Evidence-Based Public Health Report, Essay Example

Health equity programs are focused on providing equal opportunities for healthy lifestyles and choices for disadvantaged populations and reducing risks of poor health. The below review of Early Childhood development programs to promote healthy development of disadvantaged children. The authors have selected the Task Force Community Services’ intervention model to evaluate its effectiveness in reducing health inequalities among disadvantaged children.

Task Force Recommendations for Healthy Social Environments

The Task Force Recommendations paper (2003) features intervention recommendations related to housing and culturally competent health care systems. As the focus of the current study is interventions to prevent public health inequalities, the authors would like to focus on the implementation framework of culturally competent health care systems. Task Force (2003, p. 23) recommends five different interventions: recruiting staff that represent the cultural diversity of the population that it serves, using interpreters or bilingual providers, providing cultural competency training for existing staff, creating culturally specific health care settings, and using culturally and linguistically appropriate health care materials.

Evidence Supporting the Efficiency of Intervention

While insufficient evidence has been found for the effectiveness of the five above mentioned Task Force recommendations, it is important to note that the impact on health outcomes of these changes in care approaches are likely to be shown long-term. As many of the interventions take time to implement, design, finance and roll out, long-term studies and follow-up research need to be created. The report, however, has revealed that some evidence indicate that there is a positive correlation between implementing health care interventions to reduce the barriers of seeking help and long-term health outcomes within disadvantaged populations.

There was no comparative study found for the intervention plan to “recruit and retain staff reflecting cultural diversity of the served population”. One comparative study was found that fair quality of execution of using interpreter or bilingual services. One study also confirmed higher satisfaction rate with services among populations who were taking part in counseling with health care staff that received cultural competency training. The use of linguistically and culturally appropriate materials in health education had more background research associated with. Six studies were reviewed by the Task Force team, and one study reported a change in health care behavior: Among African American women in the study who were provided with culturally appropriate messages the study reported higher rate of HIV testing after watching the health education video materials. No comparative studies were found to measure the impact of culturally specific health care settings on health outcomes.

Social Theory Used in the Framework

The approach of health outcome intervention created by the Task Force team (2003) is based on the findings of the social cognitive theory. It focuses on one of the constraints of disadvantaged groups to seek help: cultural and linguistic diversity. People’s beliefs of self-efficacy are based on the attitudes of health care providers towards them. The above statement also indicates that by creating a culturally responsive health care environment, people’s health related beliefs, attitudes can be modified, while the delivery of information related to health risks and prevention methods (strengthening people’s sense of self-efficacy) can improve overall health outcomes. It is also important to note that an inclusive setting would reduce the impact of personal cultural and social diversity, which is one of the main risk factors in public health. On the other hand, it has been proven that discrimination and exclusion impacts mental health, therefore, the risks of developing depression, anxiety can be reduced through the intervention plan created by the Task Force team.

Bandura (1988, p. 625) states that “seeing people similar to oneself succeed by sustained effort raises observers’ beliefs that they too possess the capabilities”… and “.modeling influences do more than provide a social standard against which to judge one’s own capabilities”. This is the foundation of the intervention model created by Task Force. By creating an environment that is culturally responsive, enables disadvantaged population to relate to the situation and trust the health care provider is likely to be an effective long-term intervention strategy, focusing on changing health related behaviors and perceptions of self-efficacy.

Methodological Approach Used

Anderson et al. (2003) used a systematic review of studies to conclude the findings of related research. The analytical framework was based on analyzing comparative studies related to programs featured in the intervention recommendation for a PATCH strategy (planned approach to community health). The PATCH approach was appropriate in this case, as it promotes responsibility and participation, and it can support the strategic implementation of multiple intervention methods.

Conclusion

It is important to note that while social cognitive theory focuses on motivators to change health related behaviors, it does not claim that short-term results would be measurable through studies. As the implementation of culturally inclusive environments, education and prevention programs take time, follow-up studies need to be created to analyze the impact and measure the change in not only patient behavior, but also long-term health outcomes. While a culturally responsive setting can change people’s perceptions of their own health, and self-efficacy, it is also an effective tool to deal with social and cultural boundaries that exist in disadvantaged populations, preventing them from seeking health care and advice.

References

Anderson, L., Scrimshaw, S., Fullilove, M., Fielding, J., Normand, J. & Task Force on Community Preventive Services. (2003) Culturally competent healthcare systems: A systematic review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2003;24(3S)

Bandura, A. (1998) Health promotion from the perspective of social cognitive theory. Psychology and Health, 13, 623-649.

Task Force on Community Preventive Services. (2003) Recommendations to promote healthy social environments. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2003;24 (3S)