Date Available

5-6-2021

Year of Publication

2021

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice

Committee Chair

Dr. Sharon Lock

Clinical Mentor

Dr. Julie Marfell

Committee Member

Dr. Angela Grubbs

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and affects individuals globally, nationally, and locally. Consequences of uncontrolled hypertension include atherosclerosis, heart failure, stroke, and renal disease. The electronic health portal is a patient-specific, interactive tool that has been shown to promote adherence to provider recommendations and improve chronic disease management.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to determine the effects of education via an electronic healthcare portal on the blood pressure management of adults at a primary care clinic in a small town in Kentucky.

Methods: This study was a one-group pre/post intervention designed to evaluate provider portal use and its effect on blood pressure management. An email was sent to UK providers by the Clinic Director reminding them to send educational information to patients enrolled on the portal. The first chart review included dates prior to the email, and the second chart review included dates after the email and within a reasonable time for patients to follow-up for chronic care management.

Results: Of the 25 patients included in this study, only 60% were enrolled on the portal. Furthermore, no education was sent via the portal pre and post email during the designated time frames. However, with current practice of verbal education, blood pressure pre/post mean was adequately controlled according to the 2020 MACRA goal of less than 140/90.

Discussion: Although the findings of this project were not statistically significant, several limitations were noted. The COVID-19 global pandemic started during the second chart review time frame which may have contributed to the small sample size.

Conclusion: This study concluded that providers were not utilizing the electronic health portal as a way of educating their patients with a diagnosis of hypertension. Further research is recommended to determine the effects of the electronic health portal on hypertension management and the facilitators and barriers to provider portal use.

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