Background: Undergoing a surgical procedure may cause high anxiety levels. It is believed that the anxiety levels rise in anticipation to bodily harm and possibility of experiencing pain after the surgical procedure. In addition to stress and anxiety, patients may also experience fear and concern. Nexplanon is a Long Acting Reversible Contraceptive (LARC) implanted in the patient’s arm surgically. Patients may receive verbal education related to possible side effects, bleeding patterns, and complications of Nexplanon. However, patients who do not receive printed health informatio may not remember the instructions given verbally. By providing patients who decide to obtain Nexplanon as a contraception method with printed health information, phone calls post procedure may be reduced or eliminated allowing the providers to focus on providing hands-on patient care. EBP Framework: The Neuman Systems Model focuses on the interaction of the client with stressors within and without the environment. The theory states that by strengthening the lines of defense, the client will be in a better position to cope with stressors. Providing the patient with printed health information will strengthen the client’s lines of defense and therefore stress and anxiety will be reduced. Rosswurm and Larrabee’s evidence-based practice model guides the scholarly project. Following the six steps on such model allowed for a successful implementation of the project. Emphasizing step number six “Integration and maintenance” ensured a practice change where the patients experienced less anxiety, and the phone calls received by the provider post procedure were reduced. Methods: The objective of the project was to measure the effect on phone calls received post procedure with questions that could be easily answered by providing the patient with printed health information. Chart reviews were conducted for a period of six weeks: three weeks prior to the implementation of the project and three weeks after. A simple tally sheet was used to determine the number of procedures performed as well as phone calls. At the end of the project the numbers were compared to determine if printed health information reduced the number of phone calls received post procedure. Findings: The office experienced a reduction in phone calls by 66.7%. Providing patients with printed health information prior to Nexplanon implantation indicated that there was a correlation between the printed health information given and a reduction in phone calls received. Conclusion: Printed educational materials proved to be an effective way to reduce phone calls with questions regarding Nexplanon in the post implantation period. The office with continue to deliver such material to all patients. More studies should be conducted in the same subject since there is a limited amount of evidence, particularly in an outpatient setting.
