Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Mary Verklan

Abstract

Health literacy is widespread, but its potential is not recognized. By not recognizing health literacy, patients have the burden of coping with diabetes with renal complications without full knowledge of their responsibility to their health. The focus of the project was to assess participants with diabetes with low health literacy and low mean glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The project goal was achieved by the assessment of the participants' health literacy and eGFR before and after education for their diabetes, then assessed to determine if teaching the participants would improve their health literacy, lab values, and overall health. Participants were recruited by being patients of the designated clinic and screened for diabetes and low eGFR, for a total of 30 participants. The Brief Health Literacy Screen was used to measure health literacy. The health of the participants was appraised by the laboratory values of eGFR and fasting glucose. The project methodology was an observational design using correlation and 2-sample t analysis with the variables eGFR, fasting glucose, and health literacy. The variables were compared before and after the participants' education. Results showed health literacy with patient education was associated with greater patient self-efficacy and improved fasting glucose numbers, eGFR flows, and health literacy scores. The current health climate shows value in different types of health providers. Social change was defined by the project launching a nurse practitioner as the leader for advancing the treatment plans of chronic kidney disease. This project impacts social change by showing patients in the process of improved health and empowering the patients to be advocates of their own health.

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