Psychosocial Factors in Health

Although the United States spends more money per capita on health care delivery, statistics indicate it is not a particularly healthy country. Over 50% of all preventable deaths in the United States are a result of unhealthy lifestyle behaviors (AACN, 2006). As epidemiologists explore essential questions such as how stressful life events and behavioral choices may influence an individual’s health, society wrestles with the distinction of what is actually within the control of an individual, and therefore relates to a personal responsibility for promoting well being, versus how larger-scale efforts can modulate psychosocial risk factors that result in population health problems.

In this Discussion, you will consider the connection between psychosocial risk factors and health outcomes. As you review the research literature, consider how you have come across this issue in your professional practice. As a nurse leader, what opportunities do you have to apply the information presented this week to promote improvements in population health status?

To prepare:

• Review      the Learning Resources, focusing on the influence of psychosocial factors      on health and disease.
• Locate      at least two examples from the research literature of how these factors      influence health. If necessary, conduct additional research using the      Walden Library and credible websites.
• Examine      strategies currently being employed to address these factors, including      health promotion and disease prevention efforts.
• Ask      yourself: How are these strategies designed to improve population health      status?

By tomorrow 04/04/2018 3pm, write a minimum of 550 words in APA format with at least 3 scholarly references from the list of required readings below. Include the level one headings as numbered below”

Post a cohesive scholarly response that addresses the following:

1) Provide a brief summary of each example, including the influence of psychosocial factors on health and disease as discussed in the research literature. Cite your sources.

2) What strategies are currently being used to address these factors? Support your response with examples from the literature.

3) Knowing that there are psychosocial factors that influence acute and chronic diseases, what is the role of the nurse in probing for that information or in larger initiatives?

Required Readings

Phillips, C. V., & Goodman, K. J. (2004). The missed lessons of Sir Austin Bradford Hill. Epidemiologic Perspectives & Innovations, 1(3). Retrieved from http://www.biomedcentral.com/1742-5573/1/3

In 1965, Austin Bradford Hill worked on a paper that has become a standard in public health and epidemiologic study about how to make decisions based on epidemiologic evidence. Hill put forth strategies for inferring causation and stressed the need for considering costs and benefits when planning health-promoting interventions. Review this article, which examines how Hill’s strategies are often misused or misinterpreted.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). CDC health disparities and inequalities report—United States, 2011. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Supplement, (60), 1–114. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/other/su6001.pdf. [Read pages 11–32]

This report consolidates national data on disparities in mortality, morbidity, behavioral risk factors, health care access, preventive health services, and social determinants of critical health problems in the United States by using selected indicators. The required section of reading introduces the social determinants of health and environmental hazards.

World Health Organization. (2011). Social determinants of health. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/social_determinants/en/

According to the World Health Organization, “The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for health inequities—the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries.” This article presents an introduction to social determinants of health.

World Health Organization. (2011). Social determinants of health: Key concepts. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/social_determinants/thecommission/finalreport/key_concepts/en/index.html

This article outlines key concepts related to the social determinants of health.

Healthy People 2020. (2011). Social determinants of health. Retrieved from http://healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=39

This website presents an overview of the social determinants of health and addresses how the information relates to Healthy People 2020.

UCL Institute of Health Equity. (2012). ‘Fair society healthy lives’ (The Marmot Review). Retrieved from http://www.instituteofhealthequity.org/projects/fair-society-healthy-lives-the-marmot-review

Optional Resources

Genaidy, A. M., Lemasters, G. K., Lockey, J., Succop, P., Deddens, J., Sobeih, & Dunning, K. (2007). An epidemiological appraisal instrumental – a tool for evaluation of epidemiological studies. Ergonomics, 50(6), 920–960.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2011). Social determinants of health. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/socialdeterminants/

WEEK 3/ANSWER TO PROFESSOR(((((PLEASE SEE AATACMENT))) THIS ATTACMENT IS THE ARTICLE.

Study 2: Health empowerment among immigrant women in transnational marriages in Taiwan.

Brief Description of the method Employed:  Participatory Action research was adopted in this study for developing, implementing and also evaluating an intervention for increased empowerment of women in Taiwan.  A choice of 68 women participants was chosen to conduct the theory based research. To conduct the research a choice of eight based workshops were chosen to identify key issues on health empowerment for women.  The use of participatory action based intervention would benefit the research by increasing health literacy and also ensuring that an informed health policy was established.

Data Collection Steps

Study 2: Health empowerment among immigrant women intransnational marriages in Taiwan.

Comments

Task 1

Observations about the setting arrangement

The researchers identified the settings and the immigrant women were invited for the study

Task 2

Participant Observations

A thorough monitoring of the participants for their health literacy was conducted

Task 3

Group dynamics observations

Increasing monitoring of the participants was conducted to evaluate the reasons for a low empowerment on health

Task 4

Observations based on interactions with the community

The participants of the research were also observed on their reactions with the community and recorded

Task 5

Conducting of interviews

Interviews of more than 60 minutes were also conducted to ensure that the research was effective.

Conclusion:  From the study, it was clear that a participatory action research (PAR) accompanied with in depth intervenes was helpful to increasing health literacy, social health and psychological policies that improve one’s wellbeing. It is clear that community health nurses can employ PAR policies and strategies to plan for adoption of health intervention programs that might be helpful to promotion of a health program. The use of in depth interviews in action research is one of the best strategies that can be adopted.

                                                            Reference:

Yang, Y., Wang, H., Lee, F., Lin, M., & Lin, P. (2014). Health Empowerment Among Immigrant Women in Transnational Marriages in Taiwan. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 47(2), 135-142. doi:10.1111/jnu.12110

PROFESSOR QUESTION

Studies regarding immigrant women are so beneficial. What are your thoughts on the eight workshops that were chosen for this study? Do you feel there should have been more or less? Should the workshops lasted longer or been more spread out? What are your thoughts on this and what is your reasoning? Thank you for your post!