Semester

Summer

Date of Graduation

2011

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Type

DNP

College

School of Nursing

Department

Not Listed

Committee Chair

Susan McCrone.

Abstract

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women in the United States. Significant research into the risk factors for cardiovascular disease has been done, and the effect of hyperlipidemia on cardiovascular risk has been well documented. Recent research has shown that there is a lack of adherence to lipid guidelines by primary care providers. Failure to follow clinical guidelines for lipid disorders leads to increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The objective of the project was to evaluate whether a simple, paper-based, lipid tracking form could improve provider adherence to current lipid guidelines. This descriptive study used a prepost test design. Baseline adherence to lipid guidelines was determined by chart review of a random sample of current practice patients. The lipid-tracking form was placed on the charts of all patients seen for routine office visits during a specified time frame. After the lipid-tracking form collection period was completed, a random sample of those patients was reviewed to reassess adherence to lipid guidelines. The post-implementation date was compared to the baseline data. The use of the lipid-tracking form did demonstrate an improvement in adherence to lipid guidelines as demonstrated by an increase in the number of patients who had a documented LDL goal (p=0.000). In practices without electronic medical records, this simple, inexpensive, paper-based tool can help providers improve adherence to lipid guidelines.

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