NR 505 Week 2 PICOT Worksheet Assignment

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-505: Advanced Research Methods: Evidence-Based Practice

Prof. Name:

Date

PICOT Question Worksheet

Name: Henry Suarez

The management of blood sugar levels in diabetic patients in hospital settings, particularly the risk of hypoglycemia associated with insulin administration and the role of dietary habits, is a critical concern. Hypoglycemia is a common and dangerous complication for hospitalized diabetic patients, often linked to the patient’s experience and awareness of glycemic control (Almigbal, 2021). With the prevalence of diabetes rising, particularly in aging populations, it is predicted that 592 million people will have diabetes by 2035, up from 382 million in 2013 (Hill, 2019). Effective patient education on diet and insulin administration can significantly reduce hypoglycemia risks. This is especially important for patients with poor glycemic control, who may lack awareness of how dietary choices can influence insulin effectiveness and overall blood sugar management.

Importance of the Issue to Nurse Practitioner Practice

Nurse practitioners are essential in managing diabetic patients and preventing hypoglycemia. One area of focus is educating patients about snacking before insulin administration to avoid hypoglycemic episodes. Nurse practitioners play a pivotal role in patient education, particularly in ensuring that patients adhere to prescribed interventions and self-care practices (Davidson, 2021). When patients are educated about the importance of appropriate snacking before insulin administration, the likelihood of hypoglycemia can be reduced. However, efforts are still needed to empower patients with self-care skills and improve adherence to these practices through targeted interventions (Amer et al., 2018). Nurse practitioners’ involvement is crucial in empowering patients to manage their diabetes more effectively, ultimately leading to better health outcomes.

PICOT Question Elements

P (Population and Problem): Diabetic patients in a hospital setting with a diet order are at risk of hypoglycemia, particularly related to insulin therapy.
I (Intervention): Education on pre-insulin administration snacking, aimed at informing patients about the importance of consuming a snack before insulin to prevent hypoglycemia.
C (Comparison): The current standard of care, which may not include specific education about pre-insulin snacking.
O (Outcome): The main outcome is the percentage of patients who consume a snack before insulin administration, aiming to decrease hypoglycemia incidence.
T (Timeframe): The study will be conducted over a 4-day period to observe immediate behavior changes and short-term outcomes from the educational intervention.

Full PICOT Question

In diabetic patients with a diet order in a hospital (P), what is the effect of education on pre-insulin administration snacking (I) in comparison to no education received (C) on the percentage of people who consume a snack prior to insulin administration to decrease further incidences of hypoglycemia (O) over a 4-day period (T)? This question addresses a critical aspect of diabetes management in hospitals and emphasizes the importance of targeted education to improve patient outcomes.

References

Almigbal, A. (2021). Association between knowledge of hypoglycemia and likelihood of experiencing hypoglycemia among patients with insulin-treated diabetes mellitus. Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity, 14, 3821–3829. https://doi.org/10.2147/DMSO.S327368

Amer, F., Mohamed, M., Elbur, A., Adelaziz, S., & Elrayah, Z. (2018). Influence of self-efficacy management on adherence to self-care activities and treatment outcome among diabetes mellitus type 2 Sudanese patients. Pharmacy Practice (1886-3655), 16(4), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.18549/PharmPract.2018.04.1274

Davidson, M. B. (2021). Effect of diabetes-trained nurse practitioners on glycemic outcomes: Their suggested use in busy primary care practices. Clinical Diabetes, 39(3), 293–296. https://doi.org/10.2337/cd20-0102

Hill, J. (2019). The older person with diabetes: Considerations for care. British Journal of Community Nursing, 24(4), 160–164. https://doi.org/10.12968/bjcn.2019.24.4.160

Table: PICOT Question Breakdown

Element	Description
P (Population and Problem)	Diabetic patients in a hospital setting with a diet order at risk of hypoglycemia due to insulin therapy.
I (Intervention)	Education on pre-insulin administration snacking, aimed at reducing hypoglycemia risk.
C (Comparison)	Standard care with no specific education about pre-insulin snacking.
O (Outcome)	Increased patient adherence to pre-insulin snacking, leading to a decrease in hypoglycemia incidence.
T (Timeframe)	Observation over a 4-day period to evaluate immediate behavioral changes and outcomes.