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Thesis/Dissertation Information
- Degree Disciplines:
- Nursing
Notes
- Abstract:
- Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the most common chronic blood-borne infection in the United States (U.S.). Up to 85% of individuals infected, will develop chronic HCV, and may develop chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Guidelines recommend screening all patients for risk factors, and testing those found to be at risk. Purpose: The purpose of the project is to identify the HCV screening and testing practices of primary care nurse practitioners Methods: A survey designed to assess HCV screening and testing practices was sent by U.S. mail to 1173 randomly selected nurse practitioners across the nation. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed to identify the HCV screening and testing practices of the respondents. Results: There were a total of 250 completed surveys included in the statistical analysis. Most respondents had little experience in diagnosis and management of patients with HCV. Guidelines recommend asking all patients about HCV risk factors, however, only 58.4% of respondents said they would do so. Although HCV is the leading cause of liver disease, only 56.1% were very likely to test patients with abnormal LFTs. Only 61.5% were very likely to test injection drug users for HCV, even though injection drug use is leading cause of HCV. Most respondents (73.2%) said they use at least one clinical guideline to help diagnose and manage patients with HCV. Over 40% of respondents did not know the current recommended anti-viral therapy. Conclusions: The study revealed practice weaknesses in areas related to screening, testing, post-test management, and guideline usage. Factors likely to contribute to the knowledge deficits identified include competing demands placed on primary providers; rapid advances in health sciences, recent changes in anti-viral therapy; and lack of consensus in identifying a single set of HCV guidelines for use by primary care providers. Further, the burden of HCV on society in terms of morbidity, mortality, and financial costs has long been under-appreciated. Targeted education initiatives, improved guidelines aimed at primary care providers, and heightened awareness of the implications of HCV infection may prove useful in helping NPs identify patients at risk, and initiate appropriate testing so that early diagnosis of HCV may be achieved.
- Thesis:
- Thesis (D.N.P.)--Barry University, 2011.
- Bibliography:
- Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-74).
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- Barry University
- Holding Location:
- Barry University Archives and Special Collections
- Rights Management:
- Copyright Janis L. Donahue. Permission granted to Barry University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
- Resource Identifier:
- RD82.D66 2011_DonahueJanis ( BU-Local )
- Classification:
- RD82.D66 2011 ( lcc )
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