| Description |
Current guidelines for men's health maintenance screening suggest several different tests and imaging to help improve the longevity and overall health of men over 50 (United States; Preventive Services Task Force [USPSTF], 2020). However, the numbers of compliant men remain low overall, many below the 50th percentile (Berkowitz, Hawkins, & Nadel, 2008; Nawaz, Petraro & Ramdass, 2014). To solve this problem, I utilized the USPSTF grade A and B recommendations to create a process in which I could identify, educate, and invite men over 50 presenting to the urgent care setting to adhere to screening recommendations. To accomplish this, a written survey and handout during patient check-in were created to promote screening adherence. Over a four-week period, beginning in January 2020, men over 50; presenting to the urgent care were asked to complete a short screening survey and subsequently received a handout describing the recommended screenings to review at home. The survey also included a formal invitation to comply with the recommended screenings. The returned surveys were then used to assess patients' current knowledge and commitment to the recommended USPSTF grade A and B screenings. To determine if the survey and the informational handout increased both awareness and commitment to screening, individuals who met project inclusion criteria (adult males over age 50 presenting to the urgent care setting who could communicate in English, and had not already complied with all USPSTF grade A and B recommendations) were contacted via telephone 2-4 weeks following the initial survey to assess awareness and commitment to adhere to recommended screenings. 35 respondents filled out the initial survey, 26 met inclusion criteria, and of the 26 individuals that met the criteria, 16 (61.54%) were aware of recommended screenings. 5 participants were subsequently lost to follow up, leaving 21 final participants. Of the six screening recommendations (blood pressure, colorectal cancer, diabetes, depression, hepatitis C, and lung cancer) all recommendations had a statistically significant improvement (p<.05) except blood pressure. Results of this project indicate that health education and a simple invitation to complete recommended screenings may increase adherence to recommended screenings and ultimately decrease morbidity and mortality in this patient population. |
