Improving Health Care Provider Knowledge when Discharging Patients with Substance Abuse: A Quality Improvement Project

ANNOUNCEMENT Florida International University Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice Project Presentation Abstract Improving Health Care Provider’s Knowledge when Discharging Patients with Substance Abuse. By Jacqueline Ustache For many substance abuse disorder (SUD) patients, the transition from psychiatric facilities to community settings is challenging. It can influence their mental health outcomes, continuity of care, and adjustment to community life. The first few weeks after discharge represents a crucial period, as difficulties can arise in their daily lives, such as difficulties in coping with symptoms, poor medication adherence, stigmatization, low self-esteem, loneliness, anxiety, craving, and suicidal ideation. A systematic review was conducted to determine which screening tool and cutoff score, if any, is best suited to decrease readmissions rates and prevent relapsed when discharging patient with substance abuse. A literature search was completed and only those studies that met the following inclusion criteria were included: published in the English language within the last five years, reported studies, systematic reviews, narrative reviews about discharge protocols or interventions for SUD patients, and included interventions involving both pre and post-discharge components. On these articles, two reported on the accuracy of forms of the CAGE Questionnaire and 3 studied the accuracy of forms of the Addiction Severity Index (ASI). Results were replicated across studies and the (ASI) showed good accuracy, and was widely used in the evaluation of SUD patients during discharge. This instrument was used to guide the development and implementation of the educational intervention program. The results of the systematic review were used in the development of a QI project to increase HCP’s knowledge when assessing patients with substance abuse at discharge. The literature review led the foundation for development of the pre/posttest questionnaire and educational intervention. An invitation letters was sent via email to all participants, informed consent was signed, and the components were completed virtually. The average scores on the pre/posttest were compared and improved overall after the completion of the educational intervention. Consequently, it was determined that knowledge of proper and informed discharge by HCP is inevitable not only to reduce cases of relapses and re admissions, also to improve patients quality of life. Date: June 29th, 2021 Department: Graduate Nursing Time: 1:30 PM EST Lead Professor: Dr. C. Buscemi Place: Zoom Clinical Instructor: Dr. F. Arma