and privacy-protecting methods of confirmation.
**Q5: If diagnosed with SAS, what measures would you like to take yourself in parallel with treatment?**
* Reviewing bedding such as pillows and mattresses: 23.4%
* Dieting/weight management: 17.2%
* Developing a habit of sleeping on your side: 15.5%
* Nasal dilation
**Survey Background**
Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS) is a serious condition that threatens health and social life, leading to risks such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and accidents due to severe daytime sleepiness. However, while there are many awareness campaigns highlighting the dangers of SAS, there are not many surveys that delve into the behavioral psychology of “how people think and what prevents them from seeking medical attention when they actually experience symptoms or are told about them.” Therefore, our association conducted this survey to visualize the “true feelings” of general consumers, clarify the factors hindering appropriate consultation and early detection, and explore more effective ways to promote medical visits.
**Survey Summary**
* **High awareness but slow “initial action”**: Nearly 90% of people are aware of the name and symptoms of Sleep Apnea Syndrome, but only 14.0% immediately visit a doctor after being told they have it.
* **“Information barriers” and “psychological barriers” hindering medical visits**: Reasons for hesitating to visit a doctor include “anxiety about costs (26.5%)” and “not knowing which department to visit (20.0%)” ranking high.
* **Demand for non-face-to-face, home-based testing**: The easiest testing methods are “apps (33.5%)” and “simple home kits (33.0%),” which are neck and neck.
* **Intention to solve problems “on their own” first**: After diagnosis, people are highly interested in self-care, such as “reviewing bedding like pillows and mattresses (23.4%)” and “dieting (17.2%).”
**Detailed Data**
**Q1: How much do you know about “Sleep Apnea Syndrome (SAS)”?**
* I vaguely know the relationship between the name and “snoring/breathing cessation”: 72.0%
* I’ve heard the name to some extent: 17.5%
* I know the symptoms, risks, and treatments in detail: 10.0%
* I learned about it for the first time this time: 0.5%
→ Approximately 90% of the total recognize the existence of SAS, indicating widespread awareness of the term itself. On the other hand, only 10% deeply understand the treatment methods.
**Q2: If a family member or partner told you, “Your breathing stopped while you were sleeping,” what would you do first?**
* Search for information online: 45.0%
* Wait and see for a while: 14.5%
* Immediately visit a hospital: 14.0%
* Try to change lifestyle habits: 10.5%
* Check myself with a snoring measurement app: 8.5%
* Other: 7.5%
→ Even when warned of the dangerous sign of “breathing cessation,” 45.0% tend to “first search online.” This highlights the high hurdle of immediately relying on specialized institutions.
**Q3: If you found out you had a high possibility of SAS, what reasons would make you hesitate to visit a hospital?**
* Anxiety about how much it will cost: 26.5%
* Not knowing which department to visit: 20.0%
* Troublesome to be hospitalized for examination: 16.4%
* Resistance to CPAP (treatment involving wearing a device while sleeping): 10.6%
* Too busy to make time for hospital visits: 8.4%
* Other: 18.1% (e.g., feeling it's an exaggeration to go to the hospital just for snoring: 6.5%, thinking it will heal if I improve my lifestyle: 6.0%, don't want others to know/embarrassed: 2.4%)
→ In addition to economic and physical burdens, a lack of basic information such as “which department to visit” is a major factor deterring people from seeking medical attention.
**Q4: Which SAS testing method do you feel has the lowest barrier (easiest to undergo)?**
* Self-check with a snoring measurement app: 33.5%
* Simple home test kit delivered to your home (attach a sensor to your finger and measure overnight): 33.0%
* Consultation/referral at your family doctor: 9.5%
* Screening at a pharmacy/drugstore: 5.5%
* Don't know: 5.5%
* Other: 13.0%
→ “Apps” and “home kits” that do not involve visiting a hospital accounted for approximately two-thirds of the total. There is a demand for easy-to-use and privacy-protecting methods of confirmation.
**Q5: If diagnosed with SAS, what measures would you like to take yourself in parallel with treatment?**
* Reviewing bedding such as pillows and mattresses: 23.4%
* Dieting/weight management: 17.2%
* Developing a habit of sleeping on your side: 15.5%
* Nasal dilation