Education intervention to improve knowledge and screening for sickle cell carrier status among African Americans of reproductive age
Citation & Export
Hide
Simple citation
Ajimavo, Anthonia.
Education intervention to improve knowledge and screening for sickle cell carrier status among African Americans of reproductive age. Retrieved from
https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-qwbg-7e27
Export
Description
TitleEducation intervention to improve knowledge and screening for sickle cell carrier status among African Americans of reproductive age
Date Created2020
Other Date2020-05 (degree)
Extent1 online resource (101 pages)
DescriptionIntroduction: Approximately 2 million people in the US have SCT per the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI; 2010). Sickle cell trait is a heterozygous carrier state and it is not a disease. People with SCT usually do not exhibit signs and symptoms of SCD (CDC, 2017). Sickle cell trait carriers live normal healthy lives, but they can pass the trait on to their offspring.
Background & Significant: African Americans of reproductive age are unaware of their sickle cell trait status. The lack of knowledge about SCT carrier status can lead to a transfer of SCT to offspring, risk of having a child with SCD, and lack of knowledge regarding increased risk for some health conditions. The aim of this study was to increase the intention of African Americans to obtain screening to know their sickle cell carrier status.
Purpose of Project: The purpose of this project was to determine if an educational intervention will increase knowledge and screening in African Americans of reproductive age.
Methods: A quasi-experimental research study with a 12 item pre-post-post questionnaire. The questionnaire included the 10-item sickle cell trait knowledge questionnaire (SCTKQ) with 2 additional question of intent to screen taken at 3 different time points: pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention and 2-weeks post-intervention. The intervention is a 40 minutes educational session.
Results: The result of this project indicated that there was an increase in baseline knowledge after the implementation of an educational seminar. Although the mean score was slightly less 2 weeks post-intervention compared to immediately after the intervention, it remained statistically significant; immediate post-intervention (P = 0.002), 2-week post-intervention (P = 0.001). The result of intention to obtain screening by participants did not show any statistical significance pre and post-intervention (P= 0.346), but there was a slight increase in the number of people who intended to obtain screen; pre-intervention (N=19), immediate and 2-week post-intervention (N= 26). Lastly, more participants reported taking action towards obtaining screening (N=26), compared to those who reported not taking any action (N=6).
Implication to Practice: Healthcare providers can help bridge the gap in lack of knowledge and awareness of sickle cell status among African Americans of reproductive age through education, screening, and making appropriate referrals. Awareness, management, and prevention of these potential health complications is important, but it is crucial to stress the reproductive health implications for persons who are SCT carriers. Healthcare providers should encourage individuals, regardless of their ethnicity, to know their SCT status.
NoteDNP
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Genretheses, ETD doctoral
LanguageEnglish
CollectionSchool of Nursing (RBHS) DNP Projects
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.