Health promotion free essay sample

What is health promotion and why is it important in our world today? I am sure it seems the answer is not very complicated: but is it as simple as promoting health? According to the World Health Organization (WHO), â€Å"Health promotion is the process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health† (World, 2013). This is a change from the past in that healthcare providers are encouraging our patients to take control of their own health while guiding and educating them in the right direction. Health has been shown not to just be free from disease but also encompasses physical, mental, and social well-being (WHO 2013). The whole purpose of promoting individual health is to give the communities the ability to feel they have control over their health plan and help them to stay out of the hospitals, which is what they prefer. This takes cooperation by the patient and the healthcare provider. We will write a custom essay sample on Health promotion or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It is imperative that a nurse stay up to date with a continuous changing healthcare pattern, since they have a big role in health promotion. A big part of health promotion is related to nurses educating the communities, especially since nurses are becoming more and more involved in the communities. As time advances, researchers are predicting nurses will move more out of the hospital and into the communities. Now, more than ever, nurses are challenged to improve patient outcomes by assessing and creating education plans that will increase the patient’s awareness and understanding of their disease process and management. After very thorough assessments and the need for education is completed, nurses must create a plan for implementing a strategy to reach the audience targeted. It states in the article Public Health Nutrition: Focus on Prevention, the three different levels of implementation methods utilized today. The first method is individually focused and promotes health outcomes through educating, changes to a healthy lifestyle, and individual behaviors. The types of interventions are carried out through one-on-one educational discussions and telephone conversations. The next implementation tier is more community-focused. These interventions put the spotlight on the needs of the community, as an example, such as public posters or classes to promote diet modification. The last method to be identified in the article include system-focused interventions. These interventions shift the focus from the individual to the facilities that serve individuals and the laws and policies surrounding the facility. For example, improvements in school lunches to make them healthier (University, 2012). If the healthcare providers can use the combination of the three methods listed above with the nursing process it can to improve outcomes of the patients and community in all areas of nursing. Health promotion is split by healthcare into three levels: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary prevention’s main concept is to prevent the disease from occurring and keeping the public healthy. A couple of examples of how this is accomplished are through education, regular exams, and immunizations. A few years ago the Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners published an article, Reducing heart disease through the vegetarian diet using primary prevention, and it discusses how if a patient leads a vegan lifestyle this could cut out a lot of the processed foods and help the patient to improve chronic heart conditions. If one is unsure exactly how to pursue a vegetarian diet having a consultation with a dietitian is an additional option. Next on the pyramid of health is secondary prevention. This layer of prevention focuses on after an injury or illness has been diagnosed. The goal is to prevent progression or slow down the disease. Using the example of heart disease above, if providers are teaching regarding secondary prevention it would include termination of smoking, diet and exercise, and keeping a healthy weight and blood pressure (Mosca, i. e. 2010). These goals are more patient specific than primary prevention. The last tier includes tertiary prevention which focuses on helping the public prevent a further decline in health while maximizing their quality of life after being diagnosed with a chronic condition. In a recent article, The Effects of Cardiac Tertiary Prevention Program after Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery on Health and Quality of Life, it discusses cardiac rehabilitation as a possibility to fall into the tertiary level. This falls into the category in that it helps restore patient’s well-being while decreasing the suffering and complications. This does take even more participation and cooperation of the patient. In conclusion, there are many things healthcare providers can attempt to do in order to educate the public. However, utilizing the three tiers of health promotion (primary, secondary, tertiary) shows a well-organized technique that can break down different levels of health. Every patient falls into at least one category on the continuum, so this is also making it easier for the provider when educating in that they can customize the patient’s care plan in a more organized way. This includes utilizing the nursing process, critical thinking, and therapeutic communication allowing nurses to identify where the patient fits into the wellness continuum and helping them reach their highest level of wellbeing. Health Promotion free essay sample This essay will begin by discussing the different definitions of health that have been put forward, and will also discuss the necessity of health promoters to be able to understand why there are differing definitions of health and the importance of the difference in our understanding of what health means to the individual. There have been many definitions of health, which include phrases such as ‘absence of disease’, and ‘ability to cope’. The World Health Organisation (WHO) (1946) gave its definition of health as ‘a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’. However, it is very difficult to define health due to its complexity and broadness. Health and well-being can be described as the absence of physical illness, disease and mental distress. This is a negative definition of health and well-being, as it is impossible for a person to free from illness or disease. We will write a custom essay sample on Health Promotion or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Health and well-being can also be described as the achievement and maintenance of physical fitness and mental stability. This is a positive definition of health and well-being or health and well-being as being a result of a combination of physical, social, intellectual and emotional factors. Stimson and Webb (1975) carried out research which suggested that people have their own private comments on their own ill health, compared to what they chose to tell their doctors. The research indicated that people did not always believe or accept the medical explanation given for their illness. The study suggests people hold their own views and hold their own explanations for ill health. (Doyal. L. at el. (1991) A Theory of Human Need. London. Macmillan) Health promoters have to collect a significant amount of information before they can put out a campaign on a particular disease. They have to look at health models and their approaches and even statistical information from CENSUS reports, death certificates, survey’s, and even General Practitioner (GP) records and so on. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defined health promotion as ‘enabling people to gain control over their lives’ (WHO 1986). There are four approaches to take in to consideration before putting together a health promotion campaign, and they are: The medical approach: this focuses on activity which aims to reduce morbidity and premature morbidity. Activity is targeted towards whole populations of high-risk groups. This kind of health promotion seeks to increase medical interventions which will prevent ill health and premature death. The medical approach is conceptualised around the absence of disease. It does not seek to promote positive health, for example ‘Smoking advertisement’, smoking adverts only advertise damage the body will develop through regular inhalation of tobacco. This kind of promotion can be criticised for ignoring the social and environmental dimensions of health. In addition, the medical approach encourages dependency on medical knowledge and removes health decisions from people concerned. The medical approach also relies on having an infrastructure capable of delivering screening or an immunisation programme. This includes trained personnel, equipment, laboratory facilities, and information systems which determine who is eligible for the procedure and record uptake rates. And in the case of immunisation, a vaccine which is effective and safe. The educational approach: the purpose of this approach is to provide knowledge and information, and to develop the necessary skills so that people can make their own informed choice regarding their health behaviour. The educational approach should be distinguished from a behaviour change approach, and that it does not set out to persuade or motivate change in a particular direction. However, this will be the service user’s voluntary choice, and it may not be the one the health promoter would prefer. The educational approach is based on a set of assumptions about the relationship between knowledge and behaviour: that by increasing knowledge, there will be a change in attitudes which may lead to a change in behaviour towards a healthier lifestyle. To provide educational information to clients regarding health and well-being, provisions would have to be put in place, through the following resources: leaflets, booklets, visual displays or one-to-one advice with their own GP. By providing these sources this may provide opportunities for people to share and explore their own attitudes towards health education. Empowerment: This approach helps people to identify their own concerns and gain the skills and confidence and for the person to act upon them. Social change: this approach recognises the importance of social-economic environment’s in determining health. Its focus is at the policy or environmental level, and the aim is to bring about changes in the physical, social and economic environment which will have the effect of promoting health. This approach will also look at social class, the promoter will take in to consideration people’s gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, working, unemployed and so on. Basically the social approach will look at theories that are linked to social class and determine whether or not, that poverty and low social class are the reasons for high mortality rates linked to a specific disease. This is when the promoter will now go away and put together his/her campaign. The Acheson Report (1998) shows that there is an existence of health inequalities and their association to social class, in this report there is data, even though there is a down fall in mortality, the superior classes take in to account more rapid mortality deterioration. Also The Black Report (1980) shows that there are higher levels of poverty in the lower class and higher death rates due to ill health, the higher social class live in a more advanced area which is much more suitable for living conditions, but in contrast to that, people who live in a higher class seem to live in the centre of a city which is much more prone to pollution. LO2 Whether we come from poverty, working class or a higher class background, there are many health influences all around us, for example the environment we live in can influence our health; for instance, living with a partner who is controlling can impact on the stability of mental health, living in a city centre can influence poor health due to pollution (inhalation of fumes from motor vehicles and fuel plants). Although living in a higher class society can have a positive effect on better healthcare, there are still factors of negative influences on health and well-being. Smoking, eating the wrong types of food, lack of exercise, no socialisation, alcohol, misuse of drugs, all these things can have an enormous negative effect on our health and well-being. However eating the correct foods (5 ADAY) and consuming the correct portion size as well as combining at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day can have a great deal of positive’s upon our lifestyle. For instance exercise is good for the brain as well as the body. According to NHS Choices (2013) ‘by eating five portions of fruit or vegetables and just 30 minutes of activity a day, will increase the secretion of Serotonin within our brains’. Serotonin is a hormone found in the brain, it influences our mood, sexual function, appetite, sleep, memory and learning, temperature regulation, and some social behaviour. So we could say the more Serotonin we produce the healthier the brain becomes, which results in a happier you. LO3 For the third and final part of this essay I am going to talk about the political side of health promotion within the UK and take a look across the globe at other parts of the world. Health Promotion is everywhere we look, especially in the media. We see it every day in the news whether it be on the television or in the newspapers. Health Promoters plan and develop ways to help people to change their eating and exercise habits to improve their way of life. There are lots of Health Promoters today that campaign against unhealthy living. Health Promoters give you guidance to a healthier lifestyle whether it is help with eating habits, smoking, alcohol intake, oral health, physical activity and mental health. Each and every one of us will indulge ourselves in to a habit and put ourselves at risk of chronic diseases at some point in our lives. According to Dr Robert Beaglehole (2011) â€Å"The real tragedy is that more hasn’t been done to avoid this epidemic, as overweight and obesity, and their related chronic diseases, are largely preventable†. Approximately 80% of heart disease, stroke, type 2 Diabetes, and 40% of cancer could be avoided through healthy diet, regular physical activity and avoidance of tobacco use. † This is why Health Promotional campaigns are important, as it gives us a better outlook on life and can also expand our lives too (Huffington Post) 2011. Health promotion is an important element of the governments health agenda. On forming a new government, the new labour set public health policies in line with its health agenda. Out of this rose a new white paper Saving Lives: Our Healthier Nation, which sets ambitious targets for life expectancy to be increased, and inequalities in health to be reduced. The Labour Government plan to achieve this through its public health policy in a third way (Connelly 1999). ‘Labours policies are aimed at strengthening communities, and encouraging individuals to seize opportunities and take responsibility for their action’. The Government hopes to improve the health of individuals by reducing health inequalities through health promotion. By doing so the Government will look at a range of different sources of information before they decide the need of a health promotion campaign. The Government have their own facilities to obtain information such as up to date statistical evidence via the website www. direct. gov/statistics . They can also obtain information from Registry Offices, such as marriage certificates, death certificates and birth certificates. By doing so, the Government will acquire accurate results to continue lobbying the new health promotion campaign needed to address the UK to improve quality of life. Before the campaign can be given the go ahead to become a final document, the Government have to look for ethical errors. For instance is the health promotion campaign fair to all people who are involved, meaning, does the campaign aim its information at all service users or is it aimed at a particular generation, gender, culture and so on. For a health care promotion to be respected it has to be aimed at everyone regardless of the persons background. By involving all service users, promoters can eliminate discrimination and visually display that equality and diversity are no longer an issue within our society especially in the health care sector. Health Promotion free essay sample In this reflection essay I will discuss about health promotion activity which took place during my placement in St’Clare Centre, Glassnevin, Ballymun. Health promotion allows one to empower and educate individuals to make lifestyle choices and changes to promote their health and help prevent disease (Naidoo and Wills 2000). This can be challenging when individual health beliefs differ. According to Whitehead (2004) the concept changes with demands, it is delivered by health workers but has become politically driven as the nation’s health changes. As a consequence strategies for health promotion can be influenced by the financial demands . According to Irish cancer society(2000) , seven thousand deaths annually are attributed to smoking related diseases in Ireland, as a result healthcare professionals are tasked with motivating and assisting every smoker to quit were possible . I was working as a student nurse on a day care ward when this health promotion activity occurred. The patient, Charles(name changed to protect patient’s identity) was a 74 year old gentleman who resided with his 67 year old wife and sole carer Sharon. We will write a custom essay sample on Health promotion or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They lived in a densely populated council estate, which was known to be one of the towns more deprived areas. Their only source of income was their government pension. Charles has bad cough and his diagnosis was a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Charles had suffered from COPD for 6 years, a combined chronic lung disease which damages the airway passages, reducing the lungs’ capacity to inhale and exhale air (Haas Sperber 2000). According to Gibson (2003) the risk of developing COPD is significantly increased in active and passive smoking. Charles had a 30 year history of smoking and had been informed this was the probable cause of his COPD. He had previously refused smoking cessation advice, agreeing to give up in his own time, however since commencing long term oxygen therapy 10 months ago he confirmed that he had felt isolated and unable to give up. I studied Charles admission paperwork and his smoking history. I offered Charles the opportunity to speak with our smoking cessation team which is in line with service centre policy when identifying a patient smoker, however he was defensive and declined the offer again advising that he would quit in his own time. I began to build a good rapport with Charles, he apologised for his defensive response when I had offered him the services of the smoking cessation team. Using this as my cue I commented that he had abstained from smoking for two days and praised him for doing so. He agreed that it was not easy to smoke in service centre as his illness made it impossible for him to go outside. He confided that at home he rarely went out and found that smoking helped relieve the stress he felt under, he added that since he already had COPD he didn’t see the point in stopping now. I asked if he felt comfortable talking about the subject, he nodded his head so I continued to enquire about his previous attempts to stop, as he explained that his wife had continued to smoke. I asked if it would have been more successful if his wife had also stopped, but he had not wanted to ask this from her as this was ‘his disease’. He had also found the excessive sputum production difficult to manage when he had tried to stop. I explained that it often take several attempts to stop smoking, agreeing that cessation would not ‘cure’ his COPD. I explained that sputum production and cough are affected on cessation but this would eventually pass. Later that day I gave Charles some literature on smoking cessation to read in his own time. The literature detailed support services available, a diary to plan his journey, tips on managing triggers to smoking, coping with withdrawal symptoms and an explanation regarding systemic effects on the body during cessation. Both health and financial benefits were detailed depending on how much the individual smoked. Charles smiled and winked which reassured me that I had not upset him with my actions. The following day Charles expressed he would like to attempt smoking cessation again, I informed the nurse in charge, she knew of his smoking on his last admission and had offered the service which was declined. During the start I had felt uncomfortable when Charles adamantly declined advice. I gave consideration to his situation, he was removed from his usual surroundings, feeling unwell and being asked personal questions by a complete stranger, I concluded it would not be unusual for a resident to be negative in this situation. I was surprised that Charles had not given up when he was first diagnosed, but as an ex smoker I understood the difficulties one can encounter. Charles initially felt guilty about his inability to stop smoking, but was more able to communicate after a couple of days once a good relation had been established. Charles had low expectations and was originally resistant to change however Rollnick et al. (2001) suggest that this could be linked to past failed attempts. Once he had considered the benefits to his health, Charles felt reassured the support and advice given would help him and his wife. The episode of health promotion was positive, action was taken despite reservations in resident acceptance the service was offered. Carlebach (2009) suggest that a previous decline of cessation advice should not be a barrier to offering services again. Charles had refused help in the past despite his disease, the National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) (2010) advise patients with COPD who continue to smoke should be encouraged to stop, furthermore smoking cessation decelerates the disease progression (WHO 2006). The use of good communication and rapport building skills built trust between resident and me in facilitating further smoking cessation discussion. Owens (2001) stated that nurses who invested in building a nurse patient relationship often picked up cues which could be crucial for their health and holistic care. The non judgemental approach and use of literature gave Charles the option to educate himself in smoking cessation, Rollnick et al. (2001) stated that patients prefer autonomy when making decisions, although there was a risk he would not read the information as I was asking him to examine a subject he had initially not wanted to discuss. However, empowering Charles to make his own choices had a desirable outcome in this case. Charles may have felt responsible for his disease. According to Sines et al. (2009) health promotion advice given when a patient is already suffering adds resistance to change, this may explain his defensive manner. By holistic assessment it was clear that social isolation had increased Charles desire to smoke, suggesting ways of resuming social activities demonstrated to Charles how his quality of life could be improved. A combination of health promotion approaches were being used in the centre. An educational approach gave the resident the information to discover health benefits for himself . Not all health promotion activities in centre are accepted by residents as they are sometimes being asked to change long term habits, from which they are already suffering the effects of. For this reason health education should start at an early age to encourage health enhancing behaviours. By process of reflection on this episode of health promotion I have learnt that reflection can take place during an event which can influence the outcome. Before this event I many times think that there is no need of health promotion activities. On reflection I can see how my involvement positively changed the outcome for the residents, leading me to appreciate the value a nurse’s role can add, this is a skill I will work on and incorporate into practice with future patients.