DIABETIC NURSE PRACTITIONER INTERVENTIONS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to conduct a metaanalysis of diabetic intervention data found in current nursing and medical literature using Neuman's Systems Model as a framework to create a theory based review of current Adult/Family Nurse Practitioner (A/FNP) diabetic interventions. Data analysis involved several steps. First was the determination of intervention recommendations for A/FNPs for diabetes mellitus (DM). Second was the comparison of the intervention recommendations for A/FNPs to the theory literature to determine if those interventions were supported theoretically. Third was the comparison of the interventions used by A/FNPs to the empirical literature to determine if those interventions were supported empirically. A total of ten intervention categories with 22 subcategories were formulated on the levels of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Primary prevention categories included screening, education, and community collaboration, with education subcategories of diet modification and exercise. Secondary prevention categories included screening, assessment, education, health care intervention, counseling, and documentation. Screening subcategories included glycemic, hypertension, dyslipidemia, nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, coronary artery disease, immunization, and alcohol and tobacco screening. Education subcategories included diet modification and exercise. Health care intervention subcategories included oral antidiabetic agents; insulins; combination therapies; and hypertension, dyslipidemia, nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, and coronary artery disease treatment. Tertiary prevention categories included routine follow up and referral. All categories and subcategories were found to be supported both theoretically and empirically.