Dissertation
Improving Statin Adherence with Nurse-Led Telephone Follow-Up
University of Iowa
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), University of Iowa
Spring 2025
Abstract
Background and PurposeHyperlipidemia, a major modifiable risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, is estimated to be present in nearly one third of U.S. adults (Zheutlin, Harris & Stullberg, 2024). Despite the overwhelming evidence that statin medications are both safe and effective in reducing cardiovascular risk, only about half of U.S. adults who could benefit from statin therapy take one as prescribed (CDC, 2023). The purpose of this quality improvement project was to increase rates of statin adherence at a private family medicine clinic in the Midwest.Methods The Institute for Healthcare Improvement s (IHI) Plan-Do-Study Act (PDSA) framework was used to guide the project design. A telephone script was developed to help nursing staff educate patients on hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease and the benefits of statins. The script was designed to be used to contact patients with their test results after their physical, when new statin therapy was prescribed. Patients were contacted at one and three months after the initiation of statin therapy to offer support and determine continued adherence. Findings66.7% of patients were agreeable to statin therapy when the telephone script was used to review test results, compared to 37% when standard protocol was used. 100% of patients who were able to be contacted for follow up reported they were still taking their statin as prescribed 3 months later. DiscussionThere were several limitations to this project. The intervention was implemented with only one physician-nurse pair and the sample sizes were small. However, the findings still have clinical significance for this patient population. Focused education at the initiation of statin therapy is a meaningful strategy to increase rates of adherence to these medications, which is likely to contribute to decreased cardiovascular risk for this patient population.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Improving Statin Adherence with Nurse-Led Telephone Follow-Up
- Creators
- Elise Owens - University of Iowa
- Contributors
- Nicola Jane Stickney (Chair) - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Project Type
- Poster
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Date degree season
- Spring 2025
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- 1 page
- Copyright
- Copyright 2025 Elise Owens
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Nursing; Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects
- Record Identifier
- 9984841526602771
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