Document Type
DNP Project
Publication Date
4-1-2025
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Faculty Advisor
Constance Glenn, DNP, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE: DNP
Practice Mentor
Peter Ford, APRN
Abstract
Background/Introduction: Obesity is a chronic disease linked to numerous health complications. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, including Semaglutide, Liraglutide, Dulaglutide, and Tirzepatide, are effective in weight management but require self-injection. Many patients experience barriers such as needle fear, technique difficulties, and anxiety, leading to early medication discontinuation. Data indicates that only 46.3% of patients continue GLP-1 therapy after 180 days, with adherence rates as low as 27.2% (Gleason et al., 2024). Addressing these barriers through structured provider-led self-injection training is essential to improve adherence, enhance patient outcomes, and reduce healthcare costs. Currently, at this DNP project site, there is a lack of standardized training protocol for GLP-1 agonist self-injection.
Objective/Purpose: Identify barriers and feelings towards self-injection in patients prescribed GLP-1 agonists. Implement provider-lead training to patients who will self-inject GLP-1 agonists from October 2024 to January 2025. Increase in self-injection assessment questionnaire (SIAQ) results in patients who self-inject GLP-1 agonists after provider-lead training.
Methods: The Plan, Do, Study, Act cycle, the process for the Model for Healthcare Improvement, was used to implement this project. Injection education was given to providers along with training videos and review of the teach back method. Patients who were newly prescribed a GLP-1 agonist were given a demographic form and pre-training Self-injection Assessment Questionnaires. Training was then completed, and a post-training questionnaire was then completed at their 8 week follow up.
Results: Prior to training, 50% of patients reported being a little afraid of needles and 75% felt a little to moderately anxious about self-injection. Less than 6% felt confident in self-injection. After training, less than 10% felt anxious about self-injecting and over 80% felt confident. 100% said they would “probably” or “definitely” continue self-injecting.
Conclusion: Implementing a provider-lead training on self-injection GLP-1 agonists to medical weight loss patients led to a positive change in feelings and decrease in barriers with self-injection.
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Recommended Citation
Wing, M. (2025). Improving the experience of self-injection in medical weight loss patients Prescribed GLP-1 agonists: A quality improvement project [Unpublished DNP project]. Sacred Heart University. https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/dnp_projects/88
Comments
A DNP project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice, Sacred Heart University Davis & Henley College of Nursing.