Population’s Demographics and Health Concerns

PICOT Paper
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PICOT Paper
Population’s Demographics and Health Concerns
The population of interest is women and specifically, African-American women of all ages. The health concerns to be addressed through evidence-based practice (EBP) are anxiety, distress, and depression associated with the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. According to Ng et al. (2017), about 50% of women with breast cancer experience high levels of distress, anxiety, and depression after diagnosis and during treatment. Addressing these cancer-related symptoms and health issues can promote recovery and improve their quality of life.
Proposed Evidence-based Intervention
The proposed EBP is a culturally-sensitive nurse-led psychoeducational intervention. According to Salvetti et al. (2021), psychoeducational interventions are used to address symptoms associated with cancer diagnosis and treatment because they focus on providing patient education, counseling, and skills that can help patients cope with cancer-related stress and symptoms. Specifically, the intervention will encompass educational strategies to educate patients about breast cancer upon diagnosis to help prepare them on what to expect as part of cancer treatment plus any other areas of concern they may have. The intervention will also teach patients relaxation skills to help them deal with distress and anxiety. The intervention will be culturally responsive to the cultural values and beliefs of African-Americans. Using a culturally sensitive approach in the intervention can help address health disparities and improve health equity. According to Cuevas et al. (2017), a patient-centered approach that incorporates cultural competency can bridge the gap between providers and patients, thus reducing healthcare disparities. Creating positive provider-patient relationships for African-American women with breast cancer can help improve their experiences with the healthcare system.
Comparison to Previous Practice
The proposed EBP intervention, when compared to standard or routine care for women with breast cancer, has been linked to a better quality of life. According to Wu et al. (2018), psychoeducational interventions increase patient knowledge about their condition and promote a better quality of life. This is because such interventions meet the health education needs of patients as well as psychological needs. In standard or routine care, patients only receive standard information such as the available/recommended forms for treatment, the expected side effects, and strategies used commonly to deal with symptoms. Patients with depression and anxiety usually receive no extra support and are usually referred to a physician to help them manage the anxiety/depression. However, psychoeducational interventions ensure patients are fully supported to help them understand and cope with any cancer-related health issue.
Expected Outcomes
There is a primary and secondary expected outcome for the intervention. The primary outcomes are low distress, anxiety, and depression rates. The secondary outcome is the quality of life. As Wu et al. (2018) reveal, psychoeducational interventions are associated with improved quality of life among breast cancer...