Epidemiology of Health and Illness Paper

Melvys Barrios Florida National University Nursing Department BSN Program NUR 4636 – Community Health Nursing Prof. Eddie Cruz, RN MSN September 10, 2019 Epidemiology of Health and Illness 1. Identify and analyze the epidemiological moles use to explain disease conditions and health patterns in populations There are two epidemiological moles used to analyze and interpret diseases and health patterns in any given society. They include descriptive epidemiology and analytical epidemiology. In analytical epidemiology which is the first one, it determines the rates of diseases between different populations substantiating them on the attack rate. This mechanism creates an understanding on which community is struck profoundly with conditions than the other to analyze the causes. Analytical epidemiology has several ways of interpreting the patterns of diseases and their causes. Conferring to Gordis (2013), the first methodology is the observational studies whereby the etiology of diseases are observed and the patterns recorded. Secondly, the use of cross-sectional studies which uses correlational methods to examine the relationship between causal factors and the epidemic timely. Furthermore, an excellent epidemiological mole under analytical epidemiology is the Randomized Clinical Test (RCT). It uses experimental designs to test treatment and prevention measures. In this method, the subjects to be tested are assigned in control groups which becomes easier for analysis. It is mostly used for chronic diseases. Finally, the use of retrospective and prospective studies which uses data collection and monitoring of disease development in conditions free population, respectively. Alternatively, the descriptive epidemiological it focuses strictly on the health problems spreading within a given community thus easy to establish the causes of diseases and the prevention measures (Gordis, 2013). 1. Discuss how the use of epidemiological methods in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. Epidemiological methods are used differently in health and illness prevention. In primary prevention, epidemiology focuses on preventing diseases before they infect the population. In this case, the descriptive epidemiology method is used because it promotes health and prevents specified infectious diseases. In primary prevention, immunization and delivery of vaccines to the prone population is mostly carried out. Epidemiology of Health and Illness Paper

In this level, all preventive measures are carried out through critical analysis of the two methods. Furtherly, in secondary prevention, analytical epidemiology is typically used since this level involves screening of probable diseases. Prospective studies under analytical epidemiology are the most appropriate methodology to be used. It is because it uses the mechanisms for monitoring disease development. The RCT methodology is also suitable in this case for test treatments and coming up with preventive measures for the diseases. Cross-sectional studies in secondary prevention are also essential to come up with the relationship between the probable causal factors and the syndrome at a definite time. Finally, a retrospective study under analytical epidemiology method will be carried to compare those infected and the healthy ones. This methodology is appropriate in the tertiary level to analyze the disease if it’s chronic or acute. Community Health Planning 1. Describe and discuss the concept of “community as a client.” According to Weil (2013), ‘community as client’ idea is a grouping community whose focus dwells on the nursing services for a community. This concept states that the grouping community in charge influences the need for good health amongst the population. The health services are discharged at a communal level whereby every household and individual is targeted. This concept consists of three major dimensions that influence it. The first one is the status of the people whereby the mortality and morbidity rates are carried out by the grouping community in charge to identify the health conditions. Secondly, location is another dimension which involves the assessment of health in all allocated areas. In this dimension, the health services are located if nearby or not for an in-depth analysis of the dischargeable health services to the community. As a final point, the social system and structure of the population attended to, by the grouping in charge. This dimension ascertains an analysis of the educational system, health system, family system, welfare systems, and the economic system, to mention a few. The primary purposes and strategy of ‘community as a client’ concept are to ensure that all communities have access to healthcare services. It is also used to provide data on the types of diseases that are mostly infectious and the main causal reasons. The use of this concept in the community ensures every disease are trackable, and the prevention measures are discharged to the community. This concept has assured that 1. citizens enjoy healthcare services no matter how remote or interior they live. Implementation and Evaluation 2. Discuss the nurse’s role in community education within the sociopolitical and cultural context. The nurse’s role in community education is very significant no matter the context of the environment. Primarily, within the sociopolitical context, which holds the regulations and policies, the nurse’s role is to discharge health education to the community. This mechanism helps in promoting health and sustaining optimum health because the community is very a precise vital link in ensuring that quality healthcare is well-effected. Therefore, the nurse’s role in a sociopolitical context is to ensure that they transform the healthcare sector by ensuring they influence good health behavior in the community (Weil, 2013). In a cultural context which mostly holds the norms and beliefs of the society, the nurse’s role is to ensure this behavior doesn’t affect the dischargeable healthcare services. They are responsible for educating them on the importance of healthcare access diversely. The nurse’s role is to ensure that there are compelling and relevant healthcare systems within the communities. In conclusion, nurses ensure that strategies are well set to develop healthcare services both in urban and rural areas. References Gordis, L., (2013). Epidemiology: With Student Consult, 5th Edition. Saunders Publishers. Weil, M., (2013). The Handbook of Community Practice, 2nd Edition. Sage Publishers, Inc. Pritchard-Jones, J., Stevens, C., McCaughan, G., & Strasser, S. (2015). Feasibility, acceptability and safety of a nurse led hepatitis B clinic based in the community. Collegian, 22(2), 233-240. Natalie Nunez Florida National University Nursing Department BSN Program NUR 4636 – Community Health Nursing Prof. Eddie Cruz, RN MSN September 11, 2019 Epidemiology 1. Identify and discuss the epidemiological moles used to explain disease and health patterns in populations. Epidemiology refers to the study of the way diseases occur and the reasons why among different people groups. This information is utilized in the evaluation and planning the strategies that can be used for prevention as well as the guide that can be followed when seeking to manage patients who have already developed the disease. There are two main methods of epidemiology that are used to provide explanation for disease as well as the health patterns which are observed in the populations namely descriptive epidemiology and analytic epidemiology (Gordis, 2013). Descriptive epidemiology is the type that primarily focuses on the distribution as well as the amount of health problems and health that are found within a particular population. On the other hand analytic epidemiology refers to the type that seeks to undertake investigations on disease causes looking at the reasons why the rate of diseases is low in one area compared to another. Analytical epidemiology takes the form of observational, crosssectional, retrospective, prospective and experimental studies (Gordis, 2013). 1. Discuss how the use of epidemiological methods in primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. Epidemiology of Health and Illness Paper

Epidemiological methods are instrumental in disease prevention. They are used in primary secondary as well as tertiary disease prevention. In the primary level of disease prevention, epidemiological methods are used to provide information that is used in health promotion as well as taking certain steps that serve in specific disease prevention. Therefore in this case it propels people to engage in certain preventive measures that have been identified to be effective in preventing the onset of a disease. These include such activities as immunization against certain diseases engaging in regular exercise and so forth (Blackwood and Currie, 2016). In the secondary prevention, epidemiological methods are used to establish the causality of diseases, in screening as well as in surveillance to ensure that various ailments are stopped. Through the secondary prevention epidemiology methods propels individuals to take preventive measures screening which aid in early diagnosis enabling the individual to receive prompt treatment so that severe problems are not developed (Institute for Work & Health, 2015). Finally through tertiary prevention epidemiological methods help individuals engage in rehabilitation and preventive measures after having suffered an illness. In this case the individuals through epidemiological insight are taught how to better their health by minimizing, eliminating, reducing impairments in the long term as well as promoting the adjustments of the patients (Blackwood and Currie, 2016). 1. Describe and discuss the concept of “community as a client”. The community just like individuals can be a client in a healthcare setting. Through community nursing the whole community which refers to people in a common location and who are organized in a certain social system are focused on in order to affect the families and individual in that group. This is a broad perspective that seeks to enhance the health of the entire group and by default the individuals who make it up. These could be people drawn from various ethnic groups, religious affiliations, economic states and so forth. Focusing on the community as a client makes it possible to affect the individuals who make up the group despite the differences that exists within the group promoting their health and wellness. This approach also influences the health decisions made by the individuals (Louisiana State University at Alexandria, 2016). 1. Discuss the nurse’s role in community education within the sociopolitical and cultural context. One of the best ways to promote education in a community is through health promotion and education. A nurse is critical part of this process and plays a big role in educating the community. When serving in a community influenced by certain sociopolitical as well as cultural context the nurse seeks to partner with the community and individuals that are found with the community. They also serve as a change catalyst informing the community of what needs to be done its benefits and so forth. The nurse also shares and activates ideas among the members of the community on their health, practices, behaviors and so forth. In the situation where the community or individuals within the community experience certain challenges, the nurse shares the interventions that can be used to adequately address the issue. The nurse is also instrumental in he lping the community members identify the resources that they have at their disposal and use them effectively to meet the various needs they have. Finally the nurse is also instrumental in facilitating the community’s empowerment enabling them to deal with any issue they might be facing (Blackwood and Currie, 2016). References Blackwood, R. and Currie, C. (2016). Epidemiological basis for preventive strategies Retrieved from https://www.healthknowledge.org.uk/public-healthtextbook/research-methods/1c-health-care-evaluation-health-careassessment/epidemiological-basis-pstrategies Gordis, L. (2013). Epidemiology. Saunders; 5th Edition ISBN-13: 978-1455737338 Institute for Work & Health (2015). Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention. Retrieved from https://www.iwh.on.ca/what-researchers-mean-by/primary-secondary-andtertiary-prevention Louisiana State University at Alexandria (2016). The Community as a Client. Retrieved from https://online.lsua.edu/articles/healthcare/the -community-as-a-client.aspx …