Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects
Access Control
Open Access
Embargo Period
4-27-2017
Degree Program
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Degree Track
Adult Gerontological Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP)
Year Degree Awarded
2017
Month Degree Awarded
May
Keywords
Obesity, low income, food insecurity and Motivational interview
Advisor
Donna Sabella
DNP Project Chair
Donna Sabella
DNP Project Member Name
Pamela Aselton
DNP Project Outside Member Name
Jennifer Femmino
Abstract
Purpose: The project’s aim was to investigate whether motivational interviewing made a difference for the participants in terms of healthy behaviors, as measured by their weight, BMI, HgA1C and total health eating habits score.
Method: A motivational interviewing intervention was used on thirteen diabetic patients in three monthly group meetings and weekly phone calls surrounding healthy eating. The health behaviors such as improving dietary choices, decreasing sedentary behaviors, and increasing habitual physical activity and exercises were assessed at both pre and post intervention as well as weight, body mass index (BMI), Hemoglobin A1c, and healthy eating habits total score.
Results: Four independent samples t-tests were employed to determine if the motivational interview intervention had any effect on the weight, BMI, HgA1c and healthy eating habits total score for the thirteen participants enrolled in the study. No statistically significant difference was found in terms of fast food eating, location of food shopping and daily meals between pre and post intervention. However there was a statistically significant difference with regards to fruits and vegetable eating, Z = -2.233, p = 0.026. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean rank weight post intervention versus the mean rank pre intervention, and in the mean rank BMI post intervention versus the mean rank pre intervention, Z = -2.132, p = 0.033.
Conclusion: Motivational interviewing is an important intervention as illustrated by this project to affect behavioral changes. This intervention had an effect on the weight and BMI scores, but not on the HgA1C and health eating habits total score. The effects of motivational interviewing may have lasting effects on the participants and the results may be more evident in the long run.
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