Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Life Matters, Marina Fischer

Dissertations

Problem: One of the challenges facing many primary care providers is managing hypertension. Hypertension contributes to cardiovascular disease events. Consequently, the high occurrence of hypertension related visits signifies a clinical practice gap in hypertension management resulting in substandard blood pressure outcomes. The purpose of this clinical scholarship project was to assess the difference of pre and post Quality of Life Scale (QOLS) scores in a hypertensive population.

Methods: This quality improvement project used a longitudinal, observational design with prospective data collection. The sample included newly diagnosed hypertensive adults ages 21 to 64 years old. The sample was administered the World …

The Mission System: An Electronic Health Record For Medical Treatment In Guatemala, Tawniece M. Curry

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: The introduction of an electronic health record (EHR) system has become an essential component in monitoring and tracking patient information in most developed countries but are difficult to implement in underdeveloped countries. Guatemala is a country with poor health care and limited resources for patient tracking and monitoring. An organization in Guatemala, Nursing Heart Inc. (NHI), provides care to over 40 underserved rural communities but lacks the ability to monitor and track patient information. In order for NHI to properly monitor and evaluate their programs and track patients’ continuity of care, the introduction of an EHR system is …

Improving Postpartum Hypertension Discharge Education: A Pilot Project, Kathryn Barth

Dissertations

Problem: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are a leading cause of maternal morbidity, mortality, and postpartum readmission. Several evidence-based algorithms and protocols have been implemented in the inpatient setting to treat severe blood pressure and prevent complications. However, there remains an opportunity to improve the postpartum care transition and discharge education for patients with these conditions in an attempt to decrease 30-day postpartum hypertension readmissions.

Methods: This pilot project utilized a descriptive design and took place on a postpartum unit at a Midwest metropolitan high-risk obstetrical teaching hospital. Interventions included patient-specific discharge education, distribution of a home blood pressure …

Rural Pregnant Women’S Experiences With Substance Use Disorder: A Qualitative Study, Cami Weber

Dissertations

Rural pregnant women with substance use disorder (SUD) are an understudied vulnerable population that often experiences poor pregnancy outcomes (Higgins et al., 2019; Jumah, 2016; Kramlich et al., 2018; Shaw et al., 2015). Despite the high prevalence and high burden associated with SUD, rural women are less likely than non-pregnant women to seek addiction treatment and complete an outpatient treatment program during pregnancy (Shaw et al., 2015). This study aimed to give voice to rural Missouri women with SUD. The research questions explored the life experiences and motivations for seeking treatment using a qualitative, descriptive research design with grounded theory …