title: Improving Metabolic Syndrome Screening on Patients on Second Generation Antipsychotic Medication.
abstract: This quality improvement project aims at stressing the importance of screening for metabolic syndrome (MS) on patients with serious mental illness (SMI) managed with second generation antipsychotic (SGA) medication.
  
  
  
  One hundred charts of patients who were on SGA (n=100) were randomly selected from more than 1000 charts for the purpose of this project with (n=50) charts for pre-intervention and (n=50) charts for post intervention. A chi-square test of independence was calculated comparing the frequency of labs and vital done in pre-intervention and post-intervention period.
  
  
  
  A significant interaction was found [χ2(2)=32.67, p<.001] indicating that providers were more likely to order labs in postintervention (62%) than in pre-intervention (22%). No significant relationship was found for vital signs [χ2(1)=.542, p>.05]. The use of the screening and monitoring tool showed that gaps exist in the screening for MS among patients on SGA.
  
  
  
  Advanced health nurse practitioners are well placed to take the lead in screening, monitoring, and implementing the necessary measures to address MS among patients with serious mental illness.
authors.affiliation: COPE Community Services Incorporated, Tucson, AZ. Electronic address: ekfkm@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Esther
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kioko
authors.affiliation: University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL. Electronic address: kwilliams@southalabama.edu.
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: CODAC Community Health Services Inclusive, Tucson, AZ. Electronic address: bnewhouse@codac.org.
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Newhouse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D058996:Quality Improvement; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents