Introduction
Patient education is an essential aspect of contemporary care and disease management that can improve the outcomes of treatment. This element is especially crucial in the context of chronic conditions that require continuous monitoring and adherence to the recommendations of medical professionals. This paper aims to outline an issue with hypertension management and practices currently used by providers to develop a PICOT question addressing the problem.
Hypertension Management
Hypertension is a disease characterized by high blood pressure, which can lead to organ damage if left untreated. According to Cheema, Sutcliffe, Weickert, and Singer, educational interventions have the potential of improving patient’s knowledge about medication, possible adverse effects, and risks associated with high blood pressure. This can result in a more accurate adherence to the disease management recommendations, reducing the risk of developing complications from hypertension. Hence, the issue and an opportunity to improve patient care is education about hypertension and lifestyle changes that can help adults manage high blood pressure more effectively. Nurses working with hypertension patients can help them by presenting tools for self-monitoring and improving their knowledge about the condition.
Conclusion
An evidence-based solution is proposed by Cheema et al., who conducted a study examining an educational intervention in comparison to a control group. The outcomes suggest that similar strategies can be used to improve patient awareness and lower systolic blood pressure over long periods. Using the PICOT methodology, this project aims to explore whether adults with hypertension (P) benefit from an education program, (I) compared to standard provider care (C) measured by assessing the blood pressure (O) over three months (T). Nursing professionals can use their knowledge to help patients with hypertension manage their activity and diet in a manner that will contribute to their health as part of their advanced practice.
Reference
Cheema, E., Sutcliffe, P., Weickert, M., & Singer, D. (2018). A randomised controlled trial of the impact of structured written and verbal advice by community pharmacists on improving hypertension education and control in patients with high blood pressure. European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 74(11), 1391-1395. doi:10.1007/s00228-018-2519-0