For pediatric patients with sickle cell disease, does receiving an educational pamphlet about L-glutamine improve proper use, and thus, reduce the risk of hospitalization caused by vaso-occlusive pain crises?
Disciplines
Pediatric Nursing
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Sickle cell disease impacts an estimated 100,000 Americans. Sickle cell disease can present with many different symptoms, including vaso-occlusive pain crises. These pain crises are caused by the sickle cells getting stuck in small blood vessels and causes decreased oxygenation to tissues and organs. For our pediatric sickle cell population these pain crises can be debilitating, and can result in hospitalization. It is our responsibility as nurses to educate our patients on ways to prevent these pain crises. Evidence shows oral L-glutamine can lead to decreased oxidative stress of sickled red blood cells, and this can result in a clinical benefit by increasing the oxygenation of these patient’s red blood cells. One research study found the proper use of oral L-glutamine reduced hospitalizations for pain crises by forty percent. The purpose of this project is to explain the use of oral L-glutamine supplementation to prevent vaso-occlusive pain crises from occurring, and develop an educational pamphlet for our pediatric population on the benefits of L-glutamine and the proper administration. Data will be collected from research studies, literature reviews, and reviewing current patient discharge education for sickle cell patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Information from these sources will guide the development of a comprehensive educational pamphlet regarding L-glutamine that will be given to patients upon discharge at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The effectiveness of this educational intervention will be evaluated by reviewing the number of hospitalizations due to sickle cell pain crises over a six month period when the patient is taking the oral L-glutamine supplement; the six month period of treatment will be compared to the six months prior to their treatment starting. In addition, nurses providing these discharge pamphlets will be asked for their input regarding the effectiveness of this educational intervention.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
Wellstar School of Nursing
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Christie Emerson
Additional Faculty
Andi Petito, Nursing
For pediatric patients with sickle cell disease, does receiving an educational pamphlet about L-glutamine improve proper use, and thus, reduce the risk of hospitalization caused by vaso-occlusive pain crises?
Sickle cell disease impacts an estimated 100,000 Americans. Sickle cell disease can present with many different symptoms, including vaso-occlusive pain crises. These pain crises are caused by the sickle cells getting stuck in small blood vessels and causes decreased oxygenation to tissues and organs. For our pediatric sickle cell population these pain crises can be debilitating, and can result in hospitalization. It is our responsibility as nurses to educate our patients on ways to prevent these pain crises. Evidence shows oral L-glutamine can lead to decreased oxidative stress of sickled red blood cells, and this can result in a clinical benefit by increasing the oxygenation of these patient’s red blood cells. One research study found the proper use of oral L-glutamine reduced hospitalizations for pain crises by forty percent. The purpose of this project is to explain the use of oral L-glutamine supplementation to prevent vaso-occlusive pain crises from occurring, and develop an educational pamphlet for our pediatric population on the benefits of L-glutamine and the proper administration. Data will be collected from research studies, literature reviews, and reviewing current patient discharge education for sickle cell patients at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. Information from these sources will guide the development of a comprehensive educational pamphlet regarding L-glutamine that will be given to patients upon discharge at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The effectiveness of this educational intervention will be evaluated by reviewing the number of hospitalizations due to sickle cell pain crises over a six month period when the patient is taking the oral L-glutamine supplement; the six month period of treatment will be compared to the six months prior to their treatment starting. In addition, nurses providing these discharge pamphlets will be asked for their input regarding the effectiveness of this educational intervention.