Practice Related Issue
Choice of the treatment option for patients has been integral in enhancing healthcare. Providing individuals with information on the treatment options available ensures that people make the right choices (Cave, 2020). The practice issue is based on the need to understand the effectiveness of orally prescribed medication and lifestyle modifications for persons with hypertension. Some of the patients may prefer the combination of both methods. However, nurses are required to provide only the treatment that patients require not what they request (Cave, 2020). This indicates that healthcare providers are faced with difficult questions that relate to the treatment options to choose. Oral-prescribed medications are effective in reducing or eliminating the symptoms of hypertension (Hinton et al., 2020). These medicines have side effects, which are weakness, dizziness, dehydration, leg cramps, and fatigue. The use of diuretics to reduce the blood pressure of individuals decreases the levels of potassium in the body, which lead to the above impacts (Hinton et al., 2020). Another aspect is that only a third of the treated patients achieve the target of lowering blood pressure using medicines (Hinton et al., 2020). This may indicate that lifestyle changes can provide significant results to young adults with hypertension.
Patients can develop side effects which may impact their ability to perform certain activities. This means that the use of orally prescribed medication has significant disadvantages for individuals. The shortcomings merit the search for better alternatives for young adults with hypertension. Research on hypertension has shown that activities such as smoking and alcohol intake can lead to high blood pressure (Hinton et al., 2020). On the other hand, eliminating such actions can result in reduced symptoms. There is a need to recommend people change their lifestyles to avoid such diseases. Nurses are required to provide individuals with information that can aid recovery (Cave, 2020). In most cases, changes in routine can lead to more health. The combination of oral medicines and lifestyle modification can be useful to patients. This is because it can help in developing the necessary daily procedures that will aid in recovery.
The reason for addressing the issue of the effectiveness of the two options is because of the benefits they can offer to patients. People need the right information to make the correct decisions. Providing patients with options to choose from helps enhance their outlook, which can result in faster healing (Cave, 2020). This is because selecting the treatment option provides them with confidence which enhances recovery. Therefore, the provision of evidence on the effectiveness of lifestyle changes can help patients with hypertension make informed choices.
Significance of the Issue
Over the past years, healthcare providers are increasingly required to involve patients in decisions regarding treatment options. This is based on the concept that people are aware of their health and have preferences that need to be understood. Ensuring that patients are involved in selecting these options has been related to improved health outcomes. One of the challenges identified is that people do not have the right information to explain their preferences (Cave, 2020). This poses difficulties to doctors who are unable to involve patients in most instances. The problems can be enhanced in cases where the views of the individual differ from that of the doctor. This can affect the ability of the doctor to provide effective solutions to a patient. Another aspect is that patients consider healthcare providers as more knowledgeable and are more likely to trust their choices. However, healthcare centers need to provide the right information to patients and their loved ones to help them make informed choices.
Lifestyle diseases are caused by a lack of physical activity and the consumption of unhealthy diets. The treatment options available for hypertension involve the use of oral medications. However, research has shown that lifestyle changes can result in improved health outcomes (Ozemek et al., 2020). This means that healthcare providers have to focus on ensuring patients understand how to change their routines. The nursing practice recommends that nurses provide materials to individuals that pertain to their health (Ozemek et al., 2020). The health care providers are also required to ensure that people understand the available choices. This may involve holding meetings and workshops that involve educating people with hypertension on the necessary lifestyle changes. The goal of nursing is to provide patient-centered care which can be achieved by ensuring that patients are informed when making decisions (Ozemek et al., 2020). Information on the side effects of the medicines should be issued to patients to ensure they are aware.
The choice of treatment options is an integral issue that can affect the health outcomes of individuals. Healthcare providers are tasked with providing patient-centered care. This means involving patients in the decision-making on the treatment option to use. For patients with hypertension, oral medications can be effective in reducing the symptoms whereas lifestyle changes can result in better health outcomes (Mills et al., 2020). Most people may not be aware of the effectiveness of lifestyle changes and it is the work of nurses to ensure patients become more knowledgeable (Cave, 2020). Healthcare providers need to educate patients from the first meeting. This can involve providing information on medications and their side effects, other treatment procedures, and the diagnosis. These materials can help expand the ability of patients to know the right choice. For people dealing with lifestyle diseases, education can be an effective tool for improving their health outcomes. Sharing evidence with individuals on the activities that can aid recovery is an integral part of nursing practice (Cave, 2020). Therefore, involving patients when choosing treatment options is a significant issue because of the impact it has on patient well-being and decision-making.
PICOT Question
In young adults with hypertension, how effective are lifestyle changes compared to oral prescribed medications in reducing the symptoms of hypertension within 6 months time frame?
Population and problem (P): The nursing practice concern is understanding the effectiveness of lifestyle changes compared to orally prescribed medication on young adults with hypertension.
Intervention (I): Studies have shown that changes in routine can have a positive effect on the health of patients with hypertension.
Comparison (C): Oral medications offer patients with hypertension relief but have significant side effects.
Outcome (O): A significant change in the lifestyle of patients is witnessed as a result of changes in daily activities.
Time frame: The target is to carry out the initiative within a 6 months time frame and then assess the effectiveness of the proposed solution.
- P= Young adults with hypertension
- I= Lifestyle changes
- C= Oral prescribed medications
- O= reducing symptoms of hypertension
- T= 6 months
References
Cave, E. (2020). Selecting treatment options and choosing between them: delineating patient and professional autonomy in shared decision-making. Health Care Analysis, 28(1), 4-24. Web.
Hinton, T. C., Adams, Z. H., Baker, R. P., Hope, K. A., Paton, J. F., Hart, E. C., & Nightingale, A. K. (2020). Investigation and treatment of high blood pressure in young people: too much medicine or appropriate risk reduction?Hypertension, 75(1), 16-22. Web.
Mills, K. T., Stefanescu, A., & He, J. (2020). The global epidemiology of hypertension. Nature Reviews Nephrology, 16(4), 223-237. Web.
Ozemek, C., Tiwari, S., Sabbahi, A., Carbone, S., & Lavie, C. J. (2020). Impact of therapeutic lifestyle changes in resistant hypertension. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 63(1), 4-9. Web.