Degree Name

Nursing Practice, DNP

Publication Date

12-4-2023

Upload Date

2024

First Advisor

Linda Latting

Abstract

Menopause is a phase of life that occurs between the ages of 45-50 years and can last from 7-10 years or longer. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to develop a clinical protocol of assessments not currently completed to decrease the common symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes by implementing dietary changes and exercise as a weekly routine to decrease menopause symptoms. Participation was solicited at a private primary care clinic to women aged 40 and older over a 6-week period. BMI was calculated, documented, and completed surveys were retuned at check-out, with no identifiers and deposited into a locked box. The surveys included data on demographics, income, menopause symptoms, and lifestyle. Surveys were distributed to 75 participants with a 75% return rate. Participants overwhelmingly (99%) indicated they had not received information on menopause, expected symptoms, and methods to decrease the severity of symptoms prior to the onset of menopause. A new protocol was created and added to the clinic annual physicals for women aged 40 and older to prompt a comprehensive discussion of menopause between provider and patient. Providers and clinic staff were instructed on the new protocol and implementation completed within the clinical setting.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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