Senior nursing student Gabrielle Rossi’s passion for research sparked taking NUR 336 Research & Theory for Evidence-Based Practice. The course inspired her to dive deeper into the world of research. In January 2024, she reached out to Dr. Marilyn Prasun Ph.D., CCNS, CNL, CHFN, FAHA, to express her interest in pursuing an independent study. Rossi has set her sights on a career in the intensive care unit (ICU), where cardiac care is a major focus. With this goal in mind, she wanted to explore how research could enhance her skills as a future nurse.
Prasun presented the idea to Rossi to research the topic of health literacy. Health literacy is crucial for patient care. “If patients don’t understand the education they are receiving from their nurses, how can they go home and take care of themselves?” said Rossi. This insight became the foundation of their study.
Together, Prasun and Rossi brainstormed how they would design their research. After exploring several options, they settled on surveys to gather data. They chose a health literacy screener designed by Dr. Chew, a validated and approved tool for assessing health literacy in patients. Their survey consisted of 16 precisely generated questions.
By June 1, 2024, the survey had been launched. Their targeted population is heart failure patients, pushing the survey through their colleagues and various social media platforms. Prasun, using her network of currently practicing colleagues, pushed the survey out through them, hoping their patients would feel more comfortable completing a survey by their healthcare provider. The survey’s questions were designed to assess patients’ perceived competence and confidence in managing their health. Some of the key questions asked were:
“How confident are you in filling out medical forms by yourself?”
“How often do you have problems learning about your medical condition because of difficulty understanding written information?”
As of now, Rossi and Prasun have received about 40 valid responses. Once the survey closes, they will analyze the data to see how confident patients feel in managing their health based on the education they receive from healthcare professionals.
Rossi hopes to present her findings at the ISU Symposium. She hopes that this study will contribute to a greater understanding of health literacy in not only cardiac care but all areas of patient care. Through this research journey, Rossi is taking her first steps toward a career that not only focuses on ICU care, but also ensuring patients are equipped with the knowledge they need to take control of their health.
