Discussion #1: Identification of a Population in a Selected Community
A few indicators when choosing a population would be those identified as vulnerable or those at risk, such as the homeless, adolescents, pregnant, elderly, and those with associated health problems such as diabetes, STDs, malnutrition, cancer, obesity, cardiovascular disease, lung disease, etc.
To start your search and interest you might look at information in your local public health department websites, the CDC, (CDC Wonder databases and Healthy People 2020, 2030) and other evidence-based websites that the CDC supports.
Address the following points:
- Briefly describe the selected community and practice setting that nurses may encounter patients of the chosen population.
- Describe and define the disparities related to health risks and problems that the chosen population experiences.
- How does this group define health and illness?
- How does this group express pain or illness?
- What is this group’s attitude towards preventative health measures such as immunizations?
- What are attitudes that this group has towards mental illness?
- What language(s) are spoken by this group?
- Is there a religion or faith to which this group adheres?
- Who are the decision makers in this group (ex. elders)?