Abstract

Low health literacy may lead to a lack of understanding of disease management and preparation needed before a procedure. Healthcare professionals must implement evidence-based measures that will facilitate healthcare consumers to make informed decisions regarding their care. The objective of this quality improvement (QI) project was to reduce the number of stress test delays and cancellations at a medical center by improving patient understanding and compliance with preparation requirements. Using the Iowa Model of Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) theoretical framework, the project team formulated two patient instruction letters for adult outpatients undergoing either a regular or nuclear stress test. Both letters were written at a fifth-grade reading level, highlighting information on stress test preparation requirements. Scripted messages were also created to guide the secretaries when scheduling cases and conducting the follow-up phone calls.

Author Details

Betty Merveil-Ceneus, DNP, MSN, APN-C, CLNC, Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Research Coordinator, Certified Legal Nurse Consultant

Sigma Membership

Omega Gamma

Type

DNP Capstone Project

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Quality Improvement

Research Approach

Translational Research/Evidence-based Practice

Keywords:

Communication Tools, Understanding Health Information, QI, Stress Test

Advisor

Kristina Martinez

Second Advisor

Angela Saathoff

Third Advisor

Diane Cousert

Fourth Advisor

Bonnie Forshner

Degree

DNP

Degree Grantor

Capella University

Degree Year

2018

Rights Holder

All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.

All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository.

All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.

Review Type

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Self-submission

Date of Issue

2019-04-22

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