Student Name
Western Governors University
D027 Advanced Pathopharmacological Foundations
Prof. Name:
Date
| Task Description | Proposed Completion Date | Estimated Time to Complete |
|---|---|---|
| 1a. CPE schedule table | 06/10/2024 | 30 minutes |
| 1b. Feedback and Synthesis Improvement Plan | 06/25/2024 | 2 hours |
| 1b. Pathophysiology Synthesis | 06/25/2024 | 2 hours |
| 1c. Three screenshots of GoReact and reflection | 06/25/2024 | 1.5 hours |
| Task Description | Proposed Completion Date | Estimated Time to Complete |
|---|---|---|
| 2a. Review CPE schedule table for progress | 06/30/2024 | 30 minutes |
| 2b. Feedback and Synthesis Improvement Plan | 06/30/2024 | 2 hours |
| 2b. Patient or Healthcare Consumer-Focused Synthesis | 06/30/2024 | 2 hours |
| 2c. Three screenshots of GoReact and reflection | 06/30/2024 | 1.5 hours |
| Task Description | Proposed Completion Date | Estimated Time to Complete |
|---|---|---|
| 3a. Review CPE schedule table for progress | 07/04/2024 | 30 minutes |
| 3b. Feedback and Synthesis Improvement Plan | 07/04/2024 | 2 hours |
| 3b. Preceptor or Colleague-Focused Synthesis | 07/04/2024 | 2 hours |
| 3c. Feedback and Synthesis Improvement Plan | 07/04/2024 | 2 hours |
| 3c. Patient or Healthcare Consumer-Focused Treatment Plan | 07/04/2024 | 2 hours |
| 3d. Three screenshots of GoReact and reflection | 07/04/2024 | 2 hours |
Chronic lower respiratory infections represent a group of persistent lung diseases that inflame and damage the lower airways, causing ongoing respiratory symptoms and decreased lung capacity (WHO, 2017). The pathophysiology varies among conditions:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)Â results mainly from prolonged exposure to harmful substances such as tobacco smoke. This exposure triggers chronic inflammation, bronchitis, and emphysema.
Bronchiectasis is characterized by irreversible widening and damage of airways, often due to recurrent infections.
Chronic pneumonia involves persistent infection and inflammation caused by various pathogens (Wheeldon, 2023).
Patients typically present with persistent cough, sputum production, wheezing, breathlessness, and repeated infections. Advanced disease stages may lead to weight loss, exercise intolerance, and respiratory failure (Mandell & Read, 2010).
Diagnosis requires a multifaceted approach involving:
Clinical examination and pulmonary function tests such as spirometry,
Imaging studies including chest X-rays and CT scans,
Microbiological tests like sputum cultures to identify causative pathogens (Mahashur, 2018).
Treatment goals focus on symptom relief, disease progression control, and lung function improvement. Management strategies vary:
COPD:Â Smoking cessation, bronchodilators, corticosteroids, pulmonary rehabilitation, and vaccinations (National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, 2023).
Bronchiectasis:Â Airway clearance techniques, targeted antibiotics, addressing underlying causes, and immunization.
Chronic pneumonia:Â Appropriate antibiotic therapy based on pathogen identification, supportive care, and vaccinations (Mandell & Read, 2010).
Healthcare providers reviewed the pathophysiology synthesis of chronic lower respiratory infections. They found it clear, organized, and informative, effectively covering etiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic strategies, and treatments. Despite the positive reception, no specific recommendations for improvement were provided. This feedback suggests that the synthesis successfully met educational objectives.
The providers demonstrated a thorough understanding by accurately summarizing key disease aspects, which confirms the synthesis’s effectiveness. Future educational efforts should continue using this model to ensure clarity and comprehensiveness.
The synthesis on chronic lower respiratory infections was developed to educate healthcare providers comprehensively. Drawing from clinical experience as a Medical-Surgical Telemetry nurse, the material was carefully researched and supported by scholarly references.
Challenges included condensing vital information into a concise one-page format without sacrificing depth. The feedback from peers was overwhelmingly positive, appreciating the clear, organized presentation that made complex information accessible.
A limitation noted was that the reviewers were already familiar with the topic, potentially limiting suggestions for further improvement. Nonetheless, their ability to articulate the key points indicated strong comprehension.
A stroke, or cerebrovascular accident (CVA), occurs when brain blood supply is disrupted by either a blockage (ischemic stroke) or a blood vessel rupture (hemorrhagic stroke), leading to brain cell damage or death (American Heart Association, 2021).
Stroke symptoms depend on the brain area affected but commonly include:
Sudden weakness or numbness on one side,
Difficulty with speech or comprehension,
Severe headache,
Loss of balance,
Vision problems.
The mnemonic F-A-S-T (Facial drooping, Arm weakness, Slurred speech, Time to call 911) aids in early recognition (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, n.d.).
Diagnosis includes clinical evaluation, medical history, and imaging tests such as CT scans or MRIs to identify stroke type and location. Blood tests assess underlying risk factors (American Heart Association, 2021).
Prompt treatment aims to restore brain blood flow:
Ischemic stroke:Â Thrombolytic therapy with tPA or mechanical thrombectomy.
Hemorrhagic stroke:Â Control bleeding, relieve brain pressure, surgical repair.
Post-acute rehabilitation focuses on physical, occupational, and speech therapies.
Lifestyle modifications and chronic disease management (blood pressure control, healthy diet, smoking cessation, physical activity) reduce stroke risk (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, n.d.).
Healthcare consumers found the stroke synthesis clear and educational, expressing appreciation for the practical information on stroke signs and responses. They suggested enhancing readability by highlighting key terms in bold to improve retention.
Consumers demonstrated solid comprehension by summarizing the stroke’s causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment in their own words, confirming the synthesis’s effectiveness in patient education.
The stroke synthesis was designed for healthcare consumers with the intent to simplify complex medical information. The greatest challenge was reducing the content to one page while ensuring accessibility to non-healthcare readers.
Feedback was positive, with consumers valuing the clarity and brevity. The suggestion to bold key terms supports interactive learning, promoting better retention. This experience reinforced the importance of tailoring health education to the audience’s literacy level.
Ms. O’Connor, aged 55, presents with worsening COPD symptoms, including productive cough and bronchospasm. Despite attempts with nicotine replacement therapy, she continues to smoke 3-5 cigarettes daily. Her spirometry shows FEV1 of 1.37 L (49% predicted). She has a family history of smoking-related illnesses and significant weight gain over two years.
COPD is a chronic inflammatory lung disease caused by inhalation of harmful particles, leading to airway narrowing, reduced lung elasticity, and air trapping (Agarwal et al., 2023). Structural changes cause symptoms like cough, dyspnea, and sputum production.
Symptoms include shortness of breath, chronic cough, wheezing, increased mucus, decreased exercise tolerance, barrel chest, cyanosis, and clubbing (Agarwal et al., 2023).
Diagnosis relies on:
Clinical assessment and symptom evaluation,
Pulmonary function tests such as spirometry,
Imaging (chest X-ray, CT scan),
Arterial blood gas analysis,
Testing for alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (Agarwal et al., 2023).
Treatment focuses on symptom control, exacerbation prevention, and lifestyle modification:
| Treatment Type | Medication Examples | Purpose | Potential Side Effects |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronchodilators | Short-acting: Albuterol | Relax airways | Tremors, tachycardia, headaches |
| Â | Long-acting: Tiotropium | Maintain open airways | Dry mouth, cough |
| Inhaled Corticosteroids | Formoterol | Reduce airway inflammation | Thrush, hoarseness (mouthwash recommended) |
| Smoking Cessation | Bupropion | Aid quitting smoking | Insomnia, dry mouth, tremors, seizures risk |
Non-pharmacological interventions include pulmonary rehabilitation and vaccinations (Agarwal et al., 2023).
Colleague feedback praised the synthesis for clarity, comprehensive coverage, and readability. Highlighting key terms in bold was noted as beneficial for retention.
Engagement with the Shadow Health simulation enhanced clinical understanding, assessment skills, and confidence in managing COPD patients. The experience underscored the critical role of patient education in improving health outcomes.
Agarwal, A. K., Raja, A., & Brown, B. D. (2023, August 7). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559281/
American Heart Association. (2021). About stroke. American Stroke Association. https://www.stroke.org/en/about-stroke
Mahashur, A. (2018). Management of lower respiratory tract infection in outpatient settings: Focus on clarithromycin. Lung India, 35(2), 143–149. https://doi.org/10.4103/lungindia.lungindia_262_17
Mandell, L. A., & Read, R. C. (2010). Infections of the lower respiratory tract. In Antibiotic and Chemotherapy (pp. 574–588). https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-7020-4064-1.00045-2
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. (2023). Treatment. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/copd/treatment
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (n.d.). Signs and symptoms. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/stroke/signs-and-symptoms
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (n.d.). Assess and treat. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/stroke/assess-and-treat
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. (n.d.). Prevention. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/stroke/prevention
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Albuterol oral inhalation: Medlineplus Drug Information. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682145.html
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Tiotropium oral inhalation: Medlineplus Drug Information. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a604018.html
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.-c). Formoterol oral inhalation: Medlineplus Drug Information. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a602023.html
U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Bupropion: Medlineplus Drug Information. https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a695033.html
Wheeldon, A. (2023). The respiratory system and associated disorders. British Journal of Nursing, 32(13), 613–619. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2023.32.13.613
World Health Organization (WHO). (2017). Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/chronic-obstructive-pulmonary-disease-(copd)
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