Improving Nurse Practitioners use and availability of Simplified Diabetic Resources
for patient education during Primary Care visits to increase compliance
Melinda Powell RN MSN and Dr. Allen APRN DNP
South University
Abstract PICOt Question Evidence-Based Intervention
Though there are assessment tools available for nurse Population(P): NP’s at 20 primary care offices on the west Implementation of a best practice protocol using patients
practitioners to use to help identify a health issue or side of the city will simplify diabetic DSME resources. evidence-based recommendations from the American
concern, often times the assessments may be Intervention (I): Implement Simplify evidenced based Diabetic Association and the CDC To reduce the
overlooked or not included in the clinical visit which is a DSME tools and resources. progression of diabetes in prediabetes.
lost opportunity to improve health or outcome. This Comparison (C): Various DSME available however none Standardized and simplify DSME with focus on
proposal aims to improve and simplify the use of diabetic are simplified and not always available. 1.Prediabetes and diabetes education in primary care
assessment tools and resources for diabetic education Outcomes (O): Evidence by decrease in HgA1c, BMI close 2.Simplified diet / food list for prediabetic and diabetic
during clinic visits to improve patient compliance for to Ideal body weight, reduced complications, decreased patients to use as a guide for grocery shopping
better health outcomes. The assessments tools and hospitalization improve microalbumin/creatinine ratio, and 3.Simplified dietary substitutes suitable for diabetics
resources will be based on current evidenced based lipid panel, decrease in escalation of blood pressure 4.Simple and gradual changes to lifestyle that will help
practices and guidelines for diabetic patient's health. medications, anti-diabetic medications, and sustained renal prevent the long-term effects of diabetes
function. 5.Medications used to prevent and treat diabetes
Time (t): Exhibit improved outcome in 1 year. 6.The long-term effects of diabetes and complications
7.Describe optimal outcomes when patient participates
Background Information Literature Review Outcome Measures
With the rapidly increasing diabetes population, it is A consensus report directed toward health care providers Outcome 1 – Patient’s HgA1c should decrease by 0.5 %
essential that primary care practitioners thoughtfully use outlined the benefits that focused on diabetes care that is to 3% in 1 year compared to their initial HgA1c
this time to successfully manage these patients not accessed or utilized effectively which is the DSME Outcome 2 – Patient will not have hospitalizations r/t
(Shrivastav, 2018). For optimal type 2 diabetes control, (Powers et al., 2021). diabetic complications or disease progression in 1 year
managing diabetes and teaching patients’ diabetes self- compared to previous year
management skills are crucial (Chester, Stanley, & Critical Element- DSM Education Outcome 3 – Patient will have 5 -10 lb. weight reduction
Geetha, 2018; Hashim et al., 2021). Current tools in Biggest challenges is the need for DSME within 1 year compared to previous year
clinics may not simple or specific enough for the patients’ DSME is a critical element in the treatment diabetes
needs or understanding as patients may find the current Empowering Diabetics to Self Manage References
tools overwhelming, wordy, and too generalized. Recent DSME provides diabetes knowledge, skills, and 1. Powers, M. A., Bardsley, J. K., Cypress, M., Funnell, M. M., Harms, D., Hess-Fischl, A.,
research suggests an increase in diabetes over the past confidence for empowerment to self-manage diabetes Hooks, B., Isaacs, D., Mandel, E. D., Maryniuk, M. D., Norton, A., Rinker, J., Siminerio,
two years which may indicate the need to provide L. M., & Uelmen, S. (2020). Diabetes Self-management Education and Support in Adults
DSME is Cost effective and reduces complications With Type 2 Diabetes: A Consensus Report of the American Diabetes Association, the
diabetic diet information in the simplest form for patients DSME has proven to be cost-effective by reducing Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists, the Academy of Nutrition and
to clearly and concisely understan. There is an hospital admissions and readmissions, decreased health Dietetics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of PAs,
abundance of educational material and tools to use for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Pharmacists
care costs, and decreased complications. Association. The Diabetes Educator, 46(4), 350–369.
diabetic patient education, however, very few guides DSME/S improves hemoglobin A1c in people with type 2 2. Chester, B., Stanely, W. G., & Geetha, T. (2018). Quick guide to type 2 diabetes self-
compile the information in a practical way to convey the diabetes and has a positive effect on other clinical, management education: creating an interdisciplinary diabetes management
information to the patients (Chester, Stanley, & Geetha, team. Diabetes, metabolic syndrome and obesity: targets and therapy, 11 , 641–645.
psychosocial, and behavioral aspects of diabetes https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S178556
2018).
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