Family Assessment Part II
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Social Determinants of Health Contributing to the Family’s Health Status
The social determinants of health (SDOH) contributing to the family's health status include economic stability, education, sociocultural influences, access to healthcare, and environmental conditions. These factors are prevalent for this family because of their current financial situation, educational level, cultural background, limited access to healthcare, and environmental conditions.
Economic Stability
The family's economic stability is the first social determinant of health contributing to their health status. The family lives on a tight budget and must decide between spending money on necessities and medical care. This lack of financial resources can have a negative impact on the family's health because it prevents them from accessing necessary medical care, nutritious food, and other resources that could help them maintain their health (Kelley, 2020). Without the necessary financial resources, the family may be unable to take preventative measures to maintain their health, such as vaccinations or regular check-ups. They may also need help purchasing healthy food and may have to resort to less expensive, less nutritious options. In addition, they may be unable to access health care when needed, which can be dangerous depending on the condition.
The lack of economic stability can also limit access to other resources, such as education and employment opportunities, which can further contribute to a family's health issues. Furthermore, the lack of economic stability can lead to other issues, such as stress and depression, which can further affect the family's health. Stress can lead to several physical health issues, such as high blood pressure and heart disease (Kelley, 2020). Depression can also affect physical and mental health, decreasing motivation and a lack of energy.
Education
The family's educational level is also a social determinant of health, contributing to their health status. The family has a low level of education, which can impact their ability to make informed decisions about their health (Raghupathi & Raghupathi, 2020). This lack of education can also affect their ability to understand health promotion's importance and access resources that could help them improve their health.
Sociocultural Influences
The family's sociocultural influences are another social determinant of health impacting their health status. The family's cultural background can affect their beliefs and attitudes about health, impacting their health behaviours (Kelley, 2020). This can lead to an increased risk of poor health outcomes if the family does not have access to resources that could help them maintain their health.
Access to Healthcare
The family's access to healthcare is a social determinant of health that greatly impacts their overall health status. Without adequate access to healthcare, they cannot receive the medical care and preventive services they need to stay healthy and reduce their risk of illness and disease (Kelley, 2020). This lack of access has far-reaching consequences, as it can prevent them from obtaining timely medical care when they are ill and can lead to an increased risk of chronic diseases due to a lack of preventive care.
Furthermore, the lack of access to healthcare can lead to financial hardships as medical bills can quickly become overwhelming. This can also affect the family's mental health, as they may feel helpless and frustrated. Additionally, the need for access to healthcare can limit the family's access to information about their health and health-related resources. Access to healthcare is necessary for them to be aware of their health risks and how to mitigate them.
Access to healthcare can also prevent the family from receiving the necessary education and support to make informed decisions about their health. Access to health care is necessary for them to access health education and preventive services, such as nutrition and exercise counselling (Kelley, 2020). Additionally, without access to healthcare, the family may not have access to the emotional support and guidance they need to navigate their health issues.
Environmental Conditions
The environmental conditions in the family's community are also a social determinant of health, contributing to their health status (Kelley, 2020). The family lives in an area with limited access to healthy food and safe places to exercise, which can negatively impact their health. This lack of access to resources can lead to an increased risk of poor health outcomes.
Recommendations for Age-Appropriate Screenings
Based on the information gathered through the family health assessment, it is recommended that the following age-appropriate screenings be done for each family member:
Children (ages 5-17):
• Height and weight measurements(Sullivan, 2018)
• Vision and hearing screenings
• Blood pressure evaluations
• Cholesterol screenings
• Mental health screenings
Adults (ages 18 and over):
• Height and weight measurements
• Vision and hearing screenings
• Blood pressure evaluations
• Cholesterol screenings
• Diabetes screenings
• Mental health screenings
• Cervical cancer screenings(Sullivan, 2018)
These screenings are important because they can help to identify any health issues that may be present and provide an opportunity for early intervention and treatment.
Health Model
The health model chosen to assist in creating a plan of action is the socio-ecological model (CDC, 2022). This model focuses on the multiple levels of influence that can affect health, including the individual, family, community, and society. This model is the best choice for this family because it considers the family's social determinants of health, such as access to healthcare, access to healthy foods and nutrition, access to safe and appropriate recreational activities, mental health services, and financial stability.
Steps for a Family-Centered Health Promotion
Using the socio-ecological model, the following steps can be taken to create a family-centred health promotion plan:
Individual Level
• Assess the individual’s health needs and goals. (CDC, 2022)
• Identify any risk factors and develop a plan to reduce or eliminate them.
• Provide education and resources related to health and wellness.
• Develop an individualized health plan that includes goals and strategies for achieving them.
Family Level
• Assess the family’s health needs and goals.
• Identify any social determinants affecting the family's health and develop a plan to address them (CDC, 2022).
• Encourage open and honest communication about health and wellness.
• Develop a family health plan that includes goals and strategies for achieving them.
Community Level
• Identify any community resources that may be available to the family.
• Develop a plan to advocate for policy changes that may improve the family’s health (CDC, 2022).
• Develop a plan to increase access to healthcare, healthy foods and nutrition, and safe and appropriate recreational activities.
Societal Level
• Identify any social determinants of health contributing to the family's health status.
• Develop a plan to advocate for policy changes that may improve the family’s health (CDC, 2022).
• Develop a plan to increase access to healthcare, healthy foods and nutrition, and safe and appropriate recreational activities.
Strategies for Communication
In order to ensure that the family's health promotion plan is successful, it is important to use effective communication strategies. These strategies should include open and honest communication, active listening, respect, empathy, and feedback. It is also important to use age-appropriate language when communicating with children and to provide emotional support and reassurance (Corporation, 2019). Finally, it is important to encourage collaboration and cooperation and to celebrate individual and family successes.
References
CDC. (2022, January 18). The Social-Ecological Model: A Framework for Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/about/social-ecologicalmodel.html
Corporation, N. L. (2019). Communication in Nursing Practice. In Google Books. National LEARNING Corporation. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=RrKbxQEACAAJ&dq=Effective+Communication+in+Nursing&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjV-77D8K78AhU5SaQEHfAkCSAQ6AF6BAgHEAI
Kelley, A. (2020). Public Health Evaluation and the Social Determinants of Health. In Google Books. Taylor & Francis Group. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=L5V8zQEACAAJ&dq=Social+Determinants+of+Health+Contributing&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjFsKGr7678AhXnV6QEHU-mCyE4FBDoAXoECAgQAg
Raghupathi, V., & Raghupathi, W. (2020). The influence of education on health: An empirical assessment of OECD countries for the period 1995–2015. Archives of Public Health, 78(1). https://archpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13690-020-00402-5
Sullivan, D. D. (2018). Guide to Clinical Documentation. In Google Books. F.A. Davis. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=SaJmDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA126&dq=Recommendations+for+Age-Appropriate+Screenings+Based+on+the+information+gathered+through+the+family+health+assessment