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Dissertation Chapter-Discussion, Nursing

Vulnerable Population

Vulnerable Population

Getting Started
The best way to understand what life is like for someone else is to talk to that person. In this course, you are required to interview both a professional who works with a vulnerable population and a person who is a part of that vulnerable population.  In this assignment, you are required to research risk factors related to the vulnerable population you chose to gain a better understanding of issues an individual in the population may face. You are also required to develop a list of talking points for approval by your facilitator prior to the interviews you will be conducting.Upon successful completion of these activities, you will be able to:

  • Identify risk factors related to a vulnerable population group.
  • Develop talking points for a successful interview.

Resources

Background Information
Whenever you hear the word, “vulnerable,” what vulnerable population is of concern to you?Examples of vulnerable populations include:

  • the homeless
  • the uninsured
  • the underinsured
  • the poor
  • pregnant adolescents
  • migrant workers
  • immigrants
  • individuals who have a history of abuse
  • victims of violence
  • persons who are HIV positive or have sexually transmitted infections
  • the mentally ill
  • drug addicts/alcoholics

Other populations may be appropriate; check with your facilitator if there is another issue you would like to research.


Instructions

  1. Review the rubric to make sure you understand the criteria for earning your grade.
  2. Review the index in Public Health Nursing: Population-centered Health Care in the Community and identify the chapter that discusses your chosen vulnerable population. Read that chapter in the textbook.
  3. Review peer-reviewed articles in OCLS related to the vulnerable population that you have chosen.
  4. Download and view the PowerPoint file Conducting Successful Interviews.pptx.
  5. Review Example Paper for the WS 1 Risk Factors and Questions Assignment
  6. Create a Word document that includes the following:
    • A minimum of 10 risk factors faced by members of the vulnerable population you have chosen. These risk factors can be either the factors that caused the vulnerability or can be factors that the people may experience as a result of being a member of the specific vulnerable population.
    • Write two to three sentences explaining how this risk factor affects the vulnerable population.
    • List a minimum of 12 interview questions for a professional who works with members of the vulnerable population. Questions should be open-ended, sensitive, and non-confrontational. There will be a one deduction per yes/no, short answer, or confrontational question.
    • List a minimum of 12 interview questions for a member of the vulnerable population. Questions should be open-ended, sensitive, and non-confrontational. There will be a one deduction per yes/no, short answer, or confrontational question.
  7. A minimum of three professional sources are required to support the risk factors identified in this vulnerable population group. Your textbook may be used as one of these professional sources.

     

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    Question 

Vulnerable Population

The vulnerable population I have chosen to explore is alcohol addicts and other victims of substance-induced mental issues. To complete this assignment, I will interview Jennifer D’Andrea, PhD, the head of the counseling department at Wesleyan University. I will also interview one of the beneficiaries of the counseling program, Winnie Cynthia. The student benefited from the counseling services, which helped her to reform and refrain from alcoholism despite the high pressure from her friends.

The Risk Factors Faced by this Population

This population faces many risk factors that carry with them many consequences ranging from compromising their health and general well-being, ruining their economic factors, interfering with their social roles and relations with others, and reducing the overall quality of life they live. These factors include mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety that coexist with substance abuse and alcoholism. Secondly, those people with increased drug abuse and alcoholism are faced with a high risk of unemployment as well as difficulty in finding employment and job loss, which increases the level of poverty among the members of the community. The third risk factor facing this vulnerable population is homelessness, where the individuals live in an environment with less likelihood of accessing health services and increased exposure to risky behavior. Fourthly, legal issues are another risk factor facing drug abusers and alcoholics due to crimes that may ensue from the intoxication. The fifth risk factor is the stigmatization that may be marked by social discrimination, which brings the feeling of worthlessness to the victims. A sixth risk factor is the physical health problems that may be prominent in managing chronically ill victims (Palzes et al., 2023). Family breakdown is another risk factor perceived to be experienced by the victims of drug abuse and alcoholism which deteriorates their recovery due to lack of support from the family. Violence and abuse are another risk factor that drug abusers and alcoholics face, which takes them through trauma and increases drug abuse in attempts to seek leverage, hence worsening their mental health. Limited access to healthcare services is another risk factor faced by individuals with drug abuse and alcoholism due to a lack of insurance and funds to cater to their health needs. Lastly, people faced with drug abuse and alcoholism are faced with a knowledge deficit, which consequently limits their opportunities (Alhammad et al., 2022).

Effect of the Risk Factors to the Vulnerable Population

The aforementioned risk factors affect the vulnerable population in various dimensions. To begin with, mental health disorders, where individuals with mental health issues and substance use disorder face greater challenges in the management of both conditions, which worsens their mental health. Secondly, the increased risk of unemployment worsens financial instability, which makes it harder for the victims to afford treatment and support services, which propagates the cycle of addiction. Family breakdowns cut down practical support needed for the recovery of the victim. The risk fact of violence and abuse exacerbates the mental health of the victims, hence compromising the treatment of the individuals. The risk factor of lack of access to healthcare due to the uninsured nature of the addicts hinders access to medical and psychological care. Lastly, the reduced education among addicts led to low job prospects (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, 2019).

Vulnerable Population

Vulnerable Population

Interview with Madam Jennifer D’Andrea, PhD

  1. Briefly explain the nature of the clients you serve in your department.
  2. What are the common challenges reported by individuals struggling with alcoholism and drug abuse?
  3. What are some of the most effective strategies you have seen work to help these clients?
  4. How do families help/ support the recovery process of your clients?
  5. What other comorbidities are associated with drug abuse and alcoholism?
  6. Do you witness relapses in individuals? What are your thoughts regarding the relapse, and what factors contribute to the relapse?
  7. How do you mitigate relapse, and again, how do you handle the relapsed clients?
  8. What community resources do you think can help your clients?
  9. What is the role of the community in relation to the needs of the clients you serve?
  10. How do you work to reduce the stigma associated with addiction?
  11. Which other departments do you collaborate with to ensure holistic patient care?
  12. What improvements do you think should be implemented to improve the current systems?

Interview with Winnie Cynthia

  1. How did addiction affect your life?
  2. What compelled you to use drugs?
  3. How has the addiction affected your social life with family members and friends?
  4. How has been your journey to seek medical assistance to correct the addiction?
  5. What challenges do you face in accessing treatment?
  6. How do you think the members of the society view the people affected by the drugs?
  7. What does a typical day look like during the time of addiction?
  8. What approaches do you think helped you the most?
  9. How did addiction affect your physical health?
  10. Are there times you have experienced legal implications/issues in relation to the drug and alcoholism?
  11. What support do you have, and how do they help you to prevent relapse of addiction?
  12. What recommendations would you wish were put in place to assist others?
  13. How do you view your future life out of addiction and what is your advice those struggling with addiction?

References

Alhammad, M., Aljedani, R., Alsaleh, M., Atyia, N., Alsmakh, M., Alfaraj, A., Alkhunaizi, A., Alwabari, J., & Alzaidi, M. (2022). Family, Individual, and Other Risk Factors Contributing to Risk of Substance Abuse in Young Adults: A Narrative Review. Cureus, 14(12). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.32316

Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (2019). Chapter 6: Substance Abuse Among Specific Population Groups and Settings. Nih.gov; Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK83240/

Palzes, V. A., Chi, F. W., Weisner, C., Kline‐Simon, A. H., Satre, D. D., & Sterling, S. (2023). Risk profiles of adults with heavy alcohol use: Drinking patterns, behavioral and metabolic factors, health problems, and racial and ethnic disparities. Alcohol Clinical and Experimental Research, 47(12), 2301–2312. https://doi.org/10.1111/acer.15211