Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Final Projects
The Doctor of Nursing Practice Final Projects collection contains the completed works of students from the DNP Program at Arizona State University's College of Nursing and Health Innovation. These projects are the culminating product of the curricula and demonstrate clinical scholarship.
Collaborating Institutions:
College of Nursing and Health Innovation
Displaying 1 - 10 of 37
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- All Subjects: Primary Health Care
- All Subjects: Exercise
Description
Background: Current standard of care practices for substance use disorder is inadequate in reducing relapse, with rates persistently 40-60% within one year of treatment. Unconventional approaches must be explored to reduce the risk of relapse, climbing rate of overdoses, and healthcare expenditures exceeding $740 billion annually. The purpose of this quality improvement project demonstrates how an evidence-based group exercise intervention, used as adjunctive support to standard addiction treatment, can reduce relapse and promote long-term recovery during a global pandemic. Methods: Aims of this project sought to enhance quality of life scores. Participants were recruited upon admission to a residential treatment center. Pre-posttest design utilized the World Health Organization Quality of Life Abbreviated scale to assess program impact on quality of life. Pre-program descriptive questions and a survey assessing prior addiction treatment were collected. Group exercise and wellness education sessions were delivered twice weekly in a live, interactive, virtual format with on-site participants. Upon completion, a post-program survey was utilized to capture the qualitative experiences of participants and impact of project to instill confidence to execute long-term sobriety. Results: Pre and post scores, as well as domain scores were clinically and statistically significant. Additionally, 80% of participants reported feeling more prepared to achieve long-term sobriety secondary to their participation in this project. Discussion and Conclusion: Results from this project demonstrate the positive impact that group-based exercise and lifestyle interventions can have on quality of life and long-term recovery. Peer support exercise programs may offer means to enhance addiction treatment and reduce overall healthcare expenditures globally by defying the odds of relapse.
ContributorsAvino, M. Hayley (Author) / Nunez, Diane (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2021-05-01
Description
Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has increased depression among the population. Exercise is a useful coping mechanism for depression and high intensity interval training (HIIT) can be utilized.
Background: A community exercise facility provides HIIT exercises for gym members. The gym owner believed their HIIT program is a great tool for coping with depression.
Methods: The gym offered a 21-day free HIIT program. Those who signed up for the program, 18 years of age or older, and were able to exercise under the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire were offered to participate in the study. Participants were given a pre-survey before they started exercises. This survey utilized the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), a standard depression rating tool that determines depression symptom prevalence. After the 21-day program, participants were given a post-survey involving the same PHQ-9. The survey scores were compared pre- to post-program. The surveys were coded to exclude any identifying information.
Results: Mean PHQ-9 pre-test was 7.67, mean score post-test was 3. A paired t-Test resulted in a p=0.60, showed that it was not statistically significant.
Discussion: The goal of this study was to determine if HIIT training was an effective coping mechanism for depression. The data shows that participants had decreased PHQ-9 scores from the pre- and post-program surveys showing a clinical significance. This data can be used to provide those suffering from depression a coping mechanism.
ContributorsSmith, Kolter (Author) / Guthrey, Ann (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2022-05-02
Description
Medicare implemented a yearly Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) to improve quality patient care through early detection of declining health. However, there has been only partial provider participation since its inception, which potentially delays treatment and negatively impacts patient outcomes. The aim of this quality improvement project was to assess the feasibility of implementing a standardized electronic AWV template into private primary care practices to improve the consistency of delivery and documentation. The project designer utilized the theory of transitions (TOT) to facilitate the project execution. An electronic Excel-based template was designed to capture and calculate all aspects of the AWV, including billing codes, to allow for ease and consistency of use within a small primary care practice over two weeks. A provider performed the AWVs using the electronic template after completing a hands-on tutorial and reviewing an educational handout. Data were retrieved from a 7-question, 5-point Likert scale questionnaire given to the provider to assess the effectiveness of the electronic template versus a paper assessment. The results of this study indicated overall satisfaction with using leveraged technology to provide consistency of AWVs to improve patient outcomes, provider satisfaction, and increase revenue through uniform charting and billing. The outcomes of this project provide a basis of existing evidence for using standardized methods to perform and track Medicare AWVs.
ContributorsHill, L. Michelle (Author) / Rauton, Monica (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2022-04-29
Description
Background: An evidence-based project was performed to train and increase skills among healthcare providers to perform advance care planning. Training decreases barriers and improves attitudes and confidence to perform advance care planning. Advance care planning can include the Physician Order for Life-sustaining Treatment, an out-of-hospital order that directs emergency medical services of a patient’s wishes. Internal evidence found that many providers are unfamiliar with the Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment form. The Theory of Planned Behavior was used to guide the project.
Objectives: To improve advanced care planning processes in a healthcare organization.
Design: A quality improvement project was performed at a medical center with outpatient provider groups. Virtual training was provided by the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association on the Physician Order for Life-Sustaining Treatment. Participants completed a three-part survey to measure skills for advance care planning after a training event.
Setting/Subjects: Five (n=5) American palliative and primary care providers at a medical center.
Measurements: The East Midlands Evaluation Toolkit is a validated survey tool that measures confidence and competence in advance care planning after training.
Results: Descriptive statistics, Friedman’s test, and the Kruskal-Wallis test were used for data analysis. Results provided evidence to the healthcare facility that there is a significant need to train their healthcare professionals on advance care planning.
Conclusions: Recommendations are made to focus research on larger studies looking at the types of advance care planning, and differences in disciplines and specialties.
ContributorsPate, A. Shurine (Author) / Rauton, Monica (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2022-04-29
Description
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a variety of infections caused by pathogens acquired and transmitted through sexual activity (World Health Organization [WHO], 2021). STIs are associated with an increase in chronic pelvic pain, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), infertility, and pregnancy complications (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2021e). A clinical decision support (CDS) tool provides assistance to healthcare providers to use a logical, step-by-step method in patient management by incorporating different reminders or guidelines into practice. The purpose of this project is to assist healthcare providers to manage positive STI results per the CDC guidelines via a CDS tool. A CDS tool for positive STI management was implemented as a system wide practice change. A retrospective chart audit revealed the CDS tool was used 49% of the time. When the CDS tool was utilized, documented partner treatment, screening for additional STIs, documented follow-up, condoms offered, provider discussion of screening of other STIs, and treatment of the STI all increased. This project displays that utilization of a CDS tool can improve the management of positive STIs in a women’s healthcare setting.
ContributorsLawson, D. Leighanna (Author) / Santerre, Jennifer (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2022-05-05
Description
Background: Existing substance use disorder guidelines are deficient in reducing relapse rates, evidenced by the substantial number of persons experiencing relapse within months of recovery, with most relapsing within one year. Current interventions lack community reinforcement approaches to reduce relapse and risk factors required to combat the extensive damages related to substance use as costs exceed $1 trillion annually. Guided by the Social Cognitive Model, this quality improvement project aims to explore how group exercise combined with community reinforcement reduces relapse. It aims to boost recovery capital by improving quality of life scores. Methods: A CrossFit instructor delivered personalized group exercise and wellness education in-person biweekly for six weeks. Adult residential treatment clients were eligible to participate recruited via a flyer upon treatment entry. A pre-intervention demographic questionnaire, a pre-/post World Health Organization Quality of Life Abbreviated scale (reliability ? = > 0.70) assessing intervention influence on the quality of life, and a post-intervention survey was administered. The lead investigator performed all data distribution and collection. Institutional Review Board approval safeguarded participants' rights and risks. Results: Pre/post improvements observed in all domains; psychological and environmental were statistically significant, while 100% of participants reported enhanced QoL, social support, & confidence related to long-term sobriety post-intervention. Discussion/Conclusion: Desired outcomes are increased quality of life scores to boost recovery capital. A sober community reinforcement approach combined with exercise may link to reducing relapse and total costs related to this growing public health crisis.
ContributorsChrapczynski, D. Alison (Author) / Nunez, Diane (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2022-04-30
Implementation of a Suicidal Ideation Treatment Algorithm in a Military Medicine Primary Care Clinic
Description
Primary care providers (PCPs) are frequently the first line of treatment for suicidal ideation (SI) patients. Many PCPs report low self-efficacy in treating suicidal patients, leading to inappropriate treatment plans or avoidance of discussing SI. This quality improvement project based on the Uncertainty Reduction theory aimed to evaluate PCP's perceptions of an SI treatment algorithm and its impact on self-efficacy. Secondary aims included assessing PCP's confidence in treating suicidal patients and current treatment practices. A pre- then post-intervention survey design was utilized. All PCPs treating patients in a military medicine clinic were invited to participate in the project. Participants were sent a recruitment email containing the suicidal ideation treatment algorithm and a link to a survey developed with Qualtrics software. Participants were asked to review the SI algorithm, answer the baseline survey questions, and complete a second eight-week survey. For human subjects' protection, the survey responses were anonymous. Demographic data collected included years of clinical experience and licensure type. The data were evaluated with Intellectus software. Due to limited participation, N=4, there was insufficient data to determine the significance of implementing the SI algorithm in a primary care clinic. Central tendencies showed that most providers (n=3, 75.00%) felt less than confident treating suicidal patients. Half of the providers asked non-mental health patients about suicide less than 40% of the time (n=2, 50.00%). The data suggest that PCPs feel uncomfortable treating suicidal patients and may benefit from additional resources and training in this area.
ContributorsGale, Mianna (Author) / Nunez, Diane (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2022-04-26
Description
Primary health care clinics are essential first defenders determined to confront the upsurge in health-related leading causes of death in the United States. Unfortunately, the underserved or uninsured community continues to struggle to access these vital health care services. Consequently, this vulnerable population seeks venues such as community services events to obtain these unmet primary care services. Community services events effectively disseminate health-related material and provide access to vital medical services. Currently, community services strive to bridge the gap between underserved individuals and primary care clinics by providing participants referrals for low-fee or free clinics to establish ongoing care. A lack of data exists on whether these events sufficiently impact the participants to motivate them to follow-up with a health care clinic. A critical appraisal of evidence showed that follow-up adherence rates are remarkably improved by directly referring participants to a primary clinic during a community services event. This paper explores the effect on health outcomes and health disparities when establishing connections between community services participants and ongoing healthcare services.
ContributorsNavarrete, Elizabeth (Author) / Thrall, Charlotte (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2021-04-22
Description
Background/Purpose: The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the pediatric population is a global epidemic. Rapid weight gain in early childhood exacerbates risk factors for obesity, chronic disease in adulthood, and disqualifies 31% of American youth from serving in the Armed Forces. Although the pediatric dependents weight crisis reflects the national dilemma, there are inconsistencies in provider knowledge, limited access to evidence-based, weight management intervention, and treatment options. This paper will assess provider needs, identify opportunity to improve practice, and process used in weight management in the clinic.
Method: Eight military and four civilian pediatric and family practice providers completed a 16-item needs assessment survey. The survey was distributed via email using an online survey tool, and a printed version was provided to those who had not completed it online. Data was collected over 8 weeks and a descriptive analysis of content was done using the Intellectus software.
Results: Although the response rate was 88.9%, it was lower than anticipated due to COVID-19 related military deployments. Descriptive data were obtained on a variety of provider needs and practices. Results provided valuable information on current attitudes of providers. Providers demonstrated a significant need for a multidisciplinary support team including a dietician and more time dedicated to weight management at office visits. At least 50% of providers have had motivational interviewing training and report that they apply these techniques as part of an intervention in patient’s weight management care.
Implication: Data supports overweight and obesity care practice changes in the clinic. Areas identified by providers included the need for further training and clinic management support including the availability of a pediatric dietician added to the healthcare team.
ContributorsGolding, Sonya S. (Author) / Jacobson, Diana (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2021-04-27
Description
Objective: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a pervasive neurodevelopmental disorder among children. Research has shown that young girls are underserved in diagnosing and treating ADHD or never diagnosed compared males. Utilizing the Health Promotion Model, this project aims to determine if primary care providers are aware of sex differences in ADHD and if a brief education on sex differences in ADHD affects the primary care setting's screening rate.
Design/Methods: With the Arizona institutional review Boards' approval, primary care providers (PCP) in a Southwest family practice in Arizona (n=35) are provided with virtual education on sex differences in ADHD. Pre- post-intervention surveys were electronically administered to five PCPS. Data were deidentified. A two-tailed paired t-test was conducted to examine the mean difference of responses.
Results: Analysis of responses demonstrate that primary care providers are well aware of sex differences in ADHD but screened less for ADHD before the education intervention. Major themes emerged from provider comments on ADHD symptom recognition, time constraints, and increased screening to identify girls in the primary setting. A significant increase in ADHD screening is seen four weeks post-intervention t(4) = -6.32, p = .003.
Conclusion: Future research is needed to identify other factors that could strengthen ADHD screening during well-child visits overall. Also, the use of a pediatric screener which can highlight inattentive symptoms would assist in the process of identifying girls with ADHD.
ContributorsO'Connell, Roseann (Author) / Guthery, Ann (Thesis advisor) / Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation (Contributor)
Created2021-04-27