Learning Outcomes: Knowledge and Understanding
Demonstrate ability to find and understand epidemiology, demography, genomics and the wider determinants of health, illness, and wellbeing.
Investigate and identify the factors that may lead to inequalities in health outcomes.
Explain the importance of early years and childhood experiences and the possible impact these may have on life choices, behaviour and mental and physical health and wellbeing in adulthood.
Learning Outcomes: Skills and Attributes
Be able to search for, and present information to help people understand and make decisions about their health, life choices, illness, and care.
Be able to protect health through understanding and applying the evidence-based principles of health promotion.
Be able to identify the factors that may influence health choices and to demonstrate a holistic view of the individuals they encounter.
This is a 2000-word essay.
For this essay you will be creating your own ‘pick and mix’ case mix from the various options offered below.
To start you off, here are a few pointers to introduce the case scenario:
David is a 50 year old Caucasian male who is married and lives with his wife and 4 children in a second floor flat in a deprived area in the North of England. He was fostered as a child this caused him to experience issues such as anxiety and depression. He works as a cleaner in a night club and has limited education.
David was recently diagnosed with heart disease. He eats unhealthy food, is overweight with a BMI of 38, smokes 20 cigarettes, drinks alcohol 20 units per week and does minimum exercise.
Decide on ONE of David’s health issues, either drinking alcohol, smoking, or obesity. This health issue will be the focus of your essay.
Work through each section as instructed.
Introduce your assignment
Set the scene of what is to come.
Clearly outline that you will be discussing your chosen health issue (obesity, smoking or drinking alcohol) in relation to a fictional case study.
State why your chosen health issue is an important concern for nursing today.
Provide one or two relevant UK statistics on your chosen health issue.
Identify one relevant PHE policy/guidance and state its aims for nurses in tackling your chosen health issue.
250 words approximately
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Imagine your patient lives with a psychological/psychosocial condition. Discuss (with supporting literature) the following two psychological or psychosocial factors that influence the development of your chosen health issue for your patient:
Anxiety
Depression
What does the literature state about how and why these factors may increase the risk of developing obesity/smoking/drinking alcohol behaviours? Consider different viewpoints to show depth to your knowledge.
350 words
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Imagine the social environment that your patient lives in and how that affects their health. Discuss (with supporting literature) two of the following socioeconomic factors in relation to how they influence your chosen health issue for your patient:
Housing
Education
Environment/Green spaces
Health literacy
Income
What does the literature state about how and why these factors impact upon obesity/smoking/drinking alcohol? Consider alternative viewpoints to show depth to your knowledge.
350 words
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Your patient is male and Caucasian. Discuss (with supporting literature) the following two demographic factors and how they influence your chosen health issue in adulthood:
Gender
Ethnicity
What does the literature state about how and why gender/ethnicity impacts developing obesity/smoking/drinking alcohol in adulthood? Consider different viewpoints to show depth to your knowledge.
350 words
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Reflect on how the psychosocial &/or socio-economic &/or demographics in our communities might have contributed to your patient being diagnosed with heart disease.
Here are some examples of points that you might like to consider:
Why does being obese mean that you are more likely to be diagnosed heart disease?
If someone smokes, or drinks alcohol how might it increase the risk of being diagnosed with heart disease?
Does health literacy affect the ability to understand government’s advertising campaigns and other health messages?
200 words
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Your patient knows his condition and health issues but needs support in the community. They have asked you for some advice on how to change their lifestyle and adopt healthier behaviours.
These are some suggestions of points you could explore with literature.
What is the role of the nurse in advising patients on healthy lifestyles? Are there any limitations in nurses doing this?
How does this link to the NMC?
Does the RCN indicate that nurses have such a role?
What Apps could you sign post them to and why would they help?
What health promotion activities could you sign post them to and why?
Are there any specific classes that might be of benefit and why?
As you explore how you would best sign post this patient to a healthier lifestyle, consider the relevant factors that you have learned in the above sections. This will help you to show a depth of understanding of person-centred health promotion.
400 words
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Short conclusion that pulls what you have learned together.
100 words
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