Date of Award
Spring 4-4-2022
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
First Advisor
Sheri Jacobson, PhD, RN
Second Advisor
Christina M. Kelly, DNP, APRN, AGCNS-BC, CCRN-K, CNE, NPD-BC, NE-BC
Abstract
Practice Problem: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) readmissions severely impact patients’ health, mortality, and quality of life and increase unnecessary healthcare use and spending. Utilization of a protocol and discharge care bundle to reduce the readmission rate for COPD patients is critical to combat the problem.
PICOT: The PICOT question that guided this project was in adult patients 65 years or older admitted to a hospital acute care unit for acute exacerbation of COPD (P), does a protocol and discharge care bundle (I) compared to no protocol and no discharge care bundle (C) reduce the 30-day hospital COPD readmission rate (O) within 10 weeks (T)?
Evidence: A review of the evidence supported the implementation of a discharge care bundle to reduce the COPD readmission rate for this project.
Intervention: The evidence-based intervention utilized the implementation of a protocol and discharge care bundle. The bundle included COPD education, action plan, inhaler technique, referral to smoking cessation or pulmonary rehabilitation programs, and a follow-up visit.
Outcome: Results showed an 18.2% readmission rate for the pre-intervention group and a 16.7% readmission rate for the post-intervention group; both were lower than the national average of 19.6%. However, data analysis using a two-tailed paired samples t-test found the findings were not statistically significant.
Conclusion: The project achieved a COPD readmission rate less than the national average, but the results were not statistically significant. However, the project demonstrated clinical significance in providing a foundation to improve the clinical care process for COPD patients.
Recommended Citation
Vang, D. (2022). Discharge Care Bundle to Reduce COPD 30-Day Readmission Rates in a Hospital Acute Care Unit. [Doctoral project, University of St Augustine for Health Sciences]. SOAR @ USA: Student Scholarly Projects Collection. https://doi.org/10.46409/sr.UGVN8784
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Comments
Scholarly project submitted to the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice.