Document Type
DNP Project
Department
School of Nursing
Date of Degree
Spring 2018
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Primary Advisor
Linda Briggs DNP, ANP-BC, ACNP-BC, FAANP; Nahrain Alzubaidi, MD, CDE, FACE; Qiuping (Pearl) Zhou, PhD, RN
Abstract
Background: Hypothyroidism is a chronic disease that requires self-care skills such as healthy diet, exercise, and a daily medication regimen where timing of food intake is essential. Adequate education is essential for patients with hypothyroidism to be able to manage their disease, and to live with the best quality of life possible. Many studies have been conducted to assess the perceived health status of patients with hypothyroidism, but few have examined the effects of a formal educational program on the quality of life.
Objectives: The purpose of this study is to determine if a formal hypothyroidism educational class will improve the ThyPRO-39us quality of life survey among patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism.
Methods: In this prospective pretest-posttest design study, 12 patients diagnosed with hypothyroidism recruited from a private endocrinology practice in Fairfax, Virginia completed the ThyPRO-39us quality of life survey at baseline and then again 4 weeks after the formal educational class. SPSS23 was used for statistical analysis and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Tests were performed to determine any significant changes in the ThyPRO-39us composite and subscale scores on quality of life.
Results: The educational class demonstrated a statistically significant change in the ThyPRO39us composite score which is comprised of seven subscales and the goiter, hyper and hypo subscales. There was no statistically significant change in the eyes and appearance/cosmetics subscales.
Conclusions: The education class improved the quality of life of patients with hypothyroidism. I suggest implementing educational programs in clinical management of such patients.
Copyright Notice
© 2018 Tahimina Popal. All rights reserved.
Recommended Citation
Popal, DNP, BSN, MSN, FNP-C, T. (2018). Effects of a Formal Educational Class on the Quality of Life in Patients Diagnosed with Hypothyroidism. , (). Retrieved from https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/son_dnp/39
Open Access
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