Understand the Socioeconomic Influences on Health - Essay Example

Health Promotion Table of Contents Task Understand the Socioeconomic Influences on Health 4 Introduction 4 1 Effects of Socioeconomic Influenceson Health 4 1.2 Evaluating Relevance of Government Sources in Reporting Health Inequalities 6 1.3 Reasons for Barriers to Accessing Healthcare 6 Conclusion 7 Task 2: Understand Models of Health Promotion 7 Introduction 7 2.1 Analyse the Links between Government Strategies and Models of Health Promotion 8 2.2 Role of Professionals in Meeting Government Targets for Health Promotion 10 2.3 Role of Routines in Promoting Healthy Living 11 Conclusion 12 Task 3: Understand Factors which influence Health Promotion 13 3.1 Explaining Health Beliefs that relate Health Behaviour Theories 13 3.2 Possible Effects of Potential Conflicts with Local Industry on Health Promotion 14 3.3 Explain the Importance of Providing Relevant Health Related Information to the Public 15 Task 4: Health Promotion Campaign 17 4.1 Planning a Health Promotion Campaign to Meet Specific Objectives 17 4.2 Health Promotion Campaign to Supports Health Promotion Strategies 20 References 21 Task 1: Understand the Socioeconomic Influences on Health Introduction Communities surrounding different developed, developing or underdeveloped countries are often witnessed to undergo major hurdles in acquiring appropriate support for their health and wellness services. In relation to the unconventional era, health care industry is highly influenced by a wide range of socioeconomic factors that have significantly helped to understand the current growth or development of this industry. In relation to the recent observations of the healthcare industry, the UK has undergone an apparent crisis, principally due to the unabated issues raised relating to the costs associated with the healthcare services (Bilyeu & et. al., 2009). The primary aim of this part of the essay is to explore the influence of the key socioeconomic factors on health with a critical assessment of relevance government sources in reporting on inequalities in health. Moreover, the essay also includes a critical understanding about major barriers in terms of accessing healthcare services by the people in a particular community or state. 1.1 Effects of Socioeconomic Influences on Health According to the unconventional global environment, socioeconomic factors have major impact on health. The major socioeconomic factors that have significant impact on health include income and social status; physical environment; health services; education and social support networks (World Health Organisation, 2014). The influence of each socioeconomic factor has been described in the following sections. a. Income and Social Status Income as well as social status of individuals can be duly accepted as one of the major set of socioeconomic factors that have a major influence on the health condition of the individuals. According to the observation of various studies, it has been perceived that the higher income level and social status of the individuals are significantly linked with a better health and wellness. Significant indifferences between the richest and poorest reflect a dissimilar health condition of the individuals (World Health Organisation, 2014). b. Physical Environment Physical environment around the communities also has a major impact on the health of individuals. In this regard, adequate cleanliness and safety in the communities, workplaces or households significantly determine better health condition. Clean air, safe water and hygienic environment often help community members to reduce possible health issues and promote wellness of each individual (World Health Organisation, 2014) c. Health Services Adequate accessibility and effective use of health services that help to prevent diseases is also a major determinant of a health community. Moreover, appropriate way of treating with ailments that have negative influence on individuals’ health is also an utmost concern of health services (Public Health Agency of Canada, 2008) d. Education Education can also be regarded as one of the key socioeconomic determinants behind health and wellness of individuals. Adequate educational background often helps in lowering the issues associated with poor health. Moreover, education also increases self-confidence as well as stress level of the individuals (Graham, 2004). e. Social Support Network An effective support and cooperation with family members, friends and community members often have major effect on the health condition of individuals. In this context, cultural aspects such as religious norms, traditions, customs and beliefs of the supportive members have significant influence on health and wellness of the individuals (Do & Park, 2009). 1.2 Evaluating Relevance of Government Sources in Reporting Health Inequalities The health care department in the UK is the sole responsible division or group to report delivery of healthcare services to the community members. The department is in this context accountable to record each entry associated with health condition and services that are rendered by the institutions to the community members. According to the current health industry in the UK, the government is highly committed to maintain appropriate equalities to each individual irrespective of their demographic variances. In this regard, the government sources such as policies that are likely to address wider determinants can be witnessed in reporting health inequalities in the nation. Moreover, continuous progress in the institutions in terms of developing effective strategies and wider practice of delivering health care services around each corner of the region is also a major governmental resource to avert the issue of health inequalities (Bryant, 2002). 1.3 Reasons for Barriers to Accessing Healthcare Barriers to access healthcare can be regarded as one of the long-standing issues in the global health and wellness industry. In relation to the current healthcare industry of the UK, unabated cost intensification as well as wider differences in the socio-economic backgrounds of the community members can be regarded as major barriers in terms of assessing healthcare. In the context of barriers associated with costs in healthcare, the increasing competition of the institutions as well as changing strategic policies of the public and privately held organisations can be duly accepted as few of the major reasons of creating barriers to access healthcare services. Correspondingly, the barriers resulted from the socio-economic factors are often intensified due to the inappropriate setting of the urban and rural areas. Nevertheless, significant difference in income levels of the community members is also a major reason leading to create barriers for accessing healthcare services (National Occupational Standards, 2012). Conclusion In relation to the recent phenomenon in the health industry, promotion has been achieving paramount attention for the organisations involved with it. In order to assess the modern phenomenal contribution of health promotion, adequate understanding about the key socioeconomic factors is a one of the major determinants for the healthcare institutions or agencies to improve health and wellness of the community members. According to the previously mentioned discussion, it has been perceived that the governmental resources have been also playing a critical role towards delivering adequate promotional campaigns and offering wide range of practice guidelines to maintain health and wellness of the individuals. However, the cost intensification as well as wider socioeconomic differences among the community members has major influence on developing their health and wellness. Changing governmental policies in the context of acquiring appropriate health and wellness programs or services have been also recognised to reduce the scope of the health promotion activities for improving health of the communities. Task 2: Understand Models of Health Promotion Introduction The primary aim of this part of the essay is to assess an effective model of health promotion over the concern of smoking habits of the members in the communities. In order to address the existing issue associated with smoking habits, the essay also tends to discuss the relationship of government health development strategies with an effective and relevant health promotion model. This part of the essay also focus on factors that include defining roles and responsibilities of the health development professionals in terms of performing essential activities towards protecting community individuals from the brutal consequences of smoking habits. Finally, the section critically explores the role and relevance of an appropriate routine or schedule towards improving health and wellness of the individuals with smoking habits (Ryan, 2010). 2.1 Analyse the Links between Government Strategies and Models of Health Promotion A strong relationship between government strategies with effective health promotion model can be regarded as a major combination in terms of maintaining health and wellness of each individual within the nation. In relation to the recent healthcare practices of the public institutions, most numbers of the public organisations in the UK incorporates a major association with the health promotion models in terms of delivering quality based and appropriate set of health benefits to the community members (Ransdell, 2001). In order to critically assess the link between government strategies and health promotion models, the following section briefly highlights the health promotion strategy of European Quality Instrument for Health Promotion (EQUIHP) with the help of PRECEED and PROCEED framework that determine the current healthcare services of the governmental agencies or institutions. Fig1. PRECED & PROCEED Model Source: (Ransdell, 2001) In accordance with the implementation of the previously mentioned model, the primary activities of the health promotion strategy will be focused on identifying the key socioeconomic factors causing individuals to pursue smoking habit. Moreover, it will help to determine and formulate effective prevention method to reduce or eliminate the smoking habit of the community members. The implementation and progress assessment stage of the model would enable in determining the effectiveness of physical activities and scheduled day-to-day living procedure of the individuals. In addition, it will provide a better understanding about the efficacy of the proposed prevention techniques and their requisite evaluation processes for eliminating the habit of smoking in the community (Ransdell, 2001). 2.2 Role of Professionals in Meeting Government Targets for Health Promotion Health promotion professionals play a crucial role to increase quality of the healthcare services along with meet each postulated goal and objective determined by the authoritative government. According to the modern roles of professionals in the UK’s health promotion practice, the roles of the professionals in health promotion activities can be characterised into three broad categories such as global trend, advocacy and ethical principles (Potter & Perry, 2006). In the context of global trends, roles of the professionals in health promotion generally includes adequate understanding about the reforms and inequalities in the global healthcare industry and identifying changing illness patterns as well as ageing of societies is a major set of responsibilities. Moreover, determining workforce imbalance in healthcare institutions; newly developed global health treats, and telecommunication advances are few of the major roles of the professionals while promoting health (Arksey & et. al., 2003). Correspondingly, the advocacy of the professionals generally includes a wide range of activities that help institutions to implement health promotion. In this context, selecting issues, designing and implementing appropriate actions can be a set of basic practices of the professionals. Moreover, elaborating strategic plans seizing opportunities with adequate accountability and communicating and engaging external members and communities have been also recognised to be a major set of roles of the professionals in health promotion (Kececi & Bulduk, 2012). Nevertheless, ethics in promoting health is also a most common type of responsibilities of the professionals. The ethical guidelines in health promotion provide strong mortal, instruments as well as rationales associated with health advocacy actions. In the context of ethical obligations, the health professionals are liable to conserve ethical principles by offering adequate support towards meeting needs of each individual seeking health and wellness (Public Health Action Support Team, 2007). 2.3 Role of Routines in Promoting Healthy Living Raising awareness regarding healthy living choices is one of the major aims of a health promotion model or practice. In this regard, developing routines with health diet along with schedules to increase wellness of individuals plays a pivotal role for the people seeking healthy living. An appropriate routine can provide a systematic structure regarding regular intake can increase health and wellness of the individuals. Despite developing dietary charts, and routines to maintain hygienic environment of the communities, workplaces and households can also help the individuals to achieve the goal of healthy living (National Occupational Standards, 2012). Being as a smoking cessation officer in a G.P. practice, the health promotion activities will substantially focus on substantially lowering the habit of smoking from the individuals in the community. In order to improve the health and wellbeing of the community members, the promotional campaign will highly focus on improving dietary habits of the individuals with smoking habits. The appropriate schedule of their diet pattern along with developing appropriate schedule of reducing their stress level will be a major initiative. The daily exercise and physical activities will lower the amount of stress, which often aids in lessening smoking habit of the individuals (National Occupational Standards, 2012). Conclusion According to the observation of the aforesaid discussion, it has been postulated that the health promotion models play a major supportive role for the healthcare institutions to promote health and wellbeing of the community members. The critical assessment of the health promotion model in this particular part of the essay has provided a major understanding of the activities to assess the impact of various socioeconomic factors on individuals and control smoking habits. According to a critical evaluation of the model, it has been perceived that diagnosing of the socioeconomic factors will help to identify the major factors that impose individuals to adopt smoking habits. In this regard, the assessment of the factors would also help to develop an effective prevention plan in order to deal with the persisting smoking habits of the community member. According to the assessment result, it has been identified that majority of the community members are involved in smoking habits as a source of enjoyment and remove stress levels. In this regard, the campaign of offering appropriate dietary chart and physical activities will significantly help to reduce the negative impact and in controlling smoking habits. Task 3: Understand Factors which influence Health Promotion 3.1 Explaining Health Beliefs that relate Health Behaviour Theories In order to assess the relationship between health beliefs with health behaviour theories, the obligations regarding the aspects in the Health Belief Model (HBM) can be duly accepted in the recent health promotion studies. According to an in-depth understanding of the current health promotion practices, HBM is one of the foremost conceptions behind the theories in individuals’ health behaviour. The model tends to suggest that the health behaviour of an individual is influenced by his/her perceptions regarding threats of a particular health problem. Moreover, it ensures that the value relating to the potential preventive actions towards lowering the threat from the identified health problem (Clarke, n.d.). The health belief framework proposes that the dependencies of an individual’s health behaviour involve few major areas such as: The severity of a potential health hazard Susceptibility of individuals to that health related concern Potential benefits by taking adequate prevention processes and Potential barriers to be encountered while executing effective prevention The following pictorial illustration represents an appropriate health belief model with health behaviour theoretical propositions. 3.2 Possible Effects of Potential Conflicts with Local Industry on Health Promotion According to the modern theories and practices associated with health, the strategic goals and health promotional activities are often recognised to involve major conflict with the local healthcare industry. Health promotions often include wider strategic measures to promote prevention of harmful aspects that causes major health issues on individuals. Moreover, the promotional activates associated with health and wellbeing includes identifying and developing effective measures to deal with the barriers to the preventive actions in respond to the health problem (Bryant, 2002). However, in the recent phenomenon, the promotional activities associated with health often involve a major conflict with the existing healthcare industry. The conflict has been attributed as the strategies associated with health promotion or improving public health, which are highly depended on the health policies and guiding principles. In relation to the modern healthcare industry, bringing changes in the health promotion is crucial to develop effective plan for the individuals and improving their healthy living within the communities. In addition, the public health programs are established in order to provide clear reflection of the policy aims of the key local departments and/or units in the industry. In this regard, the policy design and implementation in the health industry has been identified to mitigate conflict to a certain extent (Bryant, 2002). 3.3 Explain the Importance of Providing Relevant Health Related Information to the Public The concept of providing health care information to the people helps in getting a better comprehension with regard to the present day practices within the healthcare sector. It has been learnt that health related information are quite prominent for efficient operations of the healthcare organizations and overall sector at large. Information related to any particular health helps individuals to gain better insight and likewise, they can take preventive measures to protect their health from any undesirable issues. It has been argued that healthcare information provided to the customers must be in simplistic manner, which will ensure easy understanding ability of the same by the public. It has been comprehended that people in the present day scenario must remain aware about the latest happenings of the healthcare industry with regard to information relevant to disease, measures of dealing with various health complications and prevalence of methods to deal with any specific disease among others. In this context, the role of sharing health related information to the people becomes quite vital. Health related information that is being conveyed to people primarily involves evidence based data that depicts the present day status of the healthcare sector. This aspect is largely prevalent within the healthcare sector of the UK. Health promotions are quite prominent in the UK and it is being highly regarded by the concerned authorities. Health promotions in the UK are conducted with the help of campaigns, distributing health related leaflets amid the general people and extensive advertising among others (International Council of Nurses, 2008). Health promotions and conveying health related information to the people in the UK is conducted with the intention to ensure a better lifestyle for people where they could ensure prevention from chronic illness and maintaining a health altogether. The health related promotions and advertising in the UK include diet, obesity, daily exercise tips and measures for prevention of heart disease among others. Some of the major sources where people could acquire health related information include general health promotion websites, accident prevention reports published by the healthcare sector, and reports and articles related to health among others (Graham, 2004). Task 4: Health Promotion Campaign 4.1 Planning a Health Promotion Campaign to Meet Specific Objectives Smoking is often recognised causing poor health, diminish quality of life and result premature death of a large number of individuals across different communities in the UK. In relation to the statistical review of the communities, it has been identified that more than 50% of the adult population are experienced with smoking habit. Therefore, the major objective of the proposed health promotion is to develop a plan of gaining comprehensive control on smoking habits of the young and old adults in the communities (Ransdell, 2001). Goal of the Plan With due consideration to the huge health and economic burden caused from the smoking habits in the community members, the primary goal of this proposed plan has been developed into two major objectives. Developing a health promotion campaign by strengthening and comprehensively implementing traditional approach to minimise or eliminate smoking habits of the community members Bringing feasible changes in the conventional health promotion program by shifting regulatory landscape to permit provisions relating to eliminating smoking habits of each individual Possible Impact of the Health Promotion Campaign Enhance health awareness of the community members Substantially reduce economic burden of individual having smoking habit Minimise acute diseases that deteriorate health of the community members Enhance consciousness of the community towards enhancing health promotion campaign regarding the issue Increase awareness of the health promotion policies and enable to develop requisite provisions relating to the concern Help to enhance leveraging health and safety of each individual within the community Identifying Factors or Barriers to the Promotional Campaign The proposed health promotion campaign will also focus on determining possible constraints. In relation to the defined concern of smoking habit, the campaign will significantly encounter issues associated with socioeconomic factors leading to increase the number of individuals with smoking habits. In this regard, income-levels and social status, gender, physical environment, health services, education and social support networks will be taken into consideration. Establishment of Health Education Outcomes The appropriate health education outcomes based on which the health promotion needs will be developed have been depicted in the following: Encouraging the community members to develop self-improvement skills of the individuals with smoking habits Improving the number of participants towards promoting health and wellbeing of the community members Generating awareness in the community about the basic practice of promoting healthcare control of the population having smoking habit Planning and Designing the Health Educational Plan In accordance with the aims of the proposed health education program, the planning and designing phases will mainly include key activities that can enable to assess and evaluate the current health improvement promotion process in respond to the population with smoking habits. Therefore, the outline of the proposed health education plan has been developed in alignment with the stages of PRECEDE-PROCEED model. A brief overview of the outline developed for the health education program has been provided hereunder. Social diagnosis Epidemiological diagnosis Behavioural and environmental diagnosis Educational diagnosis Operational or policy making diagnosis Implementation evaluation Progress assessment Impact assessment and Result assessment Evaluating Outcomes of the Proposed Health Education Plan The health promotion campaign will certainly encourage the community members to develop self-improvement skills of the population with smoking habit The health promotion campaign will assist the number of participants towards promoting adequate control of health and wellbeing of community members Awareness in the community regarding the basic practice of promoting healthcare control of the populations with smoking habit 4.2 Health Promotion Campaign to Supports Health Promotion Strategies In order to provide adequate support, the proposed health promotion campaign highly focused on developing activities in accordance with the major goals and objectives of the health promotion strategies. A strong association with the health promotional strategic goals and objectives will help to improve health and wellness of the community members. In addition, ensuring adequate compliance with the health promotion policies and guiding principles will help the health promotion campaign to s accomplish its predetermined objectives. Correspondingly, the proposed health promotion campaign will also help the promotion strategies to define effective promotional activities regarding the health awareness activities for the people with smoking habit. Poster References Arksey, H. & et. al., 2003. Access to Health Care for Carers: Barriers and Interventions. Report for the National Co-ordinating Centre for NHS Service Delivery and Organisation R & D (NCCSDO). [Online] Available at: http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/spru/pubs/pdf/access.pdf [Accessed Decvember 15, 2014]. Bilyeu, D. K. & et. al., 2009. The Unsustainable Cost of Health Care. Documents. 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