Answer:
The Impact Of Patient Education

Stroke is the unexpected onset of numbness, weakness, paralysis, aphasis, and problems with vision caused by an interruption of blood flow to the brain. The major pathophysiology of acute stroke is an underlying blood vessel or heart disease. In addition, the etiliogy of cancer include atherosclerosis, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperlipidemia. The risk of acute stroke is prevalent in those individuals with diabetes and those persons whose family member like sibling, mother, or father has had stroke at one point of their life. However, with clinical manifestation and proper patient education, a patient is able to reduce chances of having stroke. Having this in mind, the essay will discuss the impact of patient education by a nurse practitioner based on the risk, etiology, pathophysiology, and etiology of acute stroke.

According to Fredericks, Suzanne, and Terrence (2017), proper treatment and prevention of acute stroke is essential to an individual quality of life and prognosis. However, there is persuasive evidence on the significance of being adequately informed; in cases where the patient misunderstands, a condition can lead to the nonconformity to a doctor’s recommendations which can negatively have an effect on the outcome. This calls for appropriate patient education by nurse practitioners on interventions and the probable side effects for now- compliance with the doctor’s recommendations. Acute stroke treatment  is extremely intimidating. Sufficient knowledge of the procedures and what is expected during and after treatment is vital. A research conducted by Howell, Bennett, and Boyko (2017 shows that acute stroke patients benefit in terms of knowledge gained, reduced anxiety, self- esteem, reduced distraction in functioning, and improved self- care. Thus, the more a condition is clearly understood by the patient, the more likely the patient will be contented with their care and adherence to the required regimens (Coyle, Szlachta, Merkel, Labella & Casey, 2017).

In addition, patient education is vital as it improves the compliance with medication across an extensive disease and condition severities. Bearing in mind that there are patients undergoing treatment in the comfort of their homes signifies the importance of patient education as learning and understanding their condition has given them the confidence to undertake treatment safely outside health facilities. On the other hand, lack or insufficient patient education leads to a negative clinical outcome. A negative clinical outcome is more often than not associated with lack or non-adherence to compliance, this leads to low quality of life, increased hospitalization, and high health cost. Consequently, health care providers have recognized the irrefutable benefit of patient education in order to improve clinical outcome, hence, more efficient and understandable strategies to disseminate information is indispensable. In addition, resources should be put in place, which will enable proper communication in a way that is impactful and understandable to the patients (Kessels, Eikelboom, Schaapsmeerders, Maaijwee & Leeuw, 2017).

In conclusion, patient education on the ways to prevent stroke has a positive impact on clinical outcome. Patient education leads to patient satisfaction to the healthcare provided, adherence to treatment and medication, compliance to the doctor’s recommendations, and the continuity of self-care. Nurse practitioners should opt for patient education; however, they must regulate the amount of information they provide their patients to avoid an overload. Patient education can be done through programs. Patient programs draw patients to nurse practitioners, which improves their approval for self-care. Overall, patient education is vital for the improvement of the patient’s quality of life, reduced hospitalization and health costs, and improved clinical outcome. 

References

Coyle, J., Szlachta, C., Merkel, L., Labella, G., & Casey, S. (2017). Abstract TP353: Implementing a Nurse Driven Patient Education Program to Improve Understanding of Stroke Signs and Symptoms and Personal Risk Factors Post-discharge

Fredericks, Suzanne, and Terrence Yau. “Clinical effectiveness of individual patient education in heart surgery patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis.” International Journal of Nursing Studies 65 (2017): 44-53.

Howell, D., Harth, T., Brown, J., Bennett, C., &Boyko, S. (2017). Self-management education interventions for patients with cancer: a systematic review. Supportive Care in Cancer, 1-33.

Kessels, R. P., Eikelboom, W. S., Schaapsmeerders, P., Maaijwee, N. A., Arntz, R. M., van Dijk, E. J., & de Leeuw, F. E. (2017). Effect of Formal Education on Vascular Cognitive Impairment after Stroke: A Meta-analysis and Study in Young-Stroke Patients. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 1-16.