Date of this Version

2022

Document Type

DNP Project

Abstract

Improvement of identification and education of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome (HBOC) among primary care providers was the focus of this quality improvement project. The development of a pre-implementation and post-implementation survey along with the distribution of a family history screening tool and the Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines provided by the Centers for Disease Control was introduced for the intervention. The anonymous surveys were distributed to primary care providers at the University of Miami in Miami-Dade County locations. Participants recruited for this quality improvement project included Doctors (MD, DO), Nurse practitioners, and Physician assistants currently practicing in primary care.

The quality improvement project included two surveys using clinical scenarios to assess primary care providers' knowledge in identifying patients at an increased risk for HBOC. The providers willing to participate began by taking a pre-implantation survey to assess their baseline knowledge. The providers then received the Evidence-based Practice Guidelines Supporting Genetic Susceptibility Testing for Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome and the seven-question family history screening tool. They were then asked to review and implement these tools into their practice for 6 weeks. After the completion of the 6 weeks, the providers were then asked to complete a second survey using the provided family history screening tool to answer clinical scenario questions.

Family history and screening tools were designed to identify at-risk patients for HBOC. On average, the post-implementation clinical scenario questions while utilizing the family history screening tool showed an increase in the identification of patients at risk for HBOC in comparison to the pre-implantation clinical scenario questions where no family history screening tool was used. While this project cannot make final conclusions due to its sample size, it can open opportunities for further validation of this theory and bring further evidence to translate research into changing clinical practice to better serve the community.

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