NR 730 Week 3 The PICOT Question

NR 730 Week 3 The PICOT Question

Student Name

Chamberlain University

NR-730: DNP Project

Prof. Name:

Date

NR 730 Week 3 Discussion

The PICOT Question: A Building Block of the DNP Project

Discussion

PICOT question:
In adult patients with uncontrolled hypertension in a primary care setting (P), does motivational interviewing for lifestyle change (I), compared to usual care (C), improve medication adherence (O) over 10 weeks (T)?

The PICOT format is an essential tool for DNP students because it provides a structured approach for framing clinical questions that drive practice change projects. This question emphasizes how an evidence-based intervention—motivational interviewing—may enhance adherence to prescribed medications among hypertensive patients, addressing one of the most prevalent issues in chronic disease management.

Purpose

The primary purpose of this assignment is to analyze the proposed PICOT question and demonstrate its role in shaping the foundation of the DNP practice change project. Through this reflection, students integrate clinical evidence into practice-based solutions that can lead to measurable improvements in patient outcomes.

Instructions

Below are the reflective responses to the required discussion prompts:

1. State your proposed DNP practice change project PICOT question.

The proposed PICOT question is: In adult patients with uncontrolled hypertension in a primary care setting (P), does motivational interviewing for lifestyle change (I), compared to usual care (C), improve medication adherence (O) over 10 weeks (T)?

2. Examine how your PICOT question addresses the identified practice problem.

Uncontrolled hypertension remains a global public health issue, contributing to high morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease. Despite effective pharmacological treatments, poor medication adherence is a leading cause of uncontrolled blood pressure. The PICOT question directly addresses this issue by focusing on an intervention—motivational interviewing—that is patient-centered and designed to empower individuals to adopt lifestyle changes and remain compliant with their prescribed regimens. By targeting adherence, the project seeks to improve blood pressure control and reduce the risk of associated complications.

3. Evaluate how the outcome identified in your PICOT question aligns with the evidence-based intervention.

The outcome identified in the PICOT—improved medication adherence—aligns strongly with motivational interviewing, which has been shown in literature to enhance patient engagement, self-efficacy, and adherence behaviors. This evidence-based strategy provides a structured framework for clinicians to address barriers to adherence, such as patient beliefs, knowledge gaps, and motivation levels. Therefore, the chosen intervention has the potential to directly influence the desired outcome.

Program Competencies

The discussion supports the following program outcomes:

Course Outcomes

The discussion also enables students to meet the following course outcomes:

References

Bokhour, B. G., Hyde, J., Zeliadt, S., & LaVela, S. (2018). Using motivational interviewing to address medication adherence: A review of the evidence. Patient Education and Counseling, 101(5), 732–741. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2017.11.005

NR 730 Week 3 The PICOT Question

Miller, W. R., & Rollnick, S. (2013). Motivational interviewing: Helping people change (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.

World Health Organization. (2021). Hypertension. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension