Health Promotion Plan for Hypertension in the Australian Indigenous Community - Research Proposal Example

Health Promotion Plan for Hypertension in the Australian Indigenous Community Name Institution Lecturer Course Date Health Promotion Plan for Hypertension in the Australian Indigenous Community Table of Contents Introduction 1 Needs Assessment 1 Target Audience 2 Aims of the Healthcare Promotion Plan 2 The Message 4 Required Resources 4 Communication Outlets/Media 5 Timeline and Budget 6 Evaluation 6 Conclusion 6 References 7 Introduction In Australia, the indigenous population is at a higher risk of hypertension than the non-indigenous population because the indigenous population is socially and economically disadvantaged compared to non-indigenous people (Campbell, Lynch, Esterman & McDermott, 2013). In addition, modifiable risk factors for hypertension are higher in the indigenous population that in the non-indigenous population (Penm, 2008). In light of this revelation, this health promotion project seeks to reduce the prevalence of hypertension in indigenous people aged fifteen years and above living in New South Wales (NSW). A healthcare promotion plan will be established aimed at creating awareness about hypertension among indigenous people in NSW. This plan will consequently promote positive lifestyle behaviour while encouraging the target population to seek primary prevention measures against hypertension especially undergoing screening for risk factors. Needs Assessment All over the world, indigenous people have been known to have poor health compared to the general population. In Canada, for example, diabetes prevalence is 3 to 5 times higher for the indigenous population than the general population (Harris, Bhattacharyya, Dyck, Naqshbandi & Toth, 2013). In Australia, studies have shown that indigenous people were as 1.3 times more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases and 3 times more likely to die from cardiovascular diseases than non-indigenous people were (Australian Indigenous Health InfoNet, 2012). It is clear from the statistics that indigenous people in Australia are at a higher risk of developing hypertension and dying from the same that non-indigenous people. Studies have shown that modifiable risk factors for hypertension are higher among indigenous people than among non-indigenous people (Penm, 2008). Common modifiable risk factors for hypertension include tobacco smoking, alcohol abuse, obesity, poor diet and physical inactivity (Howes, Warnecke & Nelson, 2013, pp. 474-478). Almost half of indigenous people older than 14 years are daily cigarette smokers while two thirds of the same population does not participate in any form of physical activity (Penm, 2008 & Australian Indigenous Health InfoNet, 2012). Two thirds of indigenous people aged above 14 years consume alcohol frequently (Penm, 2008). In addition, indigenous people exhibit multiple risk factors (Lix, Bruce, Sarkar & Young, 2009). Moreover, indigenous people more likely to be affected by social and psychological issues, such as (especially) depression and other psychological stressors, which is a major contributor of hypertension (Penm, 2008). The management of hypertension and related diseases is also in such a way that it puts indigenous people at a disadvantage and hence at a higher risk of developing hypertension. According to the Australian Indigenous Health InfoNet, the high prevalence rates for hypertension among the indigenous population compared to the non-indigenous population partly comes from failure to receive adequate primary prevention like indigenous people do (2012). Secondary prevention given to indigenous people is also poor compared to what non-indigenous people receive (Penm, 2008). Therefore, the Australian healthcare sector and the Australian government are to blame for the predicaments befalling indigenous people with respect to hypertension. Target Audience Hypertension affects people aged above 15 years more than people aged below this age (Kokkinos, 2010). In addition, prevalence rates for hypertension are higher in the indigenous population than in the non-indigenous population (Penm, 2008). Therefore, the target population for this health promotional project is indigenous people aged 15 years and above living in NSW. The project narrows its focus to NSW, where indigenous people comprise about 2.2% of the population (Atlas of NSW, 2015). Aims of the Healthcare Promotion Plan This healthcare promotion plan aims at increasing the awareness of the risk factors for hypertension among Australian indigenous people. The healthcare promotion plan also seeks to increase the access to healthcare programs and services amongst indigenous people in Australia. Ultimately, the healthcare promotion plan will reduce the prevalence of hypertension in the Australian indigenous population as well as the number of people hospitalized for or dying of hypertension. This it will achieve by reducing the modifiable risk factors for hypertension in the Australian indigenous population. In order to achieve these goals, the health promotion plan seeks to accomplish the following specific goals. The health promotion project will raise awareness of the benefits of physical activity in the Australian indigenous population and consequently promote regular exercise. The project will also promote quitting of tobacco smoking among Australian indigenous people through the communication of the harmful effects of high levels of tobacco smoking. Additionally, the project will communicate the health risks of alcohol abuse in order to promote moderate (healthy) alcohol use or quitting alcohol consumption. Moreover, the health promotion project will promote regular health check-up and screening for hypertension especially among people considered to be at high risk of hypertension such as pregnant women (Joussen, Gardner, Kirchhof & Ryan, 2007, p. 691 & Kazemian, Sotoudeh, Dorosty-Motlagh, Eshraghian & Bagheri, 2014), people under stress and obese people (Mayo Clinic, 2014). This it will do by increasing the awareness of the benefits of regular health checks and medical screening. The project will also increase the awareness of the health risks of stress and depression especially as a contributor to hypertension and consequently promote stress management in the Australian indigenous population. Finally, the project will promote the adoption of healthy eating lifestyle by communicating the risk of poor eating especially as a contributor of hypertension (Stanfield & Hui, 2010, p. 255). The health promotion project seeks to achieve some objectives. Within three years from the time the project starts, the number of indigenous people in Australia who smoke cigarettes will have reduced by half. By the end of the project, the number of Australian indigenous people who are current alcohol abusers will have reduced by half. Within one year of implementation, the number of pregnant indigenous mothers in Australia who go for pre-natal healthcare will have doubled. Within the same timeline, the number of indigenous Australians who undergo regular health check-up will have increased by a third. By the end of the project, Australian indigenous people will have adopted stress management programs, which will reduce the number of Australian indigenous people who develop hypertension from stress and depression. In sum, by the end of the project, the number of indigenous Australians at the risk of, hospitalized for and dying of hypertension will have halved. The Message The project will send five messages to the target community with each message directed to one dimension of the problem. The first message, which aims at communicating the need for indigenous people to adopt healthy lifestyle, is that “indigenous people are at an extremely high risk of developing hypertension because of their unhealthy lifestyle (Penm, 2008).” The second message is that “regular medical checkup keeps hypertension at bay (Joussen et al., 2007, p. 691).” The third message is that “regular exercise keeps us fit and prevents us from developing hypertension (Mayo Clinic, 2014).” The third message is that “cigarette smoking not only kills you (the smoker) but also your beloved ones through hypertension (Mayo Clinic, 2014).” The fourth message is that “if you abuse alcohol, you increase the chance of developing hypertension by several times (Mayo Clinic, 2014).” The fifth message is that “a balanced diet that contains all the necessary food items not only keeps the doctor away, but also keeps hypertension at bay (Howes, Warnecke & Nelson, 2013, pp. 474-478).” These messages will also be printed on flyers to be distributed to members of the target population during education days and sporting events. Required Resources The implementation of this project requires a team of five people with one person mandated to deliver one message. The five people will be comprised of one nutritionist and four community nurses. After assembling people at convenient places as discussed below, each of the five people will take 30 minutes to deliver the message verbally and with the help pens and A1 papers for demonstration. The plan is to look for volunteers because there is no money to hire these professionals. I will source these people from universities where there are students (especially in their final year of study) willing to volunteer to gain experience and get recommendation as part of career development. The project also requires translators to assist the team in delivering the message using the local language. I also plan to look for people to volunteer. A venue is needed where the team will be meeting members of the indigenous community to pass the message. The venue should be capable of holding at least 200 people. Since there are no financial resources to rent a venue, I plan to use public places, which are free. In particular, we shall use hospital and public school grounds, which have the advantage in that they are big enough, are free and have all the required facilities especially toilets, clean water, chairs and tables. The implementation of the project also requires some stationery. We need some white A1 papers and black/blue fountain pens for demonstration work. A1 papers will act as white boards; they have the advantage of being portable and that they are low cost option of a white board. We also need to print out brochures that we shall issue out so that people can remember the message we shall be delivering. Posters are also required. Communication Outlets/Media We shall use public healthcare facilities and schools’ grounds. To attract people to attend the public education day, we shall use community elders to inform people the date, venue and time. We shall hold all education programs during weekends, in the morning hours between 10 AM and 12:30PM. This is considered the best time when people are alert and attentive. We shall also organize sports contests to attract young people aged between 14 and 30 years. In particular, we shall organize football, volleyball and racing games to take place between 4PM and 6PM. At the end of the game, we shall issue brochures containing the five messages and encourage people to read and follow the messages in the brochures. We shall also encourage young people to keep up with the spirit of having sporting events and contests as a way of ensuring that they exercise regularly. In order to attract young people to attend these sporting events, we shall advertise the date, venue and time of the events using posters that we shall erect at all public places including healthcare facilities, places of worship, roadsides and shopping centers. Moreover, we shall use village and church leaders to organize and communicate these events. Timeline and Budget Similar projects, such as the Ontario’s alcohol and substance abuse prevention program, take about five years for full implementation (Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, 2012). Therefore, this project will take five years. The first month will be used to get all the required resources including volunteers, permission for venues, stationery and financial resources for the first year of implementation. During this time, the brochures shall be designed and printed. Meetings with all stakeholders including village elders and church elders shall be accomplished during this month, which will result to drafting a plan for all the sporting events that shall be held during the first year of implementation. The same procedure shall be repeated every year whereby the first month shall be used to get all the resources and come up with the implementation plan for that year. The entire project will require $3,000, which will be used to purchase required stationery, print posters and brochures, provide transport allowances for the volunteers and finance any other issue that will be deemed necessary during the implementation. Evaluation Quantitative evaluation will be conducted based on the identified project objectives as follows: tobacco smoking should have dropped by half during the first three years and later by three quarters at the end of the implementation (five years). Alcohol consumption should have dropped by half by the end of the project. The number of people undergoing health checkup for hypertension should have doubled by the end of the first year and later by three quarters by the end of the project. By the end of the project, the number of indigenous Australians at the risk of, hospitalized for and dying of hypertension should have halved. Nevertheless, annual evaluation shall be conducted to determine whether there is significant change in the identified performance metrics. Conclusion This health promotion project targets Australian indigenous people aged 15 years and above and living in NSW. Indigenous people in Australia have been found to be at a high risk of developing and dying from hypertension due increased exposure to multiple risk factors for the disease. With the aim of promoting health among Australian indigenous people, this health promotional project seeks to reduce the risk factors for hypertension in the indigenous population namely lack of regular medical checkup, lack of regular exercise, cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse and lack of balanced diet. The project, which will be implemented for five years costing about $3000, will have reduced by half mortality and morbidity rates for hypertension in the Australian indigenous population. References McCracken, K. & Siciliano, F. (2015). Indigenous Population. Atlas of New South Wales. Retrieved from http://www.atlas.nsw.gov.au/public/nsw/home/topic/article/indigenous-population.html Australian Indigenous Health InfoNet (2012). Review of Cardiovascular Health Among Indigenous Australians. Retrieved from http://www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/chronic-conditions/cvd/reviews/heart_review# Campbell, S. K., Lynch, J., Esterman, A. & McDermott, R. (2013). Pre-pregnancy predictors of hypertension in pregnancy among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in north Queensland, Australia; a prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health, 13(138), 1-9. Harris, S. B., Bhattacharyya, O., Dyck, R., Naqshbandi, M. H. & Toth, E. L. (2013). Type 2 Diabetes in Aboriginal Peoples. Canadian Diabetes Association. Retrieved from http://guidelines.diabetes.ca/Browse/Chapter38 Joussen, A. M., Gardner, T. W., Kirchhof, B. & Ryan, S. (2007). Retinal Vascular Disease. Springer. Kazemian, E., Sotoudeh, G., Dorosty-Motlagh, A., Eshraghian, M. & Bagheri, M. (2014). Maternal Obesity and Energy Intake as Risk Factors of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension among Iranian Women. Journal of Health, Population & Nutrition, 32(3), 486-493. Kokkinos, P. (2010). Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention. London, UK: Jones and Bartlett Publishers. Lix, M. L., Bruce, S., Sarkar, J. & Young, K. T. (October 2009). Risk Factors and Chronic Conditions among Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Populations. Retrieved from http://ahrnets.ca/files/data/3/2011/07/Young%20Risk%20Factors.pdf. Mayo Clinic (2014). High Blood Pressure (Hypertension). Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/high-blood-pressure/in-depth/stress-and-high-blood-pressure/art-20044190 Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care (2012). Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention. Retrieved from http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/publications/hpromo/hpromo.aspx Penm, E. (June 2008). Cardiovascular Disease and its Associated Risk Factors in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Canberra: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Retrieved from http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6442455071 Stanfield, P. & Hui, Y. H. (2010). Nutrition and Diet Therapy: Self-Instructional Approaches. London, UK: Jones and Bartlett Publishers International. Read More