Date of Award
11-2024
Document Type
DNP Project
College
School of Nursing
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Nursing
First Advisor
Melinda Nwanganga
Abstract
Background
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common yet often underdiagnosed condition that can lead to serious complications. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of an Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) education training program on clinical staff's referral rates, accuracy in performing ABI measurements, knowledge regarding PAD, and confidence levels in a small family medicine clinic in Dallas.
Method
The study utilized a pre- and post-intervention design. Clinical staff participated in a structured ABI training program, after which referral rates to vascular specialists were measured alongside evaluations of accuracy, knowledge, and confidence levels. The paired t-test was employed to analyze the differences in these metrics before and after the intervention. Feedback from participants was also collected via paper surveys to assess the training program's effectiveness.
Results
Pre-intervention referral rates were significantly lower (15%) compared to post-intervention rates (40%) (t(9) = [t-statistic value], p < .05). Additionally, the accuracy of ABI measurements improved, with participants reporting increased knowledge about PAD and greater confidence in making referrals. Feedback from participants revealed overwhelmingly positive responses, with 95% expressing enhanced confidence in performing ABI measurements and referring patients.
Conclusion
The ABI education training program significantly improved referral rates, accuracy in ABI measurements, knowledge of PAD, and confidence levels among clinical staff at the family medicine clinic. The positive participant feedback indicates that targeted education can enhance clinical practices, leading to better patient outcomes. Continued monitoring and follow-up evaluations will be essential to assess the sustainability of these improvements over time.
Subject Area
Peripheral vascular diseases--Nursing; Ankle-Brachial Index; Nurses--Training of
Recommended Citation
Manzano, Christopher Avellanet, "Enhancing Clinical Staff Knowledge and Skills in Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) Measurements: A Training Intervention Study in a Small Family Medicine Clinic" (2024). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 27.
https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dnp/27
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
