Research Patient Education Tools For Statin Therapy (Essay Sample)

Patient education tools
Name
Institution
Introduction
Patient education tools have increasingly gained popularity in the nursing field over the recent years. They are education tools created as an element of patient empowerment for teaching them about their health conditions and providing them with the knowledge that encourages them to be active participants in making decisions pertaining their treatment (Koh, H. K etal., 2013). This paper will be divided into two parts. In the first part, I will develop a patient education tool for statin therapy (Zocor/Simvastatin) for a newly diagnosed patient with hypercholesterolemia. On the second part, I will explain how the tool helps to promote patient safety and quality outcomes as well as its adherence to the principles and practices of cultural competence.
Part 1
Education tool for statin therapy
Proper usage
This medicine should be taken by mouth once in the evening every day. Tablets can be taken with or without food. For liquids, take them on an empty stomach. You first shake the bottle well for at least 20 seconds and then measure the prescribed dosage using a special measuring machine and not a household spoon. Chinese taking niacin will need a lower dose of this medicine. It’s hazardous to take less or more of the prescribed dosage. Avoid using grapefruits or grape juice while on this medication.
Side effects
The side effects of this drug include confusion, mild memory problems. On rare occasions, the drug may cause muscle problems, cause or worsen diabetes, liver problems, and serious allergy problems. In any case, if they occur immediately contact your doctor
Precautions
Explain to your doctor if you are allergic to the medicine and explain your medical history especially those that are liver and kidney related. Limit alcohol use while using these medications. Older adults are usually more sensitive to the drugs side effect. It could harm an unborn baby and therefore should not be used by pregnant women. Lactating mothers should avoid the drug too as it could harm the baby through the milk
Interactions
Avoid taking red yeast products while using this medication as it may increase muscle and liver problems. Other products such as blood thinners, danazol, ketoconazole, delavirdine, colchine and HIV protease inhibitors. It’s important that you consult a doctor for detailed information on possible chemical interactions (Kellick, 2014)
The information provided in the education tool above is of great significance in promoting safety and quality outcomes. First, the information helps to clear dubious medical facts offered by online sources. Wikipedia and other online websites provide inappropriate results for patient simple searches that could at times create anxiety and sleepless night. The education tool helps to provide correct facts and explains complex medical terminologies in an easy manner that is easily understood by the patients. This, in turn, helps to prevent wrongful use of the medicine and gives a better understanding of side effects that could arise without causing panic to the patient
Second, providing the information helps to empower patients to become equal partners in the making of health care decisions. Patients are able to carry out some procedures like dosage, disposal and proper handling and use of the medicine on their own without necessarily contacting a doctor. They are able to understand the most appropriate and safe ways to handle medicine
Third, education tool provides information that helps to protect a patient from harm. Details reminding them the importance of taking medication according to direct dosage and instructions helps to prevent slow recovery or causing their body any harm. The tool reinforces the need of taking care for themselves and comply with doctors’ orders and equips them with knowledge on what it takes to use the given medication in the right way.
Fourth, information in the education tool helps to increase patient compliance and save the doctor the burden of explaining the very basic routine procedures and questions (Bastable, 2016). Simple issues like storage and disposal of medicine can be settled by the patient without contacting a doctor. The patient is also aware of the expected and manageable side effects that they need not call a doctor about.
Lastly, education tools help improve the healthcare of an organization as a whole. The information provided help to reduce the number of unnecessary admissions phone calls and hospital visitations. This, in turn, helps to save finances and time for both the patient and the provider.
Part 2
Different scholars have come up with different definitions of what cultural competence is. For this discussion, I will define cultural competence as the ability to meet the needs of the ever-increasing patient population and how to effectively advocate for them. A culturally competent nursing care focuses on the individual needs of each patient more so on aspects of gender, age, race, and ethnicity (Purnell, 2014). It’s important to note that beliefs, gender, age, and ethnicity affect how patients perceive and understand health concepts, how they make decisions relating to their health and how they take care of their health. Culturally competent healthcare system helps to improve quality of care, health problems and makes a contribution to reducing ethnic and racial disparities
The Zocor...