Study Summary Essay Examples

Diabetes during pregnancy, Gestational diabetes, has a known impact on both maternal and child health. The aboriginal peoples of Australia have a known problem with diabetes, it’s care and it’s management due to a variety of factors. The rates of diabetes are significantly higher in the aboriginal population than in other populations throughout the world. The studies reviewed seek to describe the problem and promote efficacious care.
Marley, J.V. et al, 2012, ‘Quality Indicators of Diabetes Care: An Example of Remote-Area Aboriginal Primary Health Care Over 10 Years’, The Medical Journal of Australia, vol. 197, pp. 404-408, viewed 29 March 2013, (online MJA).
https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2012/197/7/quality-indicators-diabetes-care-example-remote-area-aboriginal-primary-health
The study involved a retrospective review of adults diagnosed with type II diabetes who were not on renal replacement therapy. Subjects were recruited using a comprehensive review of medical and electronic records. The final study population was 254 patients with a median age of 46 years old (range 15-84 years). 159 patients were female and 185 had or developed kidney disease, 41 died during the course of the study. The methodology used to determine quality of care involved collecting data on blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin, and weight every six months, and annual measurements of albumin-creatinine ratio, glomerular filtration rate, lipid levels, and smoking status. Statistical analyses on these data blocks was performed and a P<0.05 was considered significant. The study showed that there were significant improvements in patient metrics when there was an established primary care facility for the rural aboriginal population. The population with access to a primary care facility had better blood pressure control, cholesterol levels, and better glycemic control than other indigenous populations. This study shows the importance of good levels of primary care in the management of diabetes. As a future nurse I will need to understand the importance of good control of measures as indicators of disease course and its effect on quality of life. Cynthia, P., et al, 2012, ‘The Current State of Indigenous and Aboriginal Women with Diabetes in Pregnancy: A Systemic Review’, Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, vol. 98, pp. 209-225, viewed 29 March 2013, (online Elsevier/Science Direct).http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168822712002793 This study involved a meta-analysis of 142 studies. 42 journal articles were included in the study. The inclusion criteria involved having studies with a sample of indigenous women with pre-existing or gestational diabetes. Furthermore the studies needed data on prevalence rates, antenatal/postnatal care, and birth outcomes, the data was extracted and synthesized. Essentially, the article effectively summarizes the current state of diabetes care in Aboriginal and Indigenous women by using a huge data-set comprised of 42 journal articles. The study discovered that there was no unequivocal evidence that the prevalence of gestational diabetes was higher in aboriginal populations, however they did show that infant disease and still-birth rates for the aboriginal population was much higher. Ultimately this study showed that disparate access to health care facilities, and disparate methods of reporting data compromise high-risk indigenous women’s and their children’s health. This study once again showed the importance of access to good care to improve outcomes for both mother and child. Once again, it is important to note how fundamental primary care is in managing the disease. As a future nurse, once again I am reminded at how important good access to primary care is for the benefits of my patients. Neufeld, H.T., 2011, ‘Food Perceptions and Concerns of Aboriginal Women Coping with Gestational Diabetes in Winnipeg, Manitoba’, Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, vol. 43, no. 6, pp. 482-491, viewed 29 March 2013, (online Elsevier/Science Direct). http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1499404611003940 The research done in this study was qualitative rather than quantitative. Patient interviews were the primary means of data collection and different interview formats were used for different patients. Three protocols were developed to try and get a comprehensive view of aboriginal understanding of their own illnesses. Open-ended questions were used that revolved around 6 themes: causation, onset, disease course, treatment, pathophysiology, and prevention. 29 women (aged 18-43 years old) were selected for the study, all of whom self identified as aboriginal and having been diagnosed with gestational diabetes in either a current pregnancy or a pregnancy occurring in the prior 5 years. Interviews were conducted in patient homes. The review discovered that the dietary choices of these women were based on many challenging factors including economic, social, environmental, and even relationship pressures. It further discovered that there were many misconceptions around food and diet amongst the aboriginal population. This was a particularly poignant article because of its use of direct quotations from patients during interviews. It forces us to recall that diabetes may not just be a pre-determined genetic result of dietary excess, but also influenced by phenomenal pressures associated with living in poverty and social marginalization. As a future nurse, I have learned the importance of being proactive and teaching my patients about their disease. These articles all show the importance of primary care and education in the control of the disease. The disease has implications that are greater than just the mother, because maternal outcomes of disease also affect the newborn. Through education and higher standards of primary care diabetes management could be greatly improved leading to better health and consequently lower costs of care in the long term. Furthermore such interventions would improve quality of life and the general productivity of the diseased peoples. I found this to be an interesting project and I learned a lot about the role of primary care in management of diabetes in vulnerable populations. I think that I need to improve my knowledge of statistics to get a better grasp of statistical analyses that are used in a wide range of studies.