Document Type
DNP Project
Department
School of Nursing
Date of Degree
Spring 2020
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Primary Advisor
Quiping (Pearl) Zhou, PhD, RN; Mary-Michael Brown, DNP, MSN, BSN, RN
Keywords
functional outcome, quality of life, spine, ODI, EQ-5D-5L, post-op.
Abstract
Background/Significance: A lack of validated multi-facet assessment tools to assess postoperative patients’ functional ability and quality of life may result in untimely or no referrals to rehabilitation.
Objective: The objective of the DNP project was to introduce the use of validated multi-facet questionnaires in assessing patient-reported outcomes and to assess effect on the time in generating prescriptive rehabilitation therapies and the type of therapies following elective spine surgery evaluated in the outpatient neurosurgery clinics.
Methods: This was a quality improvement (QI) project comprising of 100 patients (50 pre and 50 post the intervention). After the introduction of baseline data, the ODI and EQ-5D-5L were used in all eligible patients to collect their functional status and quality of life. The time in generating prescriptive rehabilitation therapies and the type of therapies following elective spine surgery were compared before and after the new evaluation methods.
Findings: Our findings have shown that the introduction of the ODI and EQ-5D-5L to patients undergoing elective spine surgery has not resulted in differences in the number of referrals at the first post-operative visits, the timing and type of prescriptive rehabilitative therapies referrals generated when compared to baseline care.
Conclusion: Although there was no significant difference in referral timing and types, this DNP project added value to the current processes by standardizing the post-operative assessments of elective spine patients using validated tools to improve outcomes. Future studies with longer observation period and including patient outcomes are suggested.
Copyright Notice
©2020 Mercy Oigbokie. All rights reserved.
Recommended Citation
Oigbokie, MSN, AGNP-C, APRN, M. (2020). Using multi-faceted validated tools to evaluate the functional outcomes and quality of life in patients undergoing elective spine surgery and associated referral patterns for post-hospital rehabilitation: A quality improvement project. , (). Retrieved from https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/son_dnp/61
Open Access
1
