Nursing Commons^™

Implementation Of An Evidence Based Screening Protocol To Improve The Diagnosis Of Dementia In A Home-Based Primary Care Setting, Lauren Liesbeth Sutton

Doctoral Projects

Dementia is a major public health concern that is both debilitating and deleterious to those afflicted with its various forms. The number of those living with dementia is increasing exponentially as the population continues to rise, with 46.8 million people worldwide currently afflicted with dementia (Chow et al., 2018). Dementia causes cognitive impairment that is severe enough to affect everyday function (Chow et al., 2018). The impairment and disability resulting from dementia indicates a significant health problem in primary care. Findings from research studies indicate that prophylactic and periodic screening for dementia can heighten provider suspicion and translate into earlier …

Increasing Utilization Of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy To Reduce Morbid Obesity In A Primary Care Setting, Erin J. Mccue

Doctoral Projects

Background: Obesity among adults is characterized by a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. The impairment and disability resulting from obesity indicates a significant health problem that is often seen in primary care settings. Research indicates that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is an underutilized, but extremely beneficial intervention that may support individuals in achieving weight loss. Adults suffering from obesity with or without comorbid conditions such as psychiatric disorders (e.g. anxiety and depression) have benefitted from CBT.

Purpose: To implement the increased utilization of CBT in the adult population with obesity and depression or anxiety in a primary …

Cultural Competency Training In Primary Care: A Pilot Project For Improving Culturally Competent Care, Diane F. Riff

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

As America grows increasingly diverse, there is a recognized need for increased cultural competence in Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and other healthcare workers. Research has shown that when health care providers are not attentive to providing culturally competent care, there is a subsequent negative impact on the quality, safety and cost of patient care. Cultural

competency is a recognized and popular approach to improving the provision of health

care to racial/ethnic minority groups in the community with the aim of reducing health disparities in racial/ethnic minorities. The project sought to improve NPs’ and other health care workers’ abilities to provide culturally …

A Survey Of Providers And Patients Assessing The Need For And Use Of Prevention Practitioners To Combat Obesity In The Primary Care Setting, Amanda R. Lyons

DNP Projects

Purpose: The overall aim of this project was to gather information from two groups of stakeholders, providers and patients, on the feasibility of implementing prevention practitioners in the primary care system to address overweight and obesity.

Methods: This study utilized a quantitative descriptive design through the use of electronic surveys. Provider surveys were explained and presented during a monthly provider meeting. Patient flyers were posted in exam rooms and surveys were accessible through a provided link and QR code.

Results: Providers (N=10) agreed that they saw a need for the use of a prevention practitioner (Mean=4.44, SD=.88) as well as …

Addressing Bullying Behavior In Pediatric Patients Using A Clinical Practice Guideline, Barnitta Latricia Moses

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Childhood bullying can lead to adverse physical and mental health outcomes for both the victim and the bully. Risk factors for bullying can be related to gender, race, sexual preference, and having any type of disability. A pediatric primary care clinic in a large, metropolitan area, the focus for this project, did not have an evidenced-based clinical practice guideline (CPG) for providers to facilitate the management of children who presented with reported bullying. The project, guided by the Tanner'€™s integrated model of clinical judgement, addressed the question whether a CPG would facilitate the early recognition and treatment of bullying in …

Noncompliance With Follow-Up Visits In Primary Care, Amanda Michelle Northern

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

No-show appointments, also referred to as missed appointments, occur 23% to 34% annually in general practice care settings. Missed appointments can lead to reduction in appointment availability, decrease in provider/staff productivity, patient/provider discordance, disruption in continuity of care, and reduced quality of care. There is a gap in the nursing literature regarding effective interventions to reduce missed appointments. The purpose of this quality improvement, secondary analysis project was to determine whether implementation of an evidence-based no-show, nurse-led intervention would reduce missed appointment rates in a family medicine practice. The health belief model and the plan, do, study, act model guided …

Primary Care Panel Comanagement By A Physician And An Advanced Practice Clinician: Impact On Provider Burnout, Jennifer Strobel

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Background: Levels of burnout have reached epidemic proportions among health care professionals, resulting in a number of negative consequences, including loss of productivity, increased turnover, and increased organizational costs. Advanced Practice Clinicians (“APCs”- a term that encompasses both ARNPs and PAs) were integrated into teams with physicians at a network of primary care clinics in a greater metropolitan area in the United States with the goal of reducing provider burnout. This approach has not yet been evaluated to determine whether there are benefits for reduction of burnout levels in clinicians. Few studies have been conducted to date about the …

Barriers To Screening For Intimate Partner Violence Among Aprns In Kentucky, Kathryn L. Strait

DNP Projects

Abstract

Purpose:Intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs in at least one in every four females and one in nine men across the United States (Smith et al., 2017). While the prevalence of IPV is considerably high, the screening rates for IPV in primary care specifically average less than 12% (United States Preventative Services Task Force, 2013). Methods: In order to identify how to overcome the barriers to screening including time, knowledge of IPV, access to community resources, gender identity/sexual orientation, accuracy and availability of screening tools, and reimbursement for advanced practice nurses in Kentucky, a survey was sent to …

The Effect Of Provider Education On Copd Screening Rates In The Primary Care Setting, Kelli Craig

DNP Projects

BACKGROUND: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the United States. With early detection, COPD is a treatable disease, highlighting the need for an effective screening measure. The COPD Population Screener Questionnaire (COPD-PS) is a valid, accurate questionnaire that can identify individuals likely to have COPD.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a provider-based educational intervention on the knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy and screening rates of COPD using the COPD-PS screening tool among primary care providers.

METHODS: This study was a single-center, pre/post implementation study to evaluate …

Evaluation Of Depression Screening By Providers For Adult Patients With Type 2 Diabetes In Primary Care, Kristy M. Bryant

DNP Projects

BACKGROUND: Depression in adults with type 2 diabetes can lead to non-adherence to self-management behaviors and treatment recommendations, and ultimately worse health outcomes. Currently, only 50% of adult patients with type 2 diabetes treated in the primary care setting are screened for depression. Without screening for depression, a diagnosis of depression and subsequent treatment is likely to be missed and the patient is more likely to experience worse health outcomes and worse quality of life.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate impact of provider education on improving screening rates for depression in adult patients with type 2 …

Increasing Uninsured Patients' Compliance With Return Primary Care Visits, Dorothy Clare Carleton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Patients who are unable to comply with their health care regimen are almost 3 times more likely to have an adverse health outcome and are more likely to suffer irreversible progression of a chronic disease process. Increasing patient return clinic visits is essential, not only to curtail rapidly rising costs of health care but also to improve patient outcomes. This project focused on an uninsured patient population of a clinic in a rural community in the southeastern United States. The purpose of the project was to conduct a systematic review of the literature and identify the barriers and motivating factors …

Improving Wound Care Using The Time Framework, Pavel Kulikov

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects

Abstract

Background and purpose:Although wound care guidelines are available for primary care providers, barriers to assessment and treatment remain. This paper examines current evidence, guidelines, and discusses the need for improved training, education, and a simplified approach to wound management in primary care. The goal of the project was to increase the provider’s comfort level in assessing and initiating wound care treatment in the clinical setting. Methods:An evidence-based wound treatment framework, identified as the TIME (tissue, infection, moisture, epithelial) framework, was selected for the project. The framework was tailored by subject matter experts to provide a distinctive approach …

Implementation Of High Blood Pressure Guidelines In Clinical Practice, Jessica Walker

Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects

Abstract

This quality improvement project implemented 2017 Guidelines for the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Management of High Blood Pressure in Adults. An in-service education session on the 2017 High Blood Pressure Guidelines was provided to clinical staff. In addition, the AHA/ACC pooled cohort 10-year risk calculator was installed to computer desktops or smart phones, for providers. “Seven simple tips to get an accurate blood pressure reading” (American Medical Association, 2016) was posted in exam rooms and proper measurement and documentation techniques were reviewed with clinical staff. Review of recommended non-pharmacological treatment methods with proper patient education documentation was also conducted. …

Implementation Of The Nurse Care Manager In Integrated Care: A Systematic Report, Elizabeth Adams

DNP Qualifying Manuscripts

Introduction: The collaborative care model (CCM) is an effective model for improving depression symptoms in patients in a primary care (PC) setting. An essential role in this model is the care manager (CM), and nurses have been effective in this role. However, there remains a question of how to best design, train, and implement this nurse CM role in PC.

Objectives: The purpose of this review is to provide readers with a critical description of what processes for training and implementation of a collaborative nurse CM role have been be successful in the literature, specifically as it pertains to supporting …

Screening, Brief Intervention, And Referral To Treatment For Alcohol Misuse In Primary Care, Sai-Han Ackerman Yu

Doctor of Nursing Practice

An annual average of 88,000 deaths in the United States from 2006 to 2010 has been attributed to alcohol misuse, defined as risky or heavy alcohol consumption. Heavy or risky alcohol use for all adults aged 65 and older and for women aged 18 and older is defined as consuming more than 7 drinks per week and/or 3 drinks per day. For men aged 18 to 65 years of age, heavy or risky alcohol use is defined as consuming more than 14 drinks a week and/or 4 drinks a day. Chronic alcohol misuse increases the incidence of heart problems, cognitive …

Pediatric Primary Care Concussion Evaluation And Management, Kaitlyn Layman

Doctoral Dissertations and Scholarly Projects

Concussions are an important and timely subject, especially within the pediatric population, as they are the most involved in extracurricular contact sports and are susceptible to concussions and their sequelae. The researcher performed a quasi-experimental pilot study in a pediatric primary care office where the researcher educated 15 providers on the HEADS UP concussion screening tool and management approach. The researcher gave providers pre- and post-intervention surveys to determine if providers’ comfort and knowledge regarding assessing and managing concussions within the pediatric primary care setting changed. Four providers participated in the study. The researcher conducted a chart review two months …

Increasing Advance Care Planning In The Primary Care Setting, Nicole Marie Coffey

Doctoral Dissertations and Scholarly Projects

Evidence shows the many benefits of advance care planning (ACP) discussions, including; giving patients peace of mind, decreasing healthcare costs, increasing quality of care, and decreasing distress at the end of life. Due to the many proven benefits of ACP, the United States Department of Health and Human Services as well as many leading national health organizations are promoting ACP, even tying it to reimbursement. The best setting and time to initiate ACP is in the primary care setting as early as possible, before patients have any cognitive decline. In this context, patients have an established relationship with their provider, …

Aligning With Patient-Centered Medical Home Standards: Depression Screening In Primary Care, Elizabeth Segura

Dissertations

Abstract

Problem: The Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) is a model of care that improves the quality and experience of care and decreases cost. Use of a validated depression screening tool for adult patients is a PCMH certification requirement. The purpose of this quality initiative was to obtain baseline data when a depression screening tool was utilized among adult patients in an internal medicine clinic within a Midwestern public health department.

Methods: This was a quality improvement project utilizing a descriptive and observational design. A retrospective medical record review was used to assess the rate of depression screening utilizing the …

A Common Goal: Primary Care And Psychiatry Improve Depression Detection And Outcomes, Katherine Kilkenny

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Background: Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) affects over 15 million (6.7%) adult Americans. While one in four primary care patients suffer from depressive symptoms, MDD is accurately diagnosed as little as 25% of the time.

Purpose: Implementation of an evidence-based protocol outlining the process for screening, behavioral health referral, and the role of a collaborative care team would improve detection and treatment of adult MDD patients in the ambulatory setting.

Process: A systematic Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) based screening protocol was implemented. Every new and existing patient completed the PHQ-9 during scheduled primary care appointments. If a patient scored 15 or …

What’S Keeping America’S Heroes Awake? Screening For Obstructive Sleep Apnea In Male Veterans With Hypertension And Diabetes, Aaron James Stirling

Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Manuscripts

Purpose: To reduce cardiovascular risk through optimal obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) management with proactive screening utilizing the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) in male Veterans with hypertension (HTN) and diabetes mellitus (DM).

Background: OSA is a common finding in primary care, with 1 in 5 adults feeling its effects: excessive sleepiness, impaired cognition, reduced quality of life and increased mortality. Unmanaged OSA has been highly correlated with increased cardiac risk in populations with chronic diseases such as HTN and DM. Fortunately, identification and treatment of OSA has been shown to improve cardiovascular outcomes and reduce mortality. Evidence supports outpatient screening to …

The Effect Of Algorithm Implementation In The Family Practice Setting On The Pain And Recovery Of Acute Low Back Pain Patients, Joan Caito

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

Nearly $86 billion is spent annually in healthcare costs for Americans with low back pain (Lee, McAuley, Hübscher, Allen, Kamper, Moseley, 2016). Additionally, the burden on the economy due to loss in productivity incurs approximately $114 billion dollars of lost revenue annually (Lee et. al., 2016). Patients with an acute low back injury inadequately treated may become a chronic issue. Only 50% of patients who experience back pain symptoms for 12 months will return to work (Petit, Fouquet, & Roquelaure, 2015). The purpose of this project will be to implement an evidence-based algorithm to standardize acute low back pain care …

A Multi-Faceted Intervention To Improve Naloxone Co-Prescription Rates Among Primary Care Providers, Jolane S. Conklin

Evidence-Based Practice Project Reports

It is estimated that 91 Americans die every day due to opioid overdoses, with at least half of those overdoses involving an opioid prescription (CDC, 2016d). To address this issue, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS) has initiated an opioid initiative, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a clinical guideline, both of which include a focus on increasing use of naloxone. Despite these recommendations, providers often fail to co-prescribe naloxone to patients at increased risk of opioid overdose. The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to evaluate the effect of …

Improving Adolescent Risk Assessment In A Primary Care Setting, Kristin N. Vanderwell

Doctoral Projects

Adolescent risk-taking behaviors contribute significant risk to the current and future health of adolescent patients and have a significant annual cost to society. A primary care practice in western Michigan had no standardized practice related to the screening, evaluation, and response to adolescent-risk taking behaviors. As a result, only three of the fourteen providers were consistently following national guidelines for screening, evaluating, and responding to adolescent risk-taking barriers. The providers cited lack of time and lack of knowledge as barriers to following guidelines. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to address the health care needs of the adolescent …

Structure, Process, And Outcomes: The Foundation For Continuous Quality Improvement In Primary Care, Mark A. Contreras

Doctoral Projects

Healthcare within the United States is notoriously fragmented and inefficient. Contemporary innovations for policy, reimbursement, and care delivery are consistently directed towards the promotion of value based care (Bates, 2010). These initiatives routinely coalesce around the promising potential of a robust primary care system. The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model is increasingly becoming the standard of quality care and use of this model by healthcare providers is poised to bring about a paradigm shift towards value-based care (Henderson, Princell & Martin, 2012).

This scholarly project incorporated an evidence based approach to establishing continuous quality improvement in a primary care office …

Implementation Of Evidence-Based Culturally Adapted Interventions, Collaborative Care, And Change Management For Improved Mental Health Outcomes In A Community-Based Safety-Net Clinic, Laura E. Hall

Doctoral Projects

Mental health disorders are prominent and devastating in the United States. They are more prevalent in low-socioeconomic and minority groups with lower rates of diagnosis and treatment in these populations. Primary care settings are the foremost location for screening, diagnosis, and treatment for common mental health disorders but do not always provide adequate care due to limitations of time, knowledge, and resources. Evidence has shown that collaborative care models can provide more effective treatment for behavioral health services through a team-based approach to holistic patient care. This project focused on implementing culturally adapted, collaborative care models to improve mental health …

Enhancing Elderly Advance Care Planning Experience At A Primary Care Clinic, Oi Shan Wong

Doctoral Projects

The purpose of the project was to examine if the identification of readiness for an advance care planning (ACP) discussion of elderly participants would enhance the outcomes of participants' satisfaction, improve the likelihood of having an ACP discussion and increase the completion rates of an advance directive (AD) document after an office visit.

Forty-four elderly participants, who met the selection criteria, were recruited from a primary clinic in Northern California from October 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017 (Female, n =28). All participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n= 22) or a control group ( …

Chart Audit And Educational Provider Feedback Intervention To Improve Appropriate Use Of Spirometry In Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Ruth Demetros

Doctoral Dissertations and Scholarly Projects

Despite being a GOLD guideline and having documented benefits, confirming a COPD diagnosis with spirometry is not routinely done. The purpose of this project was to increase patient referrals for spirometry to confirm COPD diagnosis. A quasi-experimental design was incorporated in a primary care office. A retrospective pre-intervention chart audit and two post-chart audits, 30-days apart, compared the frequency of documented spirometry to confirm a COPD diagnosis. An educational intervention with a pre and post-survey examined provider behavior intention to order spirometry to confirm a COPD diagnosis. The pre-chart audit revealed that 27/50 (54%) of patients had spirometry documented to …

Home-Based Primary Care: Impact On Cost And Patient Satisfaction, Sarah R. Tupper

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

The aging American population means more people will need healthcare than ever before. Many of these people are or will be Medicare beneficiaries who are predicted to be completely or mostly homebound at some point in time. This literature review was conducted to investigate Home-based Primary Care (HBPC) and whether or not this care delivery model has impacts on cost and patient satisfaction when compared to traditional outpatient encounters. A comprehensive and robust search of the literature was conducted using four different healthcare literature databases. Relevant articles were included if the site of care was ambulatory or office-based and if …

Health Literacy In A Primary Care Setting, Ashley Newman

DNP Projects

BACKGROUND: Low health literacy is prevalent in the United States. As a result, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) developed universal health literacy precautions to improve patient understanding of health information. Using universal precautions and specific tools, such as teach-back, has been shown to decrease morbidity and improve patient outcomes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this quality improvement project is to assess provider knowledge of health literacy in a primary care setting. A secondary purpose is to assess the use of patient education material for patients with diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia that meet universal precautions.

METHODS: This study was …

The Effect Of A Provider Education Program On Tobacco Use In An Adult Population In The Primary Care Setting, Sunita Gurung

DNP Projects

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an education session to promote adherence to the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendation and Clinical Practice Guidelines for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence by providers.

METHODS: A retrospective and prospective record review was used to evaluate an education session for providers in tobacco use screening, providing cessation counseling, prescribing medication for tobacco cessation, and sending out referrals for tobacco cessation at one primary care clinic in Louisville, KY. Education sessions were held from August 1, 2018 to August 14, 2018. The sample consisted of 200 …