For further information, contact:
Jayson R. White, Public Relations Manager
Telephone: (518) 926-1846
Fax: (518) 926-7012
Email: GFHInternet@glensfallshosp.org
Dr. Thrall published in national clinical journal
GLENS FALLS – Donnean T. Thrall, RN, ND, CNS, Perioperative Services clinical
nurse specialist, co-wrote an article examining the health literacy of Veterans
Affairs diabetic patients that was recently published in a clinical journal for
federal government health care professionals.
“Assessing Health Literacy in Veterans with Diabetes” appeared in the October
2006 issue of Federal Practitioner, a monthly, peer-reviewed clinical journal
for health care professionals of the VA, Department of Defense and the Public
Health Service. The article studied the health literacy of diabetic patients at
the VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System (ECHCS) in Denver and the
understandability of educational materials provided to these patients. The study
concluded that assessing a patient’s health literacy is a critical step that
providers must take in ensuring that patients can comprehend the education
provided to them.
At the time of the journal article’s research, Dr. Thrall was a graduate student
at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (UCHSC) School of Nursing
and served as a Federal Nursing Research Trainee at ECHCS. She has since moved
back to the area, joining Glens Falls Hospital in December 2005. Dr. Thrall
co-wrote the study with Katherine N. Bent, RN, PhD, CNS, an assistant professor
at the UCHSC School of Nursing.
Dr. Thrall lives in Wilton with her husband Jamie and their daughter Lydia.
—30—