Carrie Smithson    2 posts   Re: Topic 7 DQ 2          In order to evaluate an evidence-based project, it is important to be able to determine the effectiveness of your change. In this discussion board, I will discuss one way that I will be able to evaluate whether my project made a difference in practice. The end goal of my project is to decrease admissions to the hospital by providing education on tobacco dependency. Tobacco use causes secondary illnesses such as heart attacks and strokes. Smoking is a major cause of coronary vascular disease and can raise triglycerides, lower HDL cholesterol, make blood sticky and more likely to clot, and cause thickening and narrowing of blood vessels (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). Patients that are admitted with an acute diagnosis such as myocardial infarction and stroke, are often educated on risk factors. Some risk factors cannot be changed such as family history, age, and race. Other risk factors can be changed to promote health such as smoking, diet, and exercise. Once the education is provided, nurse managers can audit charts to determine if readmission of the same diagnosis is made. This is one way to evaluate if my project made a difference in practice. Another method to evaluate my project would be through follow up appointments. Every patient that leaves the hospital is made a follow up appointment with their primary care provider. During the follow up visit, the doctor can determine if the teaching performed in the hospital was effective. Success with a tobacco cessation program can decrease health risk tremendously, and that is the goal.  Resource  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Smoking and Heart Disease  and Stroke | Overviews of Diseases/Conditions | Tips From Former  Smokers | CDC. Retrieved from  https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/diseases/heart-disease-  stroke.html

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