Applying Clinical Practice Guidelines

Introduction

Hypertension or high blood pressure is a common chronic condition that affects millions of adults globally. It is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney disease, and is responsible for a significant proportion of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the availability of effective treatments, many patients with hypertension do not receive appropriate care or fail to achieve optimal blood pressure control. Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis, assessment, and management of hypertension in adults. However, the implementation of CPGs into clinical practice remains a challenge, particularly in urgent care settings. This essay aims to explore why applying CPGs in adults with hypertension is relevant to society and warrants evidence-based practice change. It will also discuss how this issue is relevant to advance nursing practice and medicine, and present a clinical question using the PICOT format.

Relevance of the Issue to Society

Hypertension affects a significant proportion of the global population and is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney disease. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hypertension affects approximately one billion people worldwide, and is a major cause of early death. Moreover, nearly half of people who have hypertension do not know they have and have not been diagnosed (WHO, 2021).

Hypertension also places a significant burden on healthcare systems and resources, including primary care clinics, hospitals, and emergency departments (Hertz et al., 2019). The management of hypertension often involves the use of medication and lifestyle interventions, such as dietary changes and physical activity, which require ongoing monitoring and support from healthcare providers. At the same time, it can also exacerbate health disparities, as individuals living in poverty or with limited access to healthcare may face challenges in receiving the appropriate care needed to manage their condition.

However, despite the availability of effective treatments, many patients with hypertension do not receive appropriate care or fail to achieve optimal blood pressure control. This can result in serious health consequences, including heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and even fatality. Applying CPGs in the management of hypertension can help ensure that patients receive appropriate care and achieve better health outcomes, thus reducing the burden of disease on society.

Why It Warrants EBP Change

Although CPGs provide evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis, assessment, and management of hypertension in adults, their implementation into clinical practice remains a challenge. Studies have shown that there are significant gaps between the recommendations outlined in CPGs and the actual care delivered to patients with hypertension in clinical practice (Casey et al., 2022). For example, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2021) point out, only a quarter of patients with hypertension are able to effectively manage it. Based on the reporting of the

(2022), there is clearly a need for change with regard to how CPGs are used to help patients with hypertension.

These findings highlight the need for evidence-based practice change to improve the management of hypertension in clinical practice. Evidence-based practice is essential in hypertension management to ensure that patients receive the most effective and appropriate care possible and typically involves the integration of the best available research evidence, clinical expertise, and patient preferences and values to inform clinical decision-making. However, if guidelines are out of date or do not address unique challenges that arise with unique populations, change should be implemented. In any case, healthcare providers and organizations should prioritize the integration of evidence-based practices in hypertension management to optimize patient care and outcomes.

This is particularly true in urgent care. Urgent care settings often serve as a point of entry to the healthcare system for patients with hypertension who may not have established relationships with primary care providers. Healthcare providers in urgent care settings have a unique opportunity to screen, diagnose, and treat patients with hypertension who may not have otherwise received appropriate care. Additionally, patients who present to urgent care with hypertension may require immediate treatment and management to prevent serious complications such as stroke, heart attack, or kidney failure. Thus, it is critical that healthcare providers in urgent care settings have access to the most up-to-date and evidence-based practices to effectively manage hypertension in this setting.

Change is needed in urgent care settings for hypertension management to ensure that patients receive appropriate care that is aligned with the latest research evidence and clinical practice guidelines....

…improve patient outcomes and satisfaction, as well as optimize the use of healthcare resources in urgent care settings. Improving the implementation of CPGs in urgent care settings can help ensure that patients receive appropriate care and achieve better health outcomes, thus reducing the burden of disease on society. Advanced nursing practice and medicine play a critical role in the management of hypertension, and can contribute to the development and implementation of evidence-based practice changes that improve the care delivered to patients with hypertension. The PICOT question presented in this essay can serve as a framework for future research to evaluate the effectiveness of implementing CPGs for hypertension in urgent care settings.

Summary

The effective management of hypertension in urgent care settings remains a clinical problem of concern. As the first point of contact for patients seeking care, urgent care providers have a unique opportunity to improve the management of hypertension. However, the implementation of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in urgent care settings remains a challenge, and there is a need for evidence-based practice change to improve the care delivered to patients with hypertension. Advanced nursing practice and medicine can play an important role in managing hypertension and ensuring the development and dissemination of relevant CPGs. Electronic health records (EHRs) and decision support systems can help to address the challenges of implementing CPGs in urgent care settings, leading to more consistent and effective management of hypertension. Evidence-based practice change can ultimately improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.

This essay discussed the clinical problem of implementing clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in the management of hypertension in adults in urgent care settings. It highlighted the relevance of hypertension as a public health issue and the need for evidence-based practice change to improve its management. It also discussed the roles of advanced nursing practice and medicine in managing hypertension and ensuring the development and dissemination of relevant CPGs. Additionally, the essay emphasized the challenges of implementing CPGs in urgent care settings and the potential benefits of evidence-based practice change, such as using electronic health records (EHRs) and decision support systems. It showed that improving the implementation of CPGs in urgent care settings can improve the consistency and quality of care delivered to patients…