Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051

Walden University Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051-Step-By-Step Guide

This guide will demonstrate how to complete the Walden University Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051 assignment based on general principles of academic writing. Here, we will show you the A, B, Cs of completing an academic paper, irrespective of the instructions. After guiding you through what to do, the guide will leave one or two sample essays at the end to highlight the various sections discussed below.

How to Research and Prepare for Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051                     

Whether one passes or fails an academic assignment such as the Walden University Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051 depends on the preparation done beforehand. The first thing to do once you receive an assignment is to quickly skim through the requirements. Once that is done, start going through the instructions one by one to clearly understand what the instructor wants. The most important thing here is to understand the required format—whether it is APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.

After understanding the requirements of the paper, the next phase is to gather relevant materials. The first place to start the research process is the weekly resources. Go through the resources provided in the instructions to determine which ones fit the assignment. After reviewing the provided resources, use the university library to search for additional resources. After gathering sufficient and necessary resources, you are now ready to start drafting your paper.

How to Write the Introduction for Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051                     

The introduction for the Walden University Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051 is where you tell the instructor what your paper will encompass. In three to four statements, highlight the important points that will form the basis of your paper. Here, you can include statistics to show the importance of the topic you will be discussing. At the end of the introduction, write a clear purpose statement outlining what exactly will be contained in the paper. This statement will start with “The purpose of this paper…” and then proceed to outline the various sections of the instructions.

How to Write the Body for Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051                     

After the introduction, move into the main part of the Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051 assignment, which is the body. Given that the paper you will be writing is not experimental, the way you organize the headings and subheadings of your paper is critically important. In some cases, you might have to use more subheadings to properly organize the assignment. The organization will depend on the rubric provided. Carefully examine the rubric, as it will contain all the detailed requirements of the assignment. Sometimes, the rubric will have information that the normal instructions lack.

Another important factor to consider at this point is how to do citations. In-text citations are fundamental as they support the arguments and points you make in the paper. At this point, the resources gathered at the beginning will come in handy. Integrating the ideas of the authors with your own will ensure that you produce a comprehensive paper. Also, follow the given citation format. In most cases, APA 7 is the preferred format for nursing assignments.

How to Write the Conclusion for Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051                     

After completing the main sections, write the conclusion of your paper. The conclusion is a summary of the main points you made in your paper. However, you need to rewrite the points and not simply copy and paste them. By restating the points from each subheading, you will provide a nuanced overview of the assignment to the reader.

How to Format the References List for Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051                     

The very last part of your paper involves listing the sources used in your paper. These sources should be listed in alphabetical order and double-spaced. Additionally, use a hanging indent for each source that appears in this list. Lastly, only the sources cited within the body of the paper should appear here.

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Assignment Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051

A Sample Answer For the Assignment: Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051

Introduction

The processes that a medicine goes through in the body after administration are referred to as pharmacokinetics. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion are all included in this. Pharmacodynamics, on the other hand, deals with the effects that drugs have on the body, such as adverse effects.

Variables like a patient’s genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, behavioral factors, medical history, and concurrent drugs all have an impact on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. According to the case study, these variables especially age do indeed change the drugs pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (Rosenthal. & Burchum, 2018).

Age influencing pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics

The patient is of advanced age whereby it has been stated that they are 74 years old this is indeed can affect the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics related to the drug. In advanced age you find the boy’s physiology has changed thus affecting the pharmacokinetics and elements such as absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion. One of the most significant impacts in old age is whereby you’ll have a decreased glomeruli filtration rate which determines the level of drug elimination. Since it is decreased it could lead to the drug being retained in the system and leading to toxicity (Sieder et al., 2016).

In old age there is also decreased gastrointestinal motility thus leading to delayed absorption rate. This leads to delayed onset of pharmacological effects of drugs thus making them less effective. The peak drug concentrations are also affected hence the drug doesn’t reach its maximum capacity for effect (Mangoni & Jarmuzewska, 2019).

Age also increases the body fat which could lead to increase the volume of distribution increases. Therefore if the drug has to be distributed to a wider area than affection it will affect its expected performance thus not delivering the desired therapeutic effect. Due to the increased body fat there is also decreased body water levels thus leading to the drug’s elimination half-lives also getting increased (Sieder et al., 2016).

Having an advanced age also affects metabolism which mostly occurs in the liver. This occurs in due to the decreased required enzymes that may no longer be available due to the physiological changes that occur because of age. This also leads to decreased clearance hence the already metabolised drug aren’t cleared from the system (Mangoni & Jarmuzewska, 2019).

Age impacting pharmacodynamics occurs through decrease in effect for beta-adrenergic agents. This is due to decrease in response in the vascular, cardiac, and pulmonary tissues due to a decline in some required proteins. There is also reduced sensitivity to drugs due to the body’s receptors undergoing physiological changes. Therefore if the response and sensitivity is inhibited the desired therapeutic effect isn’t achieved.

Homeostatic mechanisms are also seen to influence the pharmacodynamics in that in advanced age it is reduced. The mechanisms are seen to reduce in old age. Therefore in the case the drugs lead to adverse effects the body takes a longer period of time to return to the initial state (Sieder et al., 2016).

Changes in the Process that Impact the Patient’s Recommended Drug Therapy

Due to the old age the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics has been impacted. The absorption has been delayed due to decreased gastric motility, on the distribution end the volume of distribution has increased due to the increased body fat and the metabolism due to decreased enzymes has also decreased.

The physiological changes in the glomeruli has decreased the glomeruli filtration rate hence decreasing excretion and could lead to toxicity. The pharmacodynamics due to decrease in sensitivity, decrease in response and reduced homeostatic mechanisms negatively affect it (Mancia et al., 2014).

Therefore encompassing all this there is a definite change in the recommended drug therapy in order to benefit the patient. The changes are in medication such as atenolol will be used in place of the beta-blocker metoprolol, starting at 25 to 200 mg per day. However, fast response is attainable with longer release modules and can be delivered thrice daily, thus it’s advised to begin new medication, notably such as beta-blockers, with prolonged release formulae.

Instead of ibuprofen that is contraindicated with warfarin patients should be prescribed acetaminophen orally 500mg thrice daily to manage the pain. I would also advise using lipid-lowering drugs other than statins to lower the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (Mangoni & Jarmuzewska, 2019).

How to Improve the Drug Therapy Plan

Patients with a high risk of cardiovascular disease, a heart attack, or is known diabetic, such as this patient, are advised to begin taking a moderate-intensity statin with the aim of reducing LDL-C levels by 30% or more. For this patient, it is advised to utilize Ezetimibe, administered orally at a dose of 10 mg each day. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, left ventricular dysfunction and diabetic neuropathy can receive treatment by use of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors.

They can also be used to prevent strokes. Starting doses of ramipril range from 1.25 mg to 2.5 mg orally every day. This medication is also recognized to lessen myocardial infarctions, strokes, and fatalities. Moreover aside from changes in medications can make other alterations such as diet change, smoking cessation, weight loss, provision of health education from medical professionals and physical activity is required (Mayor, 2017).

Conclusion

The majority of deaths globally are currently caused by cardiovascular disorders, and diabetes is frequently found in these people. It is thought that people with type diabetes are more likely than non-diabetics to die from cardiovascular illnesses. In order to get the best results in the management of cardiovascular diseases which aims to maximize the benefits of available treatments while minimizing patient harm clinicians must possess basic knowledge of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (Rosenthal. & Burchum, 2018).

References

Hoover, L. E. (2019). Cholesterol management: ACC/AHA Updates guideline. Https://eds-a-       ebscohost-com-ezp.waldenulibrary.org/eds/pdfviwer/

Mayor, S. (2017). Pharmacokinetics: Optimizing safe and effective prescribing.             Https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/psb.1551

Rosenthal, L.D. & Burchum. J.R. (2018). Lehne’s pharmacotherapeutics for advanced practice    providers. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.

Sieder, S. T., Kalus, J. & Lanfear, D. E. (2016). Cardiovascular pharmacokinetics,            Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacogenomics for the clinical practitioner. Https://eds-a-  ebscohost-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/eds/delivery/

Mancia, G., Fagard, R., Narkiewicz, K., Redon, J., Zanchetti, A., Böhm, M., & Galderisi, M.       (2014). 2013 ESH/ESC Practice guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension:            ESH-ESC: The Task Force for the management of arterial hypertension of the European           Society of Hypertension (ESH) and of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Blood          Pressure, 23(1), 3-16.

Mangoni, A. A., & Jarmuzewska, E. A. (2019). The influence of heart failure on the         pharmacokinetics of cardiovascular and non‐cardiovascular drugs: A critical appraisal of           the evidence. British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 85(1), 20-36.

Pharmacotherapy

Nurses have the critical role of ensuring that safety and quality is promoted in the provision of healthcare services. They ensure that the rights of the patients are protected in caring for them. They also advocate for the provision of safe environments that promote the health and wellbeing of the patients. Nurses also promote safety by ensuring that patients receive the right drug, at the right time, through the right route, and dosage.

In doing this, they utilize their knowledge in pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapeutics. They also explore the factors that influence drug pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapeutics. Therefore, this research paper explores the influence of gender on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacokinetics of a drug.

The selected factor that influences the pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapy of drugs prescribed to the patient in the assigned case study is gender. Gender refers to the expression of one’s function using masculinity and femininity. There exist significant differences in the response of men and women to drugs. For instance, women are highly at a risk of being overdosed when compared to men.

This is attributed to factors such as their high level of sensitivity to drugs alongside the behavior of women in relation to drug use (Tamargo et al., 2017). Women also have a small volume distribution, high free drug fraction, and low drug clearance when compared to the men.

The rate of drug absorption is also different in males and females. For instance, women receive a wide range of drug dosages through the transdermal route due to their large subcutaneous lipid content than men are. The absorption of drugs such as rifampicin is also higher in men than in women. The rate of drug metabolism is also generally higher in women than in men. This is attributed to factors that include the high levels of CYP3A isoenzymes that increase first pass metabolism of drugs that are administered orally.

However, the rate of drug absorption is high in men than in women. The difference is attributed to the fact that the mean transit time of drugs in men is shorter in men than in women. There is also a significant difference in the pharmacodynamics of drugs between men and women. The difference arises from the high sensitivity to cortisol suppression in women than in men. Women are also vulnerable to the effects of helper T lymphocytes and basophils (Graziani & Nisticò, 2015). Therefore, these factors contribute to the differences in pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics in men and women.

The changes in the processes of a patient have an impact on the recommended drug therapy. A change in the processes will imply that the pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics of are altered. For instance, a change in renal elimination will affect renal clearance of drugs. This will result in a change in the drug regime since drugs that are eliminated by other routes such as liver and feces have to be prescribed to the patient. A change in the processes will also increase the risk of toxicity and drug-related interactions (Rodieux et al., 2015). Consequently, it increases the need for a revision of the recommended drug therapy.

Several interventions can be embraced to improve the patient’s drug therapy. One of them is obtaining comprehensive history from the patient. This will eliminate incidences of adverse reactions to drugs due to history of drug sensitivities. The other intervention is through educating the patient about the importance of the drug, its interactions, side effects, and adverse effects to report should they occur.

Educating them increases their level of understanding, hence, adherence to medications. The last intervention is prioritizing the rights and principles of safe prescribing and drug use in healthcare. The administration of drugs should ensure that the drug is given to the right patient, through the right route, dosage, and time (Costa et al., 2015). Therefore, I will make these recommendations to ensure safety in drug use, hence, health and wellbeing of the patients.

In summary, gender influences the pharmacokinetics and pharmacotherapy of drugs prescribed to the patient in the case study. Women are likely to be affected by drug-related toxicities than men due to their high level of sensitivity to drugs. A change in processes such as renal elimination alters the prescribed regime of a given drug. Therefore, nurses should aim at adopting interventions that increase the effectiveness of drug therapy.

References

Costa, E., Giardini, A., Savin, M., Menditto, E., Lehane, E., Laosa, O., … & Marengoni, A. (2015). Interventional tools to improve medication adherence: review of literature. Patient preference and adherence, 9, 1303.

Graziani, M., & Nisticò, R. (2015). Gender differences in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of methadone substitution therapy. Frontiers in pharmacology, 6, 122.

Rodieux, F., Wilbaux, M., van den Anker, J. N., & Pfister, M. (2015). Effect of kidney function on drug kinetics and dosing in neonates, infants, and children. Clinical pharmacokinetics, 54(12), 1183-1204.

Tamargo, J., Rosano, G., Walther, T., Duarte, J., Niessner, A., Kaski, J. C., … & Torp-Pedersen, C. (2017). Gender differences in the effects of cardiovascular drugs. European Heart Journal–Cardiovascular Pharmacotherapy, 3(3), 163-182.

..heart disease remains the No. 1 killer in America; nearly half of all Americans have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or smoke—some of the leading risk factors for heart disease…

—Murphy et al., 2018

Despite the high mortality rates associated with cardiovascular disorders, improved treatment options do exist that can help address those risk factors that afflict the majority of the population today.

Photo Credit: Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF

Click here to ORDER NOW FOR AN ORIGINAL PAPER ASSIGNMENT: Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051

As an advanced practice nurse, it is your responsibility to recommend appropriate treatment options for patients with cardiovascular disorders. To ensure the safety and effectiveness of drug therapy, advanced practice nurses must consider aspects that might influence pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes such as medical history, other drugs currently prescribed, and individual patient factors. Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051

Reference: Murphy, S. L., Xu, J., Kochanek, K. D., & Arias, E. (2018). Mortality in the United States, 2017. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db328.htm

To Prepare

• Review the Resources for this module and consider the impact of potential pharmacotherapeutics for cardiovascular disorders introduced in the media piece.
• Review the case study assigned by your Instructor for this Assignment.
• Select one the following factors: genetics, gender, ethnicity, age, or behavior factors.
• Reflect on how the factor you selected might influence the patient’s pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes.
• Consider how changes in the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes might impact the patient’s recommended drug therapy.
• Think about how you might improve the patient’s drug therapy plan based on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic changes. Reflect on whether you would modify the current drug treatment or provide an alternative treatment option for the patient. Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051

By Day 7 of Week 2

Write a 2- to 3-page paper that addresses the following:

• Explain how the factor you selected might influence the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic processes in the patient from the case study you were assigned.
• Describe how changes in the processes might impact the patient’s recommended drug therapy. Be specific and provide examples.
• Explain how you might improve the patient’s drug therapy plan and explain why you would make these recommended improvements.

Reminder: The College of Nursing requires that all papers submitted include a title page, introduction, summary, and references. The College of Nursing Writing Template with Instructions provided at the Walden Writing Center offers an example of those required elements (available at https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates/general#s-lg-box-20293632). All papers submitted must use this formatting.

Submission and Grading Information

To submit your completed Assignment for review and grading, do the following:

• Please save your Assignment using the naming convention “WK2Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” as the name.
• Click the Week 2 Assignment Rubric to review the Grading Criteria for the Assignment.
• Click the Week 2 Assignment link. You will also be able to “View Rubric” for grading criteria from this area.
• Next, from the Attach File area, click on the Browse My Computer button. Find the document you saved as “WK2Assgn+last name+first initial.(extension)” and click Open.
• If applicable: From the Plagiarism Tools area, click the checkbox for I agree to submit my paper(s) to the Global Reference Database.
• Click on the Submit button to complete your submission. Assignment: Pharmacotherapy for Cardiovascular Disorders NURS 6051

Grading Criteria

To access your rubric:

Week 2 Assignment Rubric

Check Your Assignment Draft for Authenticity

To check your Assignment draft for authenticity:

Submit your Week 2 Assignment draft and review the originality report.

Submit Your Assignment by Day 7 of Week 2

To participate in this Assignment:

Week 2 Assignment

What’s Coming Up in Week 3?

Photo Credit: [BrianAJackson]/[iStock / Getty Images Plus]/Getty Images

Next week, you will examine strategies for the treatment and management of respiratory disorders, including asthma. You will analyze asthma and stepwise management and consider the impact of this approach for patient health.

Next Week

To go to the next week:

Week 3

Week 2: Cardiovascular System

Cardiovascular disorders represent a spectrum of life-threatening medical disorders affecting the cardiovascular system. These include but are not limited to hypertension, heart failure, stroke, ischemic heart disease, and coronary artery diseases. These diversified arrays of conditions remain the second most leading cause of mortality in the United States of about 1 in every 4 deaths (Olvera Lopez et al., 2021).

In this assignment, a factor influencing pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetics will be selected and explored extensively in relation to a case study involving AO, a patient diagnosed with hypertension and hyperlipidemia with a history of obesity.

Effects of Age on the Pharmacodynamic and Pharmacokinetics Processes

A couple of factors influence pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic processes. For instance, age, genetics, behaviors, and ethnicity. Aging is designated by accelerated impairment of functional capabilities of entire organ systems, diminished homeostatic mechanisms, and altered reaction to receptor stimulation (Peeters et al., 2019). The aforementioned processes influence the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic processes with the resultant need for dose adjustments or rather contraindication of some pharmacologic agents in the elderly.

Additionally, aging is associated with a reduction in the first-pass metabolism attributed to a decrease in the liver bulk and blood flow. Similarly, impaired hepatic and renal functions correlated with aging significantly hinder the renal and hepatic clearance of a majority of drugs (Laurent, 2017). Consequently, in the case of AO, 86-year-old taking atenolol, simvastatin, sertraline, hydralazine, and doxazosin, the bioavailability of the mentioned drugs will increase.

According to Peeters et al. (2019), aging is further associated with a reduction in cumulative muscle mass and total body water but with an increase in the percentage of body fat. As a result, the volume distribution of lipid-soluble drugs increases while it decreases for non-lipid soluble drugs. Pharmacodynamically, on the other hand, aging is accompanied by altered sensitivity to drugs with a general increase in sensitivity to drugs in the elderly. Ultimately, adjustments of the doses AO’s drug regimen are critical to avoid adverse side effects or rather toxicity.

Impact of Changes in Process on the Patient’s Recommended Drug Therapy

Atenolol which is indicated for therapeutic management of hypertension is largely metabolized by the liver and excreted by the kidney. Subsequently, the dose will be adjusted depending on the renal and liver function. Similarly, geriatric patients have decreased sensitivity to beta-blockers due to increased total peripheral resistance, and reduced cardiac and pulmonary function (Khalil & Zeltser, 2021). Therefore, the beta-blocker should be substituted with another class of antihypertensive.

On the other hand, doxazosin also metabolized by the liver is associated with hypotension when utilized in the geriatric population and thus will necessitate periodic monitoring of vital signs and dose adjustments (Khalil & Zeltser, 2021). Sertraline should be avoided in adolescents and children due to an increased risk of suicidal ideation. It is a good agent in the elderly as it reduces stress and depression which significantly perpetuate hypertension.

It is a vital medication in the elderly as it reduces symptoms of BPH. Hydralazine dose should be adjusted depending on the individualized rate of acetylation. Lastly, the safety profile of simvastatin, atenolol, and doxazosin has not been established in children less than 10 years.

How I would Improve the Patient’s Drug Plan

Patient AO is a geriatric hypertensive hyperlipidemic patient and at risk of BPH, therefore being on doxazosin is crucial. This medication reduces the blood pressure and symptoms of BPH in addition to decreasing LDL and cholesterol (Redon & Redon, 2019). However, this therapeutic agent is associated with orthostatic hypotension and edema especially in the elderly. Consequently, I will periodically monitor the vital signs, weight, edema, and liver function tests of AO and reduce the dose accordingly.

I will gradually taper down the dose while simultaneously monitoring the adverse effects. Atenolol is relatively contraindicated in the elderly and therefore I will consider substituting it with a first-line antihypertensive such as hydrochlorothiazide(Redon & Redon, 2019). AO has gained 9 pounds which might be due to edema associated with atenolol and doxazosin, therefore, a diuretic such as hydrochlorothiazide when deployed will control the blood pressure as well as edema (Redon & Redon, 2019).

The doses of sertraline, hydralazine, and simvastatin will remain unadjusted. However, the patient will be assessed periodically and educated on the importance of taking medications as advised by the healthcare provider. Similarly, I will educate the patient on the side effects associated with these medications such as sexual dysfunction, fatigue, diarrhea, and drowsiness, and the need to consult the care provider if the symptoms persist or become intolerable (Redon & Redon, 2019).

Additionally, I will advise and educate the patient on lifestyle modification and behavior changes to help control hypertension such as diet modification, smoking, and alcohol cessation, and regular physical activity. Finally, I will follow up with the patient at the medical outpatient clinic.

Conclusion

Pharmacological treatment alongside supportive measures form the mainstay treatment in patients with cardiovascular disorders. The drug regimen is largely affected by a variety of factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and genetics which affect the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic process. It is crucial for individualization of the drug regimen based on a critical evaluation of the above processes.

References

Khalil, H., & Zeltser, R. (2021). Antihypertensive Medications. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554579/

Laurent, S. (2017). Antihypertensive drugs. Pharmacological Research: The Official Journal of the Italian Pharmacological Society, 124, 116–125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2017.07.026

Olvera Lopez, E., Ballard, B. D., & Jan, A. (2021). Cardiovascular Disease. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK535419/

Peeters, L. E. J., Kester, M. P., Feyz, L., Van Den Bemt, P. M. L. A., Koch, B. C. P., Van Gelder, T., & Versmissen, J. (2019). Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations in the treatment of the elderly patient with hypertension. Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology, 15(4), 287–297. https://doi.org/10.1080/17425255.2019.1588249

Redon, J., & Redon, P. (2019). Evidence from clinical trials and use of antihypertensive drugs in children and adolescents. In Updates in Hypertension and Cardiovascular Protection (pp. 263–277). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-18167-3_17

Asthma is one of the most common conditions affecting more than 20 million individuals in the United States and over 150 million across the globe. It takes up to $14 billion to treat asthma annually. Particularly hard hit are adolescents and children between the ages of 10 to 18 years. Studies show that up to 14% of children and adolescents in the inner city are diagnosed with asthma. A larger percentage of asthmatic patients in the emergency rooms are children and adolescents. Consequently, most patients hospitalized as a result of asthma or asthma-related problems are also children.

As such, appropriate interventions must be implemented to help in managing asthma among children and adolescents hence reducing their visits to the ER or hospitalization. In the same line, Sentara Home Care Services came up with an innovative program to help in improving asthma management among children and adolescents through home-based strategies such as “Life Coaches” where they are educated on the proper use of medication and lifestyle behaviors for both the patient and their families. This paper reviews different pieces of literature for a better understanding of the significance of Sentara’s Asthma Disease Management plan in increasing the control of asthma and decrease ER/unscheduled PCP visit’s for children/adolescents.

Methods

Quite a significant number of internet sources were available talking about different approaches that can be utilized in managing asthma among children and adolescents. However, only peer-reviewed articles directly relating to the study PICOT questioned were used for this paper. These articles were arrived at by use of several inclusion and exclusion criteria. For instance, the inclusion criteria included studies that had been published within the last 5 years, in English, with participants who are children and adolescents.

The studies however could be either experimental or literature review. Exclusion criteria included articles published more than 5 years, in languages other than English. Consequently, relevant keywords such as asthma,  Sentara’s Asthma Disease Management plan, children and adolescents, and decreased ER/unscheduled PCP visits were utilized. A wide variety of search engines were used for this study, such as Google Scholar, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Cochrane. Generally, only peer-reviewed articles and experimental studies covering the significance of Sentara’s Asthma Disease Management plan in increasing the control of asthma and decrease ER/unscheduled PCP visit’s for children/adolescents, were used for this study.