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Background and Objectives: Electronic cigarette use, known as vaping, among adolescents was declared a public health epidemic in 2018 and has acute and chronic health consequences. Healthcare providers (HCP) play a pivotal role as health-related educators, including counseling against vaping. Primary HCPs report a lack of adequate knowledge, confidence, and

Background and Objectives: Electronic cigarette use, known as vaping, among adolescents was declared a public health epidemic in 2018 and has acute and chronic health consequences. Healthcare providers (HCP) play a pivotal role as health-related educators, including counseling against vaping. Primary HCPs report a lack of adequate knowledge, confidence, and screening for adolescent vaping. Increasing HCP’s vaping awareness and knowledge may increase rates of adolescent vaping prevention screening and counseling. Rosswurm & Larrabee Model and Health Belief Model were utilized in project design and implementation. Methods: Primary HCPs (n = 8) that provide care to adolescents at a pediatric clinic in Phoenix, Arizona completed online pre- and post- education surveys measuring vaping knowledge before and after viewing an evidence based online educational video. Participation was voluntary, open to all clinic HCPs, and informed consent was provided before the intervention. Data analysis was completed with Intellectus Statistics using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Results of the paired samples t-test was significant based on "?=.05" , t(7) = -3.56, p = .009. The mean of the post-education survey (12.38) was significantly higher than the mean of the pre-education survey (9.62). Descriptive statistics found 85.71% of HCPs reported increased intent to counsel for vaping and 57.14% of HCPs reported increased implemented vaping counseling with their adolescent patients four-weeks post intervention. Conclusions: HCP vaping knowledge rates and vaping-related counseling and surveillance significantly increased after viewing the educational video. Implementing mandatory HCP vaping education training could increase adolescent vaping prevention interventions and counseling within primary care settings.
Created2022-04-26
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Substance use among adolescents is incessantly problematic, but its recent collision with a rising opioid epidemic has exponentiated deaths in this age group. Despite opioids being a major contributor, indications remain that adolescent prevention efforts should focus on total substance abstinence. Evidence consistently highlights adverse childhood experiences and mental dysfunction

Substance use among adolescents is incessantly problematic, but its recent collision with a rising opioid epidemic has exponentiated deaths in this age group. Despite opioids being a major contributor, indications remain that adolescent prevention efforts should focus on total substance abstinence. Evidence consistently highlights adverse childhood experiences and mental dysfunction as the strongest predictors of youth substance use initiation, and parent-focused interventions as the most significant prevention model. Participants in this project included five parents, with a teen between 11 and 16 years of age, who had recently experienced homelessness or where currently living in a transitional shelter. Guided by the Transtheoretical Model, this project assessed the impact of an evidence-based parenting program among high-risk families. Participants completed the Teen Triple P Online program from home while receiving weekly text message support. Each parent completed a pre-and post- Conflict Behavior Questionnaire (r=.86) and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (r =.71–.81), and a Client Satisfaction Questionnaire. A two-tailed Wilcoxon signed rank test was performed on the matched pairs of pre- and post- measures with the mean scores compared. Though statistically insignificant results were yielded, this quality improvement project found a clinically significant decrease in conflict behavior and parental anxiety, depression, and stress after completing the Teen Triple P Online program. Participant satisfaction with the program and subsequent family improvements was also found. These results suggest that interventions that decrease family conflict and improve a parent’s mental health, directly impact major family factors that contribute to adolescent substance use and adverse childhood experiences. This project contributes to the evidence that positive parenting programs have an impact at the individual, family, and societal levels.
Created2022-05-01
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Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among youth has increased drastically in recent years. E-cigarettes are being used with nicotine which can lead to dependency. Healthcare providers (HPs) are in a unique position to advise against the use of e-cigarettes. Recent studies report a lack of formal education among HPs

Introduction: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) among youth has increased drastically in recent years. E-cigarettes are being used with nicotine which can lead to dependency. Healthcare providers (HPs) are in a unique position to advise against the use of e-cigarettes. Recent studies report a lack of formal education among HPs about e-cigarettes. The purpose of this quality improvement project is to examine how increasing e-cigarette awareness among HPs can change their behavior on patient counseling against e-cigarette use. Methods: A modified E-cigarette Knowledge, Beliefs and Attitude Questionnaire was proctored before and after a virtual educational training about e-cigarettes. All advanced HPs employed, in a Southwestern state, at the organization were invited to participate by email. Results: 29 participants completed the pre-survey, and 4 participants completed the post-survey. While 90% of the participants reported that they first learned about e-cigarettes through informal sources, 72% of the participants reported interest in learning more about e-cigarettes to enhance their practice. Further, a two-tailed Mann-Whitney U test was significant on the “e-cigarettes are helpful aid for smoking cessation” statement based on an alpha value of 0.05, U = 12, z = -2.69, p = .007. Conclusions: Increasing the knowledge about e-cigarettes among HPs is critical in decreasing nicotine use among the public. This project will help in the fight against the use of tobacco products, and adds to the literature on how formal education about e-cigarettes among HPs can increase their intention to screen and counsel patients.
Created2021-05-01
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The number of adolescents who are overweight are suffering from diseases once thought to only occur in adults, such as diabetes mellitus type 2, coronary heart disease, and liver disease with cases increasing exponentially. This may be correlated with adolescents making unhealthy choices in life resulting in depression in obese

The number of adolescents who are overweight are suffering from diseases once thought to only occur in adults, such as diabetes mellitus type 2, coronary heart disease, and liver disease with cases increasing exponentially. This may be correlated with adolescents making unhealthy choices in life resulting in depression in obese adolescents. Healthcare providers must continuously explore novel ways to empower teens to make healthy lifestyle changes. The Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE) Thinking, Emotions, Exercise, and Nutrition (TEEN) program was delivered to three adolescent participants in a primary care pediatric clinic in Southwest Arizona. The 15 sessions were provided weekly in the pediatrician’s office using the COPE TEEN manual. The participants completed the HABITS questionnaire and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) before starting the program and after program cessation and kept confidential. The survey results were compared using descriptive analysis and paired t-tests to analyze the data collected. Due to a small sample size (n=3), statistical significance could not be calculated. However, clinical significance was found as evidenced by lower depression scores and improvement in healthy habits. A cognitive behavior skills-building program such as the COPE TEEN program has the potential to empower adolescents to make healthy decisions in life. These healthy choices lead to a long, happy life free from diseases caused by unhealthy choices. This program positively impacts the clinical care of adolescents who are overweight or obese by offering providers an alternative manner of educating adolescents.
Created2022-04-29
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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

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.
Created2022-04-29
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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

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.
Created2022-04-29
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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

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.
Created2022-05-05
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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

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.
Created2022-04-26
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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

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.
Created2021-04-22
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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

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.
Created2021-04-27