Cardiology Explained, Annotated Bibliography Example

Significance of the Article to Community Education Topic

An article by Kang et.al (2012) addresses the significance of surgical interventions as a potential form of therapy for patients who have infective endocarditis. This practice requires further evaluation in order to determine if this condition might benefit from surgery versus standard treatments (Kang et.al, 2012). This article provides an opportunity to examine an issue that is not entirely well known to the general public, yet is exacerbated in many cases by a common community health concern, drug abuse. The study population included participants as young as 18 years of age; therefore, the condition impacts a large segment of the population and reflects the importance of this issue as a community education opportunity (Kang et.al, 2012). The disease is a community education topic because it reflects the importance of providing information to the public to demonstrate how drug abuse impacts human health in many different ways (Kang et.al, 2012). The health complications associated with drug abuse are substantial; therefore, they must be addressed effectively and must be supported by a community-based education program in order to reduce the prevalence of this condition within the intravenous drug user population.

Significance of the Article to Health Education for the Public

This article provides information regarding the severity of infective endocarditis and the urgent need to obtain treatment as quickly as possible to prevent further complications and to reduce mortality rates (Kang et.al, 2012). This health concern also requires an understanding of its implications for patients and how to overcome the condition through treatment alternatives, whether traditional or surgical (Kang et.al, 2012). The serious nature of infective endocarditis requires immediate attention and treatment because it may be life-threatening in many cases; at the same time, there is a risk of the condition for intravenous drug users (Ashley & Niebauer, 2004). These patients are often experience the condition on the right side of the heart and specifically, the tricuspid value, which may lead to heart failure if left untreated (Ashley & Niebauer, 2004). Furthermore, this type of result may lead to pneumonia or septic pulmonary emboli in some patients when intravenous drug use is suspected (Ashley & Niebauer, 2004). This is a learning issue for health professionals because it has a significant impact on patient outcomes and requires an evaluation from this group in order to achieve successful results for patients, particularly as they struggle concurrently with problems related to drug abuse (Ashley & Niebauer, 2004).

Implication of Article for Nursing as a Profession

From a nursing perspective, it is important to identify if drug abuse is the primary cause of infective endocarditis and whether or not there is a risk associated with the condition and how to treat it to prevent further damage. Nurses may apply some of the common nursing theories that are available as a means of addressing this group of patients. For example, Swanson’s Theory of Caring is applicable to these cases because they represent a series of health challenges and also require nurses to provide their knowledge and expertise in treating these patients proactively to prevent long-term complications (Tsai & Chou, 2013). Nurses must examine the physical, psychological, and emotional contexts of infective endocarditis as a means of directing the conversation towards providing the appropriate level of care and treatment that will impact patients effectively and without delays to reduce their risk (Tsai & Chou, 2013). Nurses must reflect upon their prior knowledge and experiences when treating this group of patients and should recognize how to promote value and to determine the best possible approaches to manage patients effectively in this manner (Tsai & Chou, 2013).

References

Ashley, E.A., & Niebauer, J. (2004). Cardiology Explained. London: Remedica.

Kang, D. H., Kim, Y. J., Kim, S. H., Sun, B. J., Kim, D. H., Yun, S. C., … & Sohn, D. W. (2012). Early surgery versus conventional treatment for infective endocarditis. New England Journal of Medicine, 366(26), 2466-2473.

Tsai, S. T., & Chou, F. H. (2013). A Nursing Experience of Applying Swanson’s Caring Theory to a Woman Suffering from Infective Endocarditis Due to Drug Abuse. Tzu Chi Nursing Journal, 12(4).