You have developed a scholarly project to address an identified problem in your practice setting and from your review of the literature you selected an intervention to address the problem.
Implementing a project requires identifying actual and potential barriers that might have an impact on implementation of the project you designed.
Develop a presentation that includes the following elements:
• A title slide
• A brief description of the practice setting the scholarly project is designed to be implemented in
• A slide with your aim statement (completed in unit 3)
• A slide or slides that demonstrate the barriers [actual or potential] that you identified when designing your project (one slide required for each barrier identified)
• A slide or slides that discuss how consideration of those barriers [actual or potential] impacted the development of your project or may impact actual implementation of your project (one slide required for each barrier identified)
• A slide for References
incorporates a pre-recorded, easily digestible video module that patients can watch in the waiting area or on their phones. The provider's role is then shifted to a quick, targeted follow-up to answer specific questions, rather than delivering the entire educational content. This design ensures that the core information is delivered consistently and effectively, regardless of the provider’s available time.
Barrier: Low Health Literacy and Language Barriers
Description: Many patients at the clinic have varying levels of health literacy and may not be fluent in English. Standard medical terminology and text-heavy educational materials can be confusing and ineffective. This potential barrier could prevent patients from understanding the instructions for medication, diet, and exercise, undermining the project's goal of improving self-management.
Impact of Barrier on Project Development
Considering low health literacy, the project's educational materials were designed to be visually-driven and simplified. The video module and accompanying handouts use simple language, relatable analogies, and culturally-relevant images and icons. The materials are also translated into Swahili and other common local languages to ensure accessibility. This design choice directly tackles the barrier by ensuring the educational content is understandable to the target population, increasing the likelihood that they will retain the information and apply it to their daily lives.
Barrier: Lack of Resources and Technology Access
Description: The clinic may have limited resources to purchase new technology, and not all patients have access to smartphones or a stable internet connection. Relying on a technology-heavy solution could exclude a significant portion of the patient population, making the project's implementation inequitable and less effective.
Impact of Barrier on Project Development
To overcome the technology barrier, the project was designed with a low-tech, multi-modal approach. While a digital video module is available, the primary educational component is delivered through a tablet provided by the clinic that can be used offline in a designated patient education area. Additionally, a simplified, printable handout with key visuals and information is available for patients who prefer or require a hard copy. This redundancy ensures that the education is accessible to everyone, regardless of their personal technological capabilities.
Sample Answer
Title Slide
Scholarly Project: Improving Patient Education on Type 2 Diabetes Management
[Your Name]
[Your Organization/University]
[Date]
Practice Setting
This scholarly project is designed to be implemented in a large, urban community health clinic in Nairobi, Kenya. The clinic serves a diverse patient population, many of whom have limited access to health information, low health literacy, and socioeconomic challenges. The clinic has a high patient volume, and healthcare providers often have limited time for patient education during appointments.
Aim Statement
Aim Statement: To improve patient understanding and self-management of Type 2 Diabetes by implementing a standardized, culturally-sensitive patient education program using a visual and simplified format. This will lead to a 20% increase in patient scores on a diabetes knowledge assessment within three months of the program's implementation, thereby improving health outcomes and reducing hospital readmissions related to poor glycemic control.
Barrier: Limited Time and High Patient Volume
Description: A primary barrier is the time constraint faced by healthcare providers due to the clinic's high patient volume. Providers are often scheduled for short appointment slots, making it difficult to deliver comprehensive, in-depth education on a complex topic like diabetes management. This time pressure can lead to rushed explanations and a lack of opportunity for patients to ask questions, negatively impacting the quality of education.
Impact of Barrier on Project Development
To address the barrier of limited time, my project was developed to be less reliant on provider-led, one-on-one education. Instead of a long lecture from a busy provider, the project