Degree Name
Nursing Practice, DNP
Publication Date
12-1-2025
First Advisor
Lisa Drake
Second Advisor
Sandy King
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision impairment that can be prevented if found and treated early. Inadequate provider knowledge and adherence to guidelines, and low referral rates for screening at the project site, highlighted the need for targeted training. Studies show that evidence-based education plans improve engagement in DR screening. This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to impact knowledge, self-efficacy, and compliance among healthcare providers (HCPs—nurse practitioners and physicians) and increase screening rates by implementing an American Diabetes Association (ADA) guideline-based education plan over 4 weeks. Based on the health belief model and Kurt Lewin’s change theory, the project used a quasi-experimental pre-post design and the Plan-Do-Study-Act implementation framework to study the impact of education on HCPs. The Evidence-based Nursing Practice Self-Efficacy Scale was used to collect data. Chart audits checked for increases in referrals and completed screenings. A Shapiro-Wilks test was used to assess normality, while the paired t-test was used for data analysis. Results showed statistically significant improvements in provider knowledge (t = 5.80, p = .009) and referral rates (t = 6.2, p < .001) after the intervention. The short duration of the project limited the study of completed screening rates and sustainability. The results, however, support that evidence-based education could help in narrowing knowledge and practice gaps in healthcare, leading to improved patient outcomes. Ongoing education, monitoring, and organizational support are necessary to sustain this practice change.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License
Recommended Citation
Odemena, Maureen, "Enhancing Provider Knowledge and Compliance with Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Through Education: A 4-Week Plan" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 245.
https://arch.astate.edu/dnp-projects/245
