Introduction to Population-Focused Health

Introduction to Population-Focused Health

The population-based healthcare concept catalysts are the strategies put in place to improve the health of particular population groups, regardless of the size of the area, national or even worldwide. This concept is quite distinct from individual-oriented care, which manages the health of specific individuals; population-focused care aims to enhance the quality of health for particular populations, especially vulnerable ones. Such populations consist of the aged folks, pregnancy-related teenagers, infants, low migrant earners, the streetless population, the half-shielded populace, and the welfare, the sickly due to various issues, including but not limited to inadequate economic means, age, or gender.

Definition of Population-Focused Healthcare

Population-focused healthcare seeks to enhance specific groups’ health outcomes by addressing common health-related concerns that place these groups at risk. At the local level, this may involve community health initiatives that address prevalent health issues within a specific area. Nationally, it encompasses broader public health policies and programs designed to improve health outcomes nationwide. Globally, it includes international efforts to combat worldwide health issues such as infectious diseases, malnutrition, and lack of access to healthcare services (Shahzad et al., 2019).

The Ten Great Public Health Achievements in the 20th Century: Vaccination

Vaccination is one of the most important and widely recognized achievements in the field of public health in the 20th century. The CDC asserts that immunization has rid the world of smallpox, has left the Americas free of poliomyelitis, and has lessened the impact of measles, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and other infectious illnesses in the United States of America and other parts of the globe (Nuwarda et al., 2022).

Why Vaccination is Considered an Achievement

The introduction of vaccines is regarded as one of the greatest accomplishments since it has significantly lowered the rate of infection of communicable diseases, which has consequently benefitted the health of the public and prolonged their average lifespan. Vaccinations have been proven to have halted the spread of many diseases, which has conserved lives and cut the costs of treating the diseases.

Pros and Cons of Vaccination

Pros

Prevention of Disease

Vaccination helps to avoid the emergence of potentially causative fatal diseases, thus minimizing morbidity and mortality disorders.

Herd Immunity

Recipient coverage vaccination greatly contributes to herd immunity since there are individuals who cannot be immunized health-wise.

Cons

Vaccine Hesitancy

However, vaccine skepticism is one persistent problem that has not been eradicated, though the use of vaccines has been substantiated to guarantee positive results.

Access Inequality

In some regions, especially in low-income countries, access to vaccines is limited, leading to disparities in health outcomes. (Chevalier-Cottin et al., 2020).

Population Health Problem in the Community

Based on readings from “Public Health Nursing: In ‘Population-centered Health Care in the Community,’ one of the common population health issues that affect many communities is the high prevalence of diabetes. This affects the large population of people with low incomes who cannot afford healthy foods and healthcare services. Diabetes is a major concern to society due to the dangers it poses, including heart complications, kidney failures, and amputations when left uncontrolled.

Impact of Population Health Approaches

Population health models for addressing key health issues are vital, particularly diabetes in low-income and minority groups. These approaches draw on community-based interventions, health promotion, changes in health policies, and improved access to the necessary treatment.

Through education about diabetes in community-based programs, people learn about the importance of exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, and screening for any illness regularly. These programs enable people to avoid the development of diabetes or, if diagnosed, maintain the better form of life.

Screening programs are important because they intervene with people at risk and can prevent complications. These screenings also give the government insight into the number of people who have diabetes and where they are situated to facilitate adequate planning (Garg et al., 2019).

Policy changes that promote healthier environments are essential. Policies that increase access to healthy foods, create safe spaces for physical activity, and reduce socioeconomic barriers to healthcare can significantly impact diabetes prevention and management. For instance, subsidizing healthier food options in low-income areas and implementing urban planning strategies encouraging physical activity contribute to better health outcomes.

Differences Between Local, National, and Global Population-Focused Healthcare

Local Population Health Organization: Local Health Departments

Ultimately, local health departments are the pillars of community-level solutions. They enforce local public health policies, promote health education, and undertake routine health promotional and disease prevention activities such as immunization screenings. Their work is aimed at pressing health issues in society, and they can partner with other community-based organizations to work on health disparities.

National Population Health Organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC is a national organization whose goal is to foster the protection of the community’s health throughout the United States. Some of the activities it engages in include conducting research, serving as a repository of health information, and formulating public health policies and programs for disease prevention and control (Lyu & Luli, 2021). Its measures include mass immunization campaigns, epidemiological monitoring, and health educational programs and initiatives across the country.

Global Population Health Organization: World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization (WHO) is an international organization dedicated to promoting global health. It works with countries around the world to combat health issues such as infectious diseases, malnutrition, and lack of access to healthcare. The WHO provides technical assistance, conducts health research, and establishes international health standards and guidelines.

Conclusion

Population-focused healthcare is essential for improving the health outcomes of at-risk groups at local, national, and global levels. By addressing common health-related concerns and implementing targeted public health interventions, significant advancements in public health can be achieved, as demonstrated by the success of vaccination programs. Understanding and addressing population health needs through coordinated efforts of local, national, and global health organizations are crucial for building healthier communities and a healthier world.

References

Chevalier-Cottin, E.-P., Ashbaugh, H., Brooke, N., Gavazzi, G., Santillana, M., Burlet, N., & Tin Tin Htar, M. (2020). Communicating Benefits from Vaccines Beyond Preventing Infectious Diseases. Infectious Diseases and Therapy, 9(3), 467–480. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40121-020-00312-7

Garg, R., Chawla, S. S., Kaur, S., Bharti, A., Kaur, M., Soin, D., Ghosh, A., & Pal, R. (2019). Impact of health education on knowledge, attitude, practices and glycemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, 8(1), 261. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_228_18

Lyu, J. C., & Luli, G. K. (2021). Understanding the Public Discussion About the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention During the COVID-19 Pandemic Using Twitter Data: Text Mining Analysis Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(2), e25108. https://doi.org/10.2196/25108

Nuwarda, R. F., Ramzan, I., Weekes, L., & Kayser, V. (2022). Vaccine Hesitancy: Contemporary Issues and Historical Background. Vaccines, 10(10), 1595. https://doi.org/10.3390/vaccines10101595

Shahzad, M., Upshur, R., Donnelly, P., Bharmal, A., Wei, X., Feng, P., & Brown, A. D. (2019). A population-based approach to integrated healthcare delivery: a scoping review of clinical care and public health collaboration. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7002-z

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Background Information
A✰
Population-focused health includes approaches that are aimed at improving the health status of a defined group and may occur at local, national, and global levels. Nurses who have traditionally been involved in caring for individual clients (patients) during times of illness may find the concept of population health to be somewhat unfamiliar. Although the approaches may be quite different from those involved in providing nursing care to an individual, you will find that population-focused practice holds the same foundational elements and applies those same tenets in caring for at-risk populations.

Introduction to Population-Focused Health

From the perspective of population-focused healthcare, there is a commonality that is shared with all other forms of healthcare is a health-related concern that places a group of people in an at-risk position. At-risk populations have an increased risk of developing health problems. Limited access to economic resources, age, gender, and some examples that you might recognize include the elderly, pregnant teenagers, infants, migrant workers, the homeless, the underinsured, the impoverished, and so forth.
In this activity, you will explore population-focused health more closely, including specific advancements in protecting the health of the public. In addition, you will consider specific population health needs, the impact of population-focused interventions, and formal organizations that promote the health of populations locally, nationally, and globally.
Instructions
1. Review the appropriate rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
2. Be sure to download and use Grammarly, which is free to all IWU students, to support your writing skills on posts and written assignments. Use the Grammarly Setup for IWU Students found on IWU Resources.
3. Read Chapters 1 and 46 in the textbook, Public Health Nursing: Population-centered Health Care in the Community.
4. Prepare to discuss the following prompts:
a. Define population-focused healthcare and what that means to local populations, national populations, and global populations. Support your assertions with citations from your assigned readings.