Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

School

Nursing

Advisor

Robert McWhirt

Abstract

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine system disorder that affects women of reproductive age. If not treated properly, PCOS can lead to infertility. Lack of proper treatment of PCOS may also result in medical complications such as diabetes or heart disease. The rural clinic where this project took place did not have a mandatory guideline for treatment of PCOS; therefore, no standardized method of diagnosis or treatment of PCOS existed. The purpose of this project, guided by the IOWA evidence-based practice model, was to educate providers on the evidence-based guideline for diagnosis and treatment of PCOS outlined by the Endocrine Society Taskforce. The guideline was selected after a comprehensive literature review and was used to develop an educational program that was provided to 5 nurse practitioners, the medical director and staff. A pre-test post-test design was used to determine if the participants understood the content from the guideline that was presented. Results showed that the researcher-developed test administered to participants yielded scores of 74 on the pre-test and increased after the education program with all participants scoring 100 on the post-test. The guideline used for the education was then presented to the clinic for implementation with the assistance of the medical director's support. The project provided an evidence-based guideline for diagnosing and treating PCOS and raised awareness of PCOS among all staff in a rural clinic where many patients with PCOS are treated. Positive social change may result as providers are better prepared to deliver evidence-based care for PCOS and as infertility and complications of untreated PCOS are reduced.

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