Internal Medicine Commons^™

Stop-Bang Questionnaire For Screening Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Among Hypertensive Patients In Kenya, Salim Abdallah, Jasmit Shah, Jumaa Bwika, Sayed Karar

Internal Medicine, East Africa

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a type of breathing problem during sleep caused by the blockage of the upper airway, which can cause cessation of airflow. There is limited research on the prevalence of OSA in hypertensive patients in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The study aimed to describe the prevalence and clinical characteristics of OSA among hypertensive patients at a tertiary hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. Two hundred and fifty-one hypertensive patients were screened for OSA risk using the STOP-Bang questionnaire (SBQ). Patients with a SBQ …

The Impact Of A Blood Pressure Reduction Program In Optimizing Control Of Hypertension Amongst Adult Females In An Outpatient Ambulatory Clinic, Brooke Englert

DNP Projects

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is a public health problem that, when well-controlled, can significantly reduce the risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, heart failure and death. Effective patient-provider communication strongly incentivizes an improvement in medical outcomes. Communication with patients can often be effectively delegated to other clinical staff, such as registered nurses (RNs) or clinical service technicians (CSTs) (Tavakoly Sany, Behzhad, Ferns & Peyman, 2020).

Purpose: Given the increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality of uncontrolled HTN, the purpose of this study was to implement and evaluate a standardized, evidence-based practice intervention via communication between APRN providers and patients …

Walking Is Worthy: Walking For Hypertension, Ashleigh Y. Peterson

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Elevated blood pressure (BP), or hypertension (HTN), can cause a cascade of detrimental effects to the body. It is associated with increased risk of stroke, angina, myocardial infarction, heart failure, peripheral artery disease, end-stage renal disease, and abdominal aortic aneurysms (Whelton et al., 2018). HTN is also a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is the United States’ (U.S.) leading cause of death in men and women (U.S. Preventive Services Task Force [USPSTF], 2020). The PICOT question for this project was: does an eight-week (T) structured walking program utilizing a smartwatch for step counts and …

Self-Measured Blood Pressure Monitoring: A Patient Empowerment Project, Alison Cusmano

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Hypertension is a public health issue estimated to affect 112 million adults by 2030. Primary care patients in an outpatient clinic in Southern California with elevated blood pressure readings in the office did not have an organized system for close follow-up. The purpose of this evidence-based project (EBP) was to educate patients on self-measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH), diet interventions, and healthy weight loss to improve hypertension rates. Through these interventions, patients developed an understanding of their systolic and diastolic blood pressure goals. Nurse practitioners, medical assistants, and licensed vocational nurses screened for high …

Hypertension Management: Improving Medication Adherence Through The Use Of Daily Text Messages, Gaelle Bulabula

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Hypertension (HTN) is the leading cause of hospitalization and is responsible for approximately 50% of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (Al-Noumani, et al., 2018). Uncontrolled HTN can lead to comorbidities including ischemic heart disease, renal disease, or life-threatening arrythmias (World Health Organization [WHO], 2019). The leading cause of HTN is medication non-compliance (Varleta, et al., 2017). The purpose of this evidence-based practice project was to determine the effectiveness of daily text messages on antihypertensive medication adherence. A comprehensive review of literature generated ten high-level evidence studies demonstrating that daily text messages near each medication dosing time is best practice for improving …

Evaluating The Use Of Telehealth To Manage Hypertension In Primary Care, Alexandra M. Wiesner

DNP Projects

Background: Hypertension remains one of the most common chronic conditions in the United States leading to several health complications and immense financial burdens, yet it remains grossly undertreated despite the availability of evidence-based treatment options. The 2017 guidelines from the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association recommended the use of home blood pressure monitoring with a telehealth component as an adjunct to regular hypertension treatment; however, implementing this into practice can be difficult depending on the setting, available resources, and the knowledge and skills of the providers. Aims: The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate patient adherence …

Effect Of Lifestyle Modifications On Blood Pressure And Bmi In Overweight Or Obese Adults With Primary Hypertension, Mariska Vandenbergh

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Hypertension (HTN) and obesity contribute to poor cardiovascular outcomes which can be managed with diet and exercise lifestyle changes. In addition, self-awareness (SA) of eating patterns can be a useful tool to promote adherence to lifestyle changes. The purpose of this project was to determine the effect of lifestyle education, the DASH diet, and tools to increase SA for adult clinic patients who were overweight with hypertension. The REAP and PIH tools were utilized to increase patients’ SA of their diagnosis and current dietary habits. A literature search over five databases was conducted and analyzed thoroughly. National guidelines strongly recommend …

The Effect Of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring And Self-Titration On Achieving Blood Pressure Targets, Katina A. Varner

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

One-third of U.S. adults over the age of 20 are hypertensive, with an estimated cost of $47.5 billion in direct medical expenses and increased individual CVD risk (CDC, 2018). Routine office visits afford primary care providers a means of managing hypertension; however, time constraints limit the ability to accurately assess and track BP in most patients (Jung, 2015). The purpose of this project was to determine if implementation of HBPM and an algorithm for selftitration of antihypertensive medications increased the number of participants at guideline recommended BP goal over a 90-day period. The Health Promotion Model provided the theoretical framework …