Family Practice Nursing Commons^™

Pathophysiology Of Osteoarthritis, Lara Stover

Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN)

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common joint diseases worldwide, and especially in the United States. This disease can cause chronic pain and disability, and can impair a patient’s quality of life and ability to perform activities of daily living. There are many different factors that can contribute to the development, progression, and severity of OA. Chronic inflammation and the inflammatory response is the primary pathological process that contributes to the development of OA. With the number of cases of OA expected to increase in the United States, it is important that primary care providers have an understanding of …

Implementing A Discharge Navigator Reducing 30-Day Readmissions For Heart Failure And Sepsis Populations, Karen Weeks

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Clinical Projects, 2016-2019

A national focus for healthcare reform is preventing hospital readmissions. Thirty-day unplanned hospital readmissions impact patient outcomes and are costly to the healthcare system. This project explored the impact between the discharge navigator and 30-day unplanned readmissions for heart failure and sepsis populations in a 238-bed community hospital located in central Virginia. The primary aim of this discharge navigator project was to reduce 30-day readmissions for the heart failure and sepsis populations to meet the goals of the top quartile for like hospitals and the evaluation of cost avoidance for these readmissions. Heart failure and sepsis populations are high risks …

Screening For Alcohol Use, Misuse, Or Abuse In The Primary Care Setting Using The Audit-C Tool: An Extension Study, Courtney Amanda Minnis

DNP Projects

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to improve alcohol screening rates in one primary care setting by educating and supporting providers and office staff on the use of the Audit-C alcohol screening tool.

METHODS: This study design was a Quasi-Experimental intervention, one group post-test. Data was collected utilizing a retrospective chart review from the electronic medical records of adults over age 18 years by visit type: New Patient Visit, Annual Visit, or Employee Wellness Exam. Data included: demographic data of patient age, race, gender, the Audit-C score, and whether or not an intervention was performed.

RESULTS: Five providers …

Electronic Reminders To Improve Medication Adherence In Diabetes: A Quality Improvement Project, Lisa Wilson

DNP Scholarly Projects

BACKGROUND: Diabetes often contributes to many co-morbid conditions and their complications. Non-adherence to medications is common in patients with chronic disease. The project aimed to improve medication adherence through the implementation of electronic messaging. The project was set in a private medical practice within a critical access hospital. Participants were patients of the practice with diabetes.

METHODS: Baseline assessment included review and documentation of HgBA1cs, prescription requests, and past medical history. The development of an intervention to improve medication adherence utilizing electronic reminders was based on Bandura’s (1989) Social Cognitive Theory and Ajzen’s (1991) Theory of Planned Behavior.

INTERVENTION: The …

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 …

Evaluation Of Emergency Department Use By Adult Patients With Established Primary Care Provider, Sherry Tolentino

DNP Projects

BACKGROUND: Overutilization of the Emergency Department (ED) contributes to the unnecessary use of healthcare resources. One common cause is related to barriers to Primary Care access. Patients use the ED for conditions that can be managed in primary care due to the perception of urgency and convenience.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to evaluate factors contributing to the use of the ED for adult patients with primary care providers (PCP). METHODS: A retrospective chart review was completed on 280 randomly selected patients over the age of 18 who presented to the ED between January and June 2018. Only …

Gay Men And Satisfaction With Health Care Interactions, Michael Huggins

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

The purpose of this research was to determine relationships among depression, anxiety, self-rated physical and mental health, self-advocacy, internalized homophobia, and quality of patient-provider communication to satisfaction with health care interactions. These were measured while controlling for select demographic variables: age; ethnicity; urban or rural domicile; relationship status; household income; highest educational attainment; health insurance; disclosure to health care provider as a gay man; reason for last healthcare visit; and, general health self-rating. The specific aims of this study were to: 1) identify general characteristics of gay men in this sample; 2) examine how levels of satisfaction with health care …

Kangaroo Mother Care And Traditional Care, Arianna Smola, Kirsten Lawson

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Prematurity and low birth weight are leading causes of infant death. Throughout recent years care methods for this population have evolved from incubator care to Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC). The purpose of this systematic review was to answer the following PICO question: in the case of preterm and low birth weight (LBW) infants, how does the technique of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) compare to traditional incubator use, regarding long and short-term outcomes of preterm and LBW infant recovery. Methods of this study included the selection of twenty peer-reviewed articles that studied the effect of incubators and KMC on premature and …

Advanced Practice Nursing In Nigerian Healthcare: Prospects And Challenges, Raymond O. Chimezie, Sally N. Ibe

Journal of Sustainable Social Impact

This study explored the prospects and challenges of introducing advanced practice nursing (APN) in the Nigerian health system. It sought to address the following: career pathways for registered nurses and midwives, advanced duties performed by them and the circumstances, their views and willingness for autonomous practice, and doctors’ degree of acceptance. Research population composed of registered nurses, midwives and medical doctors in primary healthcare. The conceptual framework for this study was based on the scope of practice, standards and competencies of the APN established by the International Council of Nurses (2008). A 12-item checklist of typical duties of APN from …

Evaluation Of The Effect Of Milner-Fenwick Video-Based Education And Teach-Back On Knowledge Acquisition In Atrial Fibrillation Patients, Melissa Czarapata

DNP Projects

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate if video education impacts knowledge acquisition and health literacy in patients with atrial fibrillation. METHODS: This study employed a descriptive, pretest-posttest single site comparative design. Baseline health literacy was assessed before video education was completed using the Atrial Fibrillation Knowledge scale. Health literacy regarding atrial fibrillation was again assessed for the same participants immediately after video education was completed and again in 7 to 10 days through the use of the Atrial Fibrillation Knowledge scale and teach-back questions. RESULTS: There was no statistical significance found when comparing scores before and after …

The Effect Of A Provider-Based Educational Program On Knowledge, Attitudes, Self-Efficacy, And Order Rates Of Cologuard® In A Primary Care Clinic, Cassilly B. Besten

DNP Projects

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers, particularly in persons greater than 50 years of age. Most colorectal malignancies are slow-growing, making regular screening increasingly important to decrease morbidity, mortality, and cost of treatment. Cologuard® serves as an effective and non-invasive colorectal cancer screening modality for average-risk adults.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a provider-based educational intervention on the knowledge, attitudes, self-efficacy, and ordering rates of Cologuard® among primary care providers.

METHODS: This study was a single-center, pre/post implementation study of the effectiveness of a provider-based educational intervention …

Evaluation Of An Online Lgbtq Patient Care Education Module For Primary Care Providers, Anthony C. Carney

DNP Projects

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an online educational module about LGBTQ healthcare topics for primary care providers in Kentucky. The study focused on the changes in knowledge, attitudes and self-efficacy in topics related to LGBTQ patients.

METHODS:

This study was a one-group pre/post intervention design to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes and self- efficacy of providers regarding primary care topics for the LGBTQ community before and after completing a training module on LGBTQ healthcare topics. Subjects were recruited via the KCNPNM Listserv over a 2-week period to participate in the interactive, online audio/visual …

Evaluating Depression Management In Primary Care, Danica Amos

DNP Projects

Background: Within primary care patients identified with depression often do not receive appropriate care (43%). Guidelines recommend combining pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy when possible and establishing follow up with patients to improve their response to treatment According to the APA, only 10% of patients receive combination therapy.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate depression management practices in a primary care clinic, describe providers’ attitudes and skills related to depression treatment, and work with the healthcare team to identify strategies to improve depression management within the clinic.

Methods: A single site, descriptive study utilized a retrospective chart review of …

Evaluation Of A Diabetic Point Of Care Education In Primary Care, Mary Cho

DNP Projects

BACKGROUND: Diabetes education is the cornerstone of managing diabetes. The education can be delivered in group or individual sessions. Given that group classes are not always well received, a brief five-minute point of care education was developed and incorporated into patients’ routine diabetic appointment. The effectiveness of the method is yet to be determined.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability of a recently implemented diabetes point of care education as compared to patients’ usual care in an urban primary care clinic.

METHODS: An outcome evaluation using a retrospective …

The Effect Of A Patient Navigator Strategy On Colorectal Cancer Screening Completion In A Women’S Health Clinic, Martha Rosenthal

DNP Projects

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related death in the US. Kentucky has one of the highest rates of the disease. Approximately 1/3 of the population has not completed screening for colon cancer as recommended by guidelines. Patient navigation is a strategy proposed to increase completion of screening in the primary care setting.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this quality improvement pilot project was to provide preliminary data on the impact of a patient navigation strategy to improve colon cancer screening completion in low risk individuals.

METHODS: Colon cancer screening completion using Colonoscopy or Cologuard testing …

Evaluation Of An Intervention To Improve Screening For Substance Misuse Among 12-21 Year-Old Patients In A Rural Emergency Department, Peyton Blanton

DNP Projects

Background: In 2014, over two million children between the ages of 12-17 years of age admitted to using illicit drugs (2.3 million) and alcohol (2.9 million) in the past month. The younger a person begins misusing substances the more likely they are to have serious health consequences. It is imperative that we screen, detect, and intervene early to decrease the burden of substance misuse and addiction. Screening Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) is an evidence-based strategy used to identify adolescents who misuse substances. The CRAFFT tool is recommended for screening adolescents for substance misuse.

Purpose: The goal of …

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 …

Incidence And Treatment Of Acute Sinusitis In Two Outpatient Primary Care Settings And Provider Challenges In Treating Adult Sinusitis, Britney Nicole Perkins

DNP Projects

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Nationally, approximately one third of antibiotics are currently being prescribed unnecessarily. Antibiotic misuse can result in disability, longer hospital stays, increased costs to organizations, antibiotic resistance and death.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was two-fold: (1) explore current management of acute adult rhinosinusitis in an outpatient setting (2) assessing providers perceptions on the barriers to preventing antibiotic misuse.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 150 charts was performed to examine prescribing practices by providers treating rhinosinusitis at two primary care practices. An interview was conducted with the practice providers on barriers for compliance in antibiotic stewardship.

RESULTS: …

Advance Directives For Older Adults In Primary Care: An Intervention To Promote Screening And Documentation, Kathryn Bower

DNP Projects

Background: Advance care planning is the process of making decisions about the healthcare one wishes to receive should they become unable to make decisions for themselves, including the development of advance directives and designation of health care surrogates. Advance care planning is universally supported by governing bodies and professional organizations; however, less than one-third of Americans have an advance directive or designated health care surrogate.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to assess primary care provider attitudes and knowledge of advance care planning and to increase screening for and documentation of advance directives and/or health care surrogates …

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 …