Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects
Access Control
Campus Access
Embargo Period
4-28-2023
Degree Program
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Degree Track
Family Nurse Practioner
Year Degree Awarded
2023
Month Degree Awarded
May
Keywords
sexually transmitted infection, education, health promotion, armed forces
Advisor
Ann Becker, DNP RN
DNP Project Outside Member Name
Kristie Linder
Abstract
Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are pervasive among active duty service members. Although outlined in several health programs, policies and procedures, there is a lack of consistent health initiatives addressing STIs for United States service members at the deck plate. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to implement an initiative on an operational platform with the aim of promoting health and wellness of service members through a multimodal health approach. Method: This project included educational classes and advertisements to influence service members’ knowledge and perceptions of sexually transmitted infections. The impact of the project on STI was assessed with expected outcomes of increased knowledge level, decreased STI rates, and increased screening and testing utilizations. Result: 19 individuals participated in the STI education, and 321 members were exposed in the health promotion project. There was an increase in mean Sexually Transmitted Disease Knowledge Questionnaire (STD-KQ) scores from pre- to post-education class, but this change was not statistically significant (paired t(18) = -1.872, p = .078). Additionally, there was a diagnosis of an STI after the project and laboratory screening and testing rate decreased by 33 percent. Discussion: The tendency for score improvement, rise of STI rate, and decrease laboratory testing usage could be attributed to the campaign project but further studies are needed to determine if the changes were the result of the project or by other variables. Conclusion: Further development of project on site would be beneficial to capture an effective campaign on an operational platform. Although findings were not statistically significant, the health promotion project posed a clinically relevant intervention on an operational platform.
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