Jane Mattina

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease, which consists of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and cerebrovascular accidents, affects over 82 million American adults and is currently the leading cause of death in the United States. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies high-blood cholesterol as one of the main risk factors in the development of these diseases. Furthermore, 71 million Americans report having a high-blood cholesterol level, yet only about one third of those people have it under control (CDC, 2014c). The National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) guidelines recommend that adults 20 years or older be screened for high cholesterol once every 5 years. The purpose of the current research was to determine if primary care providers are screening adults between the ages of 20 and 40 years for high-blood cholesterol levels, according to recommendations stated in NCEP ATP III guidelines. The current research also identified the presence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in patients who were screened for cholesterol levels and who were not screened for cholesterol levels. vi The questions asked by the current research included: Are primary care providers performing a fasting lipoprotein profile on patients between the ages o f 20 and 40 years once every 5 years? Were risk factors present in the patients who had a fasting lipoprotein profile performed? Were risk factors present in the patients who did not have a fasting lipoprotein profile performed? The current research utilized a quantitative, retrospective chart review of 500 patient charts from 5 participating clinics. All charts belonging to patients between the ages of 20 and 40 years were eligible. These charts were reviewed for adherence to the NCEP ATP III guidelines and were further reviewed for certain cardiovascular risk factors identified within the NCEP ATP III guidelines indicating the need for cholesterol screening. Once data were compiled, it was analyzed by descriptive statistics. Based on the research data, primary care providers are not consistently following the NCEP ATP III guidelines for routinely performing cholesterol screening in adults between the ages of 20 and 40 years. The current research concluded that primary care providers need additional education regarding the NCEP ATP III guidelines for cholesterol screening.

Degree

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Department

Graduate Nursing

Degree Date

8-3-1990

Publication Number

27924578

Document Type

Thesis

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