Date of Conferral

2016

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Patricia Schweickert

Abstract

Hypertension (HTN) is the most common chronic disease among jail inmates. Many inmates treated for HTN while incarcerated in the Fairfax County Jail do not continue treatment when they return to their communities. Factors that contribute to discontinuing HTN management once the inmate returns to the community include homelessness, low income, and lack of access to care. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to educate inmates with HTN about community-based outreach services for HTN management and continuity of care while in the community. The outcome measured was the number of inmates who returned to jail reporting use of a community-based clinic for follow-up HTN care after their last release from jail. The project was conducted in 2 phases during a 6-month period. A pre-HTN survey questionnaire measuring HTN history and lifestyle was administered on initial incarceration. A post-HTN survey was completed when the inmates return to the jail during the 6-month period and measured adherence to post jail follow up HTN care. The findings of this quality improvement project indicate that both inmates who returned to jail in Phase 2 of the project followed up their HTN care in the community after release from jail. This project shows promise as a first step in the process of social change in planning discharge for inmates with HTN at the time of incarceration.

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