1. State your clinical question or topic for your capstone project proposal.
2. What issue is the question/topic addressing?
3. What are the reasons you selected this question/topic?
NSG 6340 NURSING RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Clinical Question
My clinical question for the capstone project is how we can improve patient care for the elderly who do not have access to healthcare or medical information through technology and data science.
Issues Addressed by the Question
The question addresses a wide range of issues, including the prevalent gaps in information access among the elderly, facilitators for using data science and technology among the elderly, and technological tools to be used in care enhancement. Also, the question addresses common health diseases that are more prevalent among the elderly, such a heart disease, diabetes, mental illness, and cancer (Wilson et al., 2021). These are the key consideration that must be considered in developing and implementing technological systems supported by data science. Security issues are also addressed in this question, including cyber threats and hacking that may be prevalent when handling confidential health information technologically (Fulmer et al., 2021). In addition, the topic addresses the training and education requirements needed to increase the competence of providers and elderly patients in using information technology and data sciences in care administration.
Reasons for Selecting this Question
I selected this question due to my experience with how elderly patients struggle to use health information technologies such as telehealth, which act as a tool for facilitating care continuum. Also, geriatrics is an area of interest since I have always been dedicated to helping the elderly live a quality life where they do not struggle to access care anytime and anywhere. I saw information technology and data science as the best platforms for increasing access to care due to the prevailing shortages in nursing staff and increasing demand for healthcare services. Data science will provide a framework for analyzing the effectiveness of the treatment plan, including how best it meets the unique needs of the patient and any additional interventions that may be adopted to maximize the patient’s health outcome (Dash et al., 2019).
References
Dash, S., Shakyawar, S. K., Sharma, M., & Kaushik, S. (2019). Big data in healthcare: management, analysis and future prospects. Journal of Big Data, 6(1), 1-25. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40537-019-0217-0
Fulmer, T., Reuben, D. B., Auerbach, J., Fick, D. M., Galambos, C., & Johnson, K. S. (2021). Actualizing Better Health And Health Care For Older Adults: Commentary describes six vital directions to improve the care and quality of life for all older Americans. Health Affairs, 40(2), 219-225. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01470
Wilson, J., Heinsch, M., Betts, D., Booth, D., & Kay-Lambkin, F. (2021). Barriers and facilitators to the use of e-health by older adults: a scoping review. BMC Public Health, 21, 1-12. https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-11623-w
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