Summative Assessment 2: Implementation of the Educational Project with Patient Population
Constraints and Mitigation Plan
The project implementation plan is expected to proceed as planned. However, it is necessary to consider potential constraints that could affect its success if not addressed. Thus, the team should identify possible limitations and design a plan to address them for the education plan’s success. One of the potential constraints is time. The education program is intended to take eight weeks from the planning to availing learning materials to the target elderly population. As a constraint, the time available might not be adequate to complete the project. The team can address the limitation by identifying other stakeholders within the community, such as social workers, to help implement the program, such as distributing learning resources. With their assistance, the project will be completed within the deadline; hence, the team will conduct an ongoing evaluation according to the Gantt chart to ensure that each activity is completed within the deadline.
Another constraint that could affect the plan’s implementation is the budget. The challenge occurs if the project overruns the allocated budget, which could also affect the completion time (Musekamp et al., 2017). The constraint could cost the implementing team higher than planned resources, impeding the successful completion of the objectives. The challenge could also affect the adequacy of materials to deliver the education program. To address the problem, the team should set aside extra finances to mitigate the risk of overrunning the budget. Overall, they should seek the most affordable vendors who fit the proposed budget.
Cultural and diversity issues could also affect the implementation, which the team could address by implementing the plan considering the cultural aspects. Clear communication from the beginning that shows respect for different cultural realities will address the problem and ensure compliance. Communicating clear language to the target population will address reluctance to participate and a possible lack of interest. The team should clearly inform the target population about the goal of the project and the intention to provide culturally relevant information about the importance of self-care among elderly patients with congestive heart failure.
Educational Objectives/Outcomes
The overarching objective of the education project is to improve the quality of life of the elderly with congestive heart failure by training them about lifestyle change. The project will focus on education and awareness creation to improve the health-related quality of life (limiting occurrence and exacerbations) of elderly clients with congestive heart failure. The team will design and analyze apposite educational materials for the particular category of patients. They will use appropriate and culturally sensitive language and adhere to health literacy principles to foster healthy practice adoptions in the target population.
The project’s outcome is to provide vital information on effective measures to support the management of their condition and improve their immunity to avoid long-term complications. The information to be delivered includes a health-appropriate exercise regime and a diet to prevent complications associated with congestive heart failure in the elderly population (Musekamp et al., 2017). By the end of the program, the elderly will understand the measures they should take to control their weight for health and wellness as they manage the condition.
The other essential objectives and outcomes entail providing learning materials on effective treatment and management of congestive heart failure following medication regimens using healthcare guidelines. Patients need to learn about the importance of taking a full dose and medical checkups if there are no signs of improvement. Enlighten them about daily weight management, including taking their weights regularly, together with positive eating or lifestyle habits. The goal will improve their quality of life and ensure they increase their life regardless of suffering from congestive heart failure in old age.
Assessment
The assessment is necessary to establish how effectively the project will achieve the objectives and project outcomes. The assessment plan will include collecting data after implementation using a survey and interviews to demonstrate how well the project continues and whether it will achieve its objectives within the timeline and budget. Data for the assessment will be collected from the target population to establish whether the team effectively addressed the needs gap by providing education to older adults with congestive heart failure. After delivering educational curriculum plans and content, the team will use a survey to collect the relevant data from the population. The assessment plan will have various questions related to different program objectives to reveal the extent to which the team will have achieved them.
One of the areas that the team will cover is the question relating to whether patients control their weight through proper diet after the program implementation. The team expects that the education program will inform patients about the appropriate diet to consume to prevent the risk of complications associated with their condition. Another objective that the team will assess is whether the patients check their weights regularly to monitor progress and avoid being overweight, which is a major risk of complications (Boyde et al., 2018). The assessment will also include questions regarding whether patients follow their prescribed treatment to ensure successful disease management. Proper treatment will help them improve their quality of life and live longer by managing symptoms and preventing severe complications. The assessment results will indicate whether the implantation of the education plan will have achieved its objectives.
Summary of the Process and Tools
Various processes and tools are necessary to achieve the objective of the education program targeting elderly patients with congestive heart failure. The beginning of the program includes selecting the most suitable materials depending on the age of the population and their language to make them culturally sensitive. The team will select materials and tools that elderly patients can relate to and understand to achieve the objectives. Another factor that will determine the choice of the materials is the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting the need for the implementers to avoid any content delivery methods that place the elderly in danger of infection. The tools will include relevant information about the need to take caution when managing congestive heart failure for positive outcomes. Thus, the team will use tools and procedures that avoid direct contact with patients.
The process will use specific tools are community resources, such as books and brochures with culturally relevant language. The team will direct the target to books with pertinent information about the effective management of congestive heart failure. Apart from such resources, the team will print brochures to distribute to patients to acquire information about the measures they should take to manage their condition and prevent severe complications (Boyde et al., 2018). The brochures will contain information about weight management, proper diet, adherence to the treatment protocol, and regular checkups to examine the disease’s progress. Social media will also play a key role in delivering the information but will be used with caution due to the nature of the target population. The elderly do not regularly use social media like younger individuals. Thus, the brochure remains the most effective tool for delivering educational content.
Summary Analyzing the Results of the Implementation Phase
The properly implemented project will achieve all the deliverables. An analysis of the implementation phase is one of the most critical steps in the education plan since it will reveal whether the program will have achieved its objective. With practical steps to avoid the constraints, the project is expected to be completed within the anticipated time and budget and achieve its objectives. The program will include appropriate planning and adequate resources relevant to the intervention framework and identified needs. The program will ensure the enlightenment of the elderly persons on age-appropriate physical activities and proper diet to realize good health (Santesmases-Masana et al., 2019). The team will successfully inform the patients about daily weight checks to maintain their health regardless of the condition.
Another important outcome of the project is to improve management and care for individuals with congestive heart failure. The team will provide educational resources and relevant information to help the target population understand their role in managing the disease. The project will be effective in addressing the complexity of managing congestive heart failure among elderly patients. Successful implementation and achievement of the objectives will improve self-care, which is necessary because healthcare providers will not always be present to help patients manage their conditions (Van der Pol et al., 2019). Patients will take a more active role in deciding the care they receive and how they can change their lifestyle to manage symptoms and prevent complications.
Another important outcome of the education program is to reduce the cost of treating and managing congestive heart failure in the elderly population. The disease is chronic and requires long-term care, creating a burden to patients and the community. The complexity and progressive nature of the condition make it costly to manage. Thus, the project to help patients manage the condition through proper diet and appropriate exercise to reduce complications will cut the cost of regular medical visits to healthcare facilities. Besides, they will learn how to conduct self-care and receive adequate information concerning managing and coordinating care for the condition (Van der Pol et al., 2019). Besides, the education plan will effectively prevent other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, which could complicate their health outcomes. The project will help the elderly to take control of their health and improve their quality of life.
The program will aim to mitigate potential health complications and other adverse effects of congestive heart failure in elderly patients. They will learn to monitor their lifestyle, mainly eating habits, physical activities, lifestyle choices, and medication adherence, without the intervention of care providers. Patient education is generally essential to ensure patients improve their quality of life and well-being while managing congestive heart failure. The project is well-planned and is expected to focus on self-care to enhance the quality of life among older people with congestive heart failure.
References
Boyde, M., Peters, R., New, N., Hwang, R., Ha, T., & Korczyk, D. (2018). Self-care educational intervention to reduce hospitalizations in heart failure: a randomised controlled trial. European Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 17(2), 178-185.
Musekamp, G., Schuler, M., Seekatz, B., Bengel, J., Faller, H., & Meng, K. (2017). Does improvement in self-management skills predict improvement in quality of life and depressive symptoms? A prospective study in patients with heart failure up to one year after self-management education. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 17(1), 1-10.
Santesmases-Masana, R., González-de Paz, L., Hernández-Martínez-Esparza, E., Kostov, B., & Navarro-Rubio, M. D. (2019). Self-care practices of primary health care patients diagnosed with chronic heart failure: a cross-sectional survey. International Journal of Environmental Research And Public Health, 16(9), 1625.
Van der Pol, A., van Gilst, W. H., Voors, A. A., & van der Meer, P. (2019). Treating oxidative stress in heart failure: past, present, and future. European Journal of Heart Failure, 21(4), 425-435. https://doi.org/10.1002/ejhf.1320
