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Team # 801 -- Educating Patients with Abnormal PAP Test Results Team
Student Affairs

October 2007

Objective

To evaluate and identify areas for improvement in the process of educating patients with abnormal PAP test results. The education is based on national professional standards for patient education relating to abnormal PAP tests and is provided by the nursing staff.


March 2, 2009 Update:

Objective: To evaluate effectiveness of how we educate patients regarding abnormal PAP results.
Prior to merging Women’s Health(WH) Department with General Medicine Department to create Clinical Services, abnormal PAP results and education related to it was done by WH clinicians and nursing staff. Since merging the departments this information may be given by a larger group of nursing staff, no longer specifically WH nurses. To ensure the consistency, quality and effectiveness of relaying abnormal PAP information we would like to study the effectiveness of our teaching.
Objectives are:
1. Completion with exit test of nurse education relating to counseling of abnormal PAP results 2. Patient survey will reveal the level of satisfaction by the patient with the education process.
3. Nurse documentation of the PAP counseling will contain essential elements relating to the description of the result, timing and importance of follow-up care and written information provided to the patient.

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Team Membership

• Elaine Hazi, Co-Leader
• Joanna Moyer, Co-Leader
• Agatha Glusko, Member
• Kathy Petroff, Member

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Results Achieved to Date

• ExpectedResults: The goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of nursing education relating to abnormal PAP test results in patients who have been educated about the result and its implications. A survey is being developed to capture the patient’s perceptions of important aspects of the education provided by the nurse. The team will evaluate the responses to the surveys and make improvements to the process as indicated by the results.
• March 2, 2009 Update
  
  ExpectedResults: The December 2008 results of the patient survey and chart review are based on a small data set and clearly need to be studied further. However, they illuminate the need for changes in order to provide improved and complete documentation, to consistently provide written information, and to provide additional information to selected patients.
  Electronic health record enhancements have been identified to facilitate the process of providing and documenting the counseling. A remeasurement will be made in April 2009.

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