First Advisor

McCallum, Colleen

Thesis Committee Member(s)

Cullen, Patricia L.

College

Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice

School

Loretto Heights School of Nursing

Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Number of Pages

61 pages

Abstract

Executive Summary An Evaluation of the Effectiveness of an Educational Initiative in a Rural Clinic Problem According to the American Lung Association (2011), approximately one third of the children hospitalized in the state of Colorado are due to asthma. In fact, almost 75% of admissions for asthma are avoidable, and potentially preventable factors are common in deaths from asthma. Asthma is a chronic disease that can be managed through education, medication, and avoidance of triggers. The PICO question this capstone project seeked to address was: In (Population) parents of children clinically diagnosed with asthma in a rural clinic, will (Intervention) an evidence-based educational intervention related to asthma management when compared (Comparison) with the current practice of asthma treatment, result (Outcome) in enhanced parental asthma knowledge and asthma management in children diagnosed with asthma measured by a self-assessment questionnaire? Purpose The purpose of this project was to provide an evidence-based educational intervention in a family practice clinic to the parents of children diagnosed with asthma. Goal The goal of this capstone project was to improve parental knowledge, awareness, and asthma management in children with asthma. Objectives Objectives of the capstone project were to evaluate 1) the effects of an individualized education program for the parents who have children with asthma in a clinic setting, 2) to measure asthma control and self-management skills at baseline and post-education implementation, and 3) to develop an asthma educational teaching plan for the parent, patient, and family members. Plan The capstone project began in the fall of 2012 with the problem recognized, followed by the completion of a needs assessment, theoretical foundation, and an extensive review of literature. Upon approval from the Regis University IRB and permission to use the instrument tool, the project was implemented in March 2014 with data collected to determine if the educational intervention improved parental and patient asthma awareness, control, and self-management using the ATAQ questionnaire. Posing the question whether an asthma educational initiative reduced the number of asthma attacks was analyzed using the independent samples t-test. Outcomes and Results Between March 2014 and June 2014, 52 parents of pediatric asthma patients were approached to enroll in the study. Of those, 2 participants did not complete the study, 4 did not meet the study criteria, and 8 declined to participate for a total n=38. Asthma educational outcomes and the ATAQ scores pre and post intervention showed significant improvement in the level of asthma awareness, inhaler technique, control and management (ATAQ pre-intervention p=0.047, post-intervention p=<0.001), asthma attacks pre-intervention p=0.452 and p=<0.001 post-intervention. There was clinical significance in improvement noted with medication adherence pre and post intervention. In addition, there were no ED or hospital visits during the study time frame. This study determined that an outpatient education program for asthma patients improves the level of asthma control and self-management.

Date of Award

Fall 2014

Location (Creation)

Colorado (state); Denver (county); Denver (inhabited place)

Rights Statement

All content in this Collection is owned by and subject to the exclusive control of Regis University and the authors of the materials. It is available only for research purposes and may not be used in violation of copyright laws or for unlawful purposes. The materials may not be downloaded in whole or in part without permission of the copyright holder or as otherwise authorized in the “fair use” standards of the U.S. copyright laws and regulations.

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