Developing an Educational Pamphlet for Patients Undergoing Interscalene Blocks with Liposomal Bupivacaine Exparel

Author

Steve FankamFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-7-2021

Document Type

DNP Project

Project Team Faculty Member

Dr. Rebecca Collier

Project Team Faculty Member

Dr. Joseph Grazaitis

Keywords

Pamphlet, Exparel, educational tool, patient education, interscalene block, bupivacaine.

Abstract

There are over one million shoulder arthroscopies and arthroplasties performed worldwide each year, with interscalene blocks (ISBs) the typical treatment choice for postoperative analgesia (Etkin & Springer, 2017). In 2018, Exparel® was FDA approved for use in ISBs and educational materials currently are scarce (Pacira Pharmaceuticals, 2019). The effectiveness of pamphlets in the clinical setting has been well established (Sustersic, Gauchet, Foote, & Bosson, 2017). Pamphlets improve health literacy by providing patients a tool to aid in recall and adherence to postoperative instructions (Sustersic et al., 2017). This project reviewed the available literature on Exparel® ISBs, health literacy, and pamphlet development in order to create an educational pamphlet for patients at a tertiary care center in central Illinois. The pamphlet explains home care after Exparel® ISB and includes the anesthesia department’s contact information. The Flesch-Kincaid readability scale was used to ensure the content was at or below an eighth-grade level. The language in the pamphlet scored at a seventh-grade level. The pamphlet and summary of the literature review were presented via a voiceover PowerPoint and emailed to potential participants in the anesthesia group. Participants were surveyed to collect feedback and overwhelmingly expressed the desire to adopt the pamphlet after minimal changes. Educational pamphlets have the potential to improve health literacy and lead to better patient outcomes.

Recommended Citation

Fankam, Steve, "Developing an Educational Pamphlet for Patients Undergoing Interscalene Blocks with Liposomal Bupivacaine Exparel" (2021). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 158.
https://spark.siue.edu/dnpprojects/158

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