Chronic Conditions Prevention and Management - Assignment Example

Professional Action Plan al Affiliation Introduction Cancer is one chronic disease responsible for the rising morality rates in the globe. It occurs when there is unregulated gene processing causing uncontrollable cell growth with subsequent tumor formation. Cancer can affect all human body cells resulting in chronic pain and death if not treated or managed in the earlier stages of development (Pories, Moses and Lotz, 2009, National Breast Cancer Centre, 2005). It is rated a chronic condition because of two major reasons. First, cancer has multiple risk factors which include smoking, radiations and electromagnetic rays. Secondly, cancer has many causative agents which include viruses like the human papilloma virus, radiations, and unprotected sex among other factors. Cancer has a long latency period implying that it can take along period before the effects are seen. Latency period depends on factors like degree of exposure to the risk, causative agent and immune competency of an individual and the site of inoculation of the causative agent (Pories, Moses and Lotz, 2009) Population and Setting Cancer is a disease known to affect all segments of the Australian population. However, the older people are primary the biggest victims. As such, the framework targets people aged between 50 years and 70 years. Greene & Heniford (2010) state that incidents of cancer increase exponentially with advancement in age. It is for this reason that different scholars like McVie (2006) and Pories, Moses & Lotz (2009) have come up with studies that are focused on mitigating the effects of the disease among the elderly. Members of the targeted population are not only at higher risk of contracting the disease but also face various challenges in recovery from the condition. When determining the treatment procedures for the group, care givers are always required to focus on the overall health of the individuals in question as well as their ability to keep up with their family activities. Different sets of conditions influence how the people aged between 50 and 75 cope with cancer. Most of the staccatos are related to their physical health. Age is not only a cancer risk factor but also an aspect that influences the probability of suffering from other related conditions and injuries. The aging process among this target population is a very complex issue. Foot & Sanson-Fisher (2005) notes that the actual age and the physical wellbeing of the members of this sample affects how they respond to cancer and their mental wellbeing. The other major characteristic of this group is their physical ability to respond to the disease. Nuovo (2007) informs that disability and other medical conditions influence severity of the condition and even the recovery process. It is also worth noting the disability and other age related conditions common among people aged between 50 and 75. Moreover, such people may find it hard to carry out daily activities like shopping and engaging in healthy lifestyle activities like exercise. Some require the help of others as they go about their activities. According to Butow, Brown & Dunn (2012), people aged between 50 and 75 are mostly in their final years of employment or into business. This implies that they activity level with regards to work and job related issues is low compared to young people. It is also worth realizing that a good number of such patients can afford the cancer treatment through their won savings, insurance plans or the funds accumulated in their pension schemes. The risk of contracting the disease and even the recovery process will therefore be affected by factors other than financial capability concerns. Objectives Cancer is a very serious ailment that may lead to death in the instances where it is not detected or well managed. It is responsible for several death cases among those aged between 50 and 75 years. When the disease is contracted, it is not only the victim but also the relatives and the society at large. As a result, there is need to come up with effective mechanisms for managing the condition and mitigating the effects that it has on the health and the physical wellbeing of the targeted population. Holland (2002) states that the main goal of health care provision is to ensure the physical, emotional and mental wellbeing of the patients and people using the services provided in health care facilities. To be able to mitigate the effects and the impact that the disease will have on the targeted group, it is usually imperative to put in place measures capable of eliminating the various risk factors associated with the condition. By doing so, it will be feasible to reduce the burden that the condition has on Australians and on the health care facilities and resources available in the country. The aim of this framework is: To reduce risk factors for cancer among people aged between 50-75 years This prevention framework also focuses on achieving the three objectives listed below. 1. To increase cancer awareness level among the targeted population by 20 percent. This first objective is intended to help address the issue of the lack of knowledge about the disease among the Australian population. Lack of knowledge makes it hard for some people to know how to respond to the condition and how to deal with the various issues associated with it. 2. Secondly, the framework seeks to reduce unhealthy lifestyle practices among the targeted population by 15 percent. Studies have revealed that there are certain lifestyle practices like eating unhealthy foods that make it had for Australians to avoid getting cancer. The recovery process is also known to be affected by the kind of lifestyle that one lives. Such issues are to be addressed in this framework based on the selected strategy and intervention models. 3. Finally, the framework intends to reduce the cancer risk factors among the targeted population by 10 percent. By doing this, the targeted group will be able to not only manage the disease but also enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of interventions that are developed to counter the disease. Specific Strategies There are various approaches that have been employed in the prevention and the management of chronic diseases like cancer (Australian Cancer Network, 2005). The effectiveness of a selected approach does not only depend on the severity of the condition but also the specific needs of the population being dealt with (Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2004). Based on the nature of the chosen population, which is made up of people aged between 50 to 75 years, it has been determined that there are three strategies that will effectively help in meeting the objectives of this framework. Each of the strategies is intended to address a specific issue related to the set objectives. Community Level Approach The community based intervention entails targeting a specific issue in the selected population. In this framework, the target group is made up of people aged between 50 and 75 years. The strategy is to be used to ensure that the members of the group have the required knowledge about cancer and the various risk factors that may in one away or their other make them susceptible and prone to getting the disease (Spigelman & McGrath, 2012). The community level approach entails reaching out to the population and giving them the required information on the disease (Fitch, 2000). It focuses on the various risk factors through empowerment and media advocacy. Some of the risk factors to be addressed include the poor nutrition plans, smoking and drug abuse and adherence to medication (National Centre for Monitoring Cancer, 2012). Since the members of the selected group are the people who are at the highest risk of getting cancer, putting priority in their wellbeing will ensure that that the prevalence is reduced. With the use of the community level approach, it is possible to ensure that the members of the public become lively contributors to the various decisions made regarding their wellbeing and health. The use of community level strategy in the management and prevention of cancer in the selected population has several advantages. First, the approach makes it possible for the member of the community to play an active role in managing the condition (DeVita, Lawrence, & Rosenberg, 2011). This happens when they are given the right kind of information on the risk that they face and how they can effectively manage the risks to guarantee their own wellbeing. Secondly, the community level approach can allow members who are suffering from cancer to come together and to share on their experiences. Such gatherings will also allow them to come up with ways through which they can enhance their well-being. The third advantage is that it mobilizes the population to be aware of the risks factors that contribute to the spread of cancer. Despite the advantages associated with the community level approach, there are two main shortcomings that may limit its application and efficiency. One of the limitations is that it requires that the members of the group come together for the objectives to be achieved (Frommer, Heinke & Barton, 2005). In some instances, getting all the members of the targeted population to come together to address the risks factors may take a lot of time hence limiting the suitability of the approach. The time taken to bring the individuals together may also limit the effectiveness of the approach. The second shortcoming of community level approach is that it may not be effective in addressing the specific needs of each of the members involved. Health Belief Model Health belief model is a very effective interpersonal approach, and is based on the assumption that individuals can make changes regarding their wellbeing based on knowledge and attitude. When using the Human Belief Model in the prevention of cancer disease, there are three beliefs that are considered to influence behavior change. The first belief is that people will change their behavior when they are aware of their susceptibly to the cancer disease as well as the severity of the condition (Frydenberg & Giles, 2005). Based on this belief, the framework entails enlightening the participants on their susceptibility and also the severity of cancer. The second belief is that there are several modification factors that may hinder or facilitate preventive action. Some of the common modifying factors that may hinder or facilitate the preventive process include the perceived benefits, and the cost constraints. When the target group perceives the benefits of the initiative to be more superior to the cost, then it is likely that they will take part in the preventive actions. As such, the framework strives to ensure that the benefits associated with prevention of cancer are known to the members of the target group. The final assumption or influencing factor in this approach is the belief that the probability of the individual taking part in the procedures will be influenced by self-efficacy. The use of this model has some advantages and disadvantages. Junor, Hole & Gillis (2004) states that the main strength of the health belief model is that it allows for the addressing the specific needs of the individuals. Moreover, there are high chances of the targeted group taking part in the cancer preventive actions after being enlightened on benefits that they will obtain from process. The main limitation is that the success of the process may be hindered when the when a person does not see any benefit in the initiative. Clinical Services Interventions Cancer management and prevention is something that may take a long period of time depending on the condition of the patient and how well they respond to interventions which have been developed and used. In some instances, patients and individuals aged between 50 and 75 find it hard to stick to the treatment and prevention plans that have been developed to help them counter the diseases. There are also other individuals who have cancer but are not aware of it. In the management of cancer, clinical service interventions can be used to deal with the problem. According to Kearney & Richardson (2006), one of the most effective ways of dealing with the cancer menace among people aged between 50 and 75 is carrying out cancer screening help people know whether they have the disease or not. Clinical services interventions have been underutilized in cancer management in different care settings despite research indicating that it is a very efficient primary prevention strategy. In order to manage the condition and prevent new cases in the selected population, this model can be used by engaging the members and enlightening them on the need to care for themselves and engage in healthy activities (Kearney & Richardson, 2006). The model is beneficial in that it allows for close interaction and sharing of knowledge on cancer. One of the main influential causes of the growing number of cancer cases in the country is lack of knowledge. When health professionals provide advice to the targeted populations on the benefits of avoiding exposure to the risk factors, the number of people who will be affected by the disease can be reduced (Clarke-Pearson & Soper, 2011). It allows for other nurse delivered interventions such as personalized care and risk assessment. The main shortcoming is that it requires involvement of a significant number of health professionals. Professional Action Plan Aim: To reduce risk factors for cancer among people aged between 50-75years Objective Strategy Actions Outcome measures Outcome indicators By who? Timeline 1) To increase cancer awareness level among the targeted population by 20 percent Patient Education Develop and offer community education programs Develop and implement cancer awareness campaigns Assess and record the number of people taking part Interview the group members Increased participation in the initiative Increased awareness of risk factors by 20 percent Cancer survivors Teachers Social worker Nurses By the end of 2016 2) Reduce unhealthy lifestyles practices among the targeted population by 15 percent. Tutoring and group education Develop and offer lifestyle education programs Develop modules for healthy living Assessment of unhealthy lifestyle risks Record the number of people taking part Record the available health lifestyle options Determination of the unhealthy lifestyle practices Decrease in cases of unhealthy lifestyle practise by 15 percent Positive Lifestyle change Nurses Social Workers Siblings By the end of 2016 3) To reduce the cancer risk factors among the targeted population by 10 percent Cancer Screening and Risk Assessment Carry out cancer screening Encourage the people to go for screening Record the number of people taking part cancer screening Record identified cases of cancer disease Increased number of people taking part in cancer screening Reduced cancer risk factors by 10 percent Nurses Social workers Public health officers Conclusion Cancer remains one of the chronic diseases that impact negatively on the wellbeing of the Australian population. People aged between 50 and 75 years are at the highest risk of suffering from the disease. As a result, there is need to address the potential risk factors which are responsible for the increased cases. Through the use of the prevention strategies identified in this framework, it is expected that the number of people suffering from the disease will be reduced. References Australian Cancer Network. (2005). Guidelines for the Prevention, Early Detection and Management of Colorectal Cancer. Sydney: The Cancer Council Australia & Australian Cancer Network. Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care (2004). Standard for Credentialing and Defining the Scope of Clinical Practice. Retrieved from http://www.safetyandquality.org/credentl.pdf. Butow, P.N., Brown, R.F., & Dunn, S. (2012). Oncologist’s reactions to cancer patient’s verbal cues. Psycho-oncology, 11 (32), 47–58. Clarke-Pearson, D., & Soper, J. (2011). Gynecological Cancer Management: Identification, Diagnosis and Treatment. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons. DeVita, V. T., Lawrence, T. S., & Rosenberg, S. A. (2011). Cancer: Principles & practice of oncology: primer of the molecular biology of cancer. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkin.Top of Form Fitch, M. (2000). Supportive care for cancer patients. Hospital Quarterly, 3(4), 39–46. Foot, G. & Sanson-Fisher, R. (2005).Measuring the unmet needs of people living with cancer. Cancer Forum, 19(2), 131–135. Frommer, M., Heinke, M., & Barton, M., (2005). The credentialing of cancer clinicians in Australia. Cancer Forum, 24(12), 13–35. Frydenberg, M., & Giles, G.G. (2005). Prostate cancer in Victoria in 1993: patterns of reported management. Medical Journal of Australia, 172, 270–274. Greene, F. L., & Heniford, B. T. (2010). Minimally Invasive Cancer Management. New York, NY: Springer Science Business Media, LLC. Bottom of Form Holland, J. (2002). 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Canberra, ACT: Australian Institute of Health and WelfareBottom of FormBottom of Form Nuovo, J. (2007). Chronic disease management. New York, NY: Springer Pories, S., Moses, M. A., & Lotz, M. M. (2009). Cancer. Santa Barbara: Greenwood Press.Top of Form Spigelman, A.D., & McGrath, D.R. (2012). The National Colorectal Cancer Care Survey. Melbourne: National Cancer Control Initiative. Read More