QUALITY IMPROVEMENT REPORT

Improving cardiovascular health of underserved populations in the community with Life's Simple 7

Murphy, Marcia Pencak DNP, ANP-BC^1,4; Coke, Lola PhD, ACNS-BC^1,4; Staffileno, Beth A. PhD, RN^1,4; Robinson, Janis D. BSN, RN^2,5; Tillotson, Robin MSW^3,6

Author Information

¹ Adult Health and Gerontological Nursing, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois,

² Facing Forward to End Homelessness, Chicago, Illinois,

³ Southeast (Atlas) Senior Center, Chicago, Illinois,

⁴ (Associate Professor)

⁵ (Nurse Care Manager)

⁶ (Regional Director)

Received: 24 April 2014; accepted: 21 July 2014

Correspondence Marcia Pencak Murphy, DNP, ANP-BC, Adult Health and Gerontological Nursing, Rush University Medical Center, 600 S. Paulina, Office 1057B, Chicago, IL 60612. Tel: 312-942-6151; Fax: 312-942-6226; E-mail: [email protected]

Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners 27(11):p 615-623, November 2015. | DOI: 10.1002/2327-6924.12231

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Abstract

Purpose:

The purpose of this nurse practitioner (NP) led initiative was to improve the cardiovascular health of two underserved populations in the community using the American Heart Association (AHA) Life's Simple 7 and My Life Check (MLC) tools.

Data sources:

Two inner city community sites were targeted: (a) a senior center servicing African American (AA) older adults, and (b) a residential facility servicing homeless women. Preprogram health data (blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose levels, body mass index, and health behaviors) were collected to calculate MLC scores. Postprogram health data were obtained on participants with the lowest MLC scores who completed the program.

Conclusions:

Eight older adults completed the program with a 37.1% increase in average MLC score (6.2 vs. 8.5). Ten women completed the program with a 9.3% decrease in average MLC score (4.3 vs. 3.9). Favorable benefits were observed in the AA older adults. In contrast, similar benefits were not observed in the women, which may be because of a constellation of social, environmental, biological, and mental health factors.

Implications for practice:

NPs are prepared to target community-based settings to address the health of underserved populations. Engaging key stakeholders in the planning and implementation is essential for success.