Population Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, Capstone Project Example

Health promotion and disease prevention have been a major focus in recent years.  Rather than waiting to treat diseases, it is crucial to promote healthy living and prevention of disorders.  The population I have chosen to study is the Hispanic population of the United States.  Where I live in Southern California especially, there is a large Hispanic community.  Identifying the needs of this population is necessary before community nurses and leaders can address those needs.  The Hispanic population experiences many health disparities as compared to other groups.  One sources supports, “Adult Hispanics have high prevalence rates of HF risk factors, including overweight/obesity, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, physical inactivity, dyslipidemia, and uncontrolled hypertension,” (Melton, Foli, Yehle, &Griggs 2015, p.1).  Some fundamental concepts of health promotion include education, ensuring culturally competent care such as using Spanish speaking staff/nurses to communicate effectively with patients.  In addition, health promotion behaviors such as encouraging a healthier lifestyle (exercise, unprocessed foods), and health screenings for hypertension and diabetes.

Factors such as language barriers, access to health care, lack of culturally competent health care and mistrust and complexity of the health care system can negatively influence health promotion in this population.  One way to combat this is to encourage the use of promotoras, community health workers.  One source supports, “Promotoras are community health care workers who are primarily used for chronic disease management, and the use of promotoras has been shown to be a successful intervention for the Hispanic population,” (Blanco 2011, p.1).  Using promotoras to encourage healthy living among the community can be an effective tool.  Some Hispanics use alternative treatments for their health such as herbs, use of hot and cold foods, curanderos (faith healers), self-prescribed antibiotics, religious rituals, and spiritualcleansings called limpias, (McCullagh, Sanon & Foley 2015).  Health care professionals need to be aware of these practices and if they do not conflict with a prescribed regimen, encourage an incorporation of both alternative and Western medicine. Also, including family in the practices of health promotion such as exercise and healthy food choices can be a positive influence in this population.

References

Blanco, C. E. (2011). Promotoras: A Culturally Sensitive Intervention for Hispanic Breastfeeding Women. JOGNN: Journal Of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 40S19. doi:10.1111/j.1552-6909.2011.01242

McCullagh, M. C., Sanon, M., & Foley, J. G. (2015). Cultural Health Practices of Migrant Seasonal Farmworkers. Journal Of Cultural Diversity,22(2), 64-67.

Melton, K. D., Foli, K. J., Yehle, K. S., & Griggs, R. R. (2015). Heart Failure in Hispanic Americans: Improving Cultural Awareness. Journal For Nurse Practitioners, 11(2), 207-213. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2014.08.010