Family Health Assesment - Essay Example

Family Health Assessment The essay aims to address a two-fold objective to wit to develop two to three open-minded, family-focused questions for each of Gordons 11 functional health patterns; and (2) to briefly summarize the findings for each functional health pattern of the family and to analyze the findings of the family health assessment. Family Health Assessment The interview questions intended for the selected family are patterned according to Gordon’s 11 Functional Health Patterns. Each area in the Functional Health Patterns of Gordon are composed of 2-3 open-minded, family-focused questions and are adapted from Marjory Gordon’s (2010) Manual of Nursing Diagnosis 12th edition (p. 21-25). The questions are outlined below: 1. Health-Perception-Health Management Pattern a. How has the family’s general health been in the last few years? b. From the family’s viewpoint, what are the most important things to keep family members healthy? 2. Nutritional-Metabolic Pattern a. What is the typical family meal pattern/food intake? b. How frequent does each family member consult a dentist for dental care? 3. Elimination Pattern a. Which elimination aid does the father use? b. How does the family address the problem in waste/garbage disposal? 4. Activity-Exercise Pattern a. How frequent does the family engaged to exercise regimen? b. What type of leisure activities does the family enjoy? 5. Sleep-Rest Pattern a. How can you tell that family members seem to be well-rested and ready for school or work? b. What is the usual sleeping time/pattern of each family member? 6. Cognitive-Perceptual Pattern a. How does the family manage visual or hearing problems? b. How does the family decide on any big decisions affecting the family? 7. Self-Perception-Self-Concept Pattern a. What is the general mood of the family? b. What helps family mood? 8. Role-Relationship Pattern a. What are the usual problems that the family finds difficult to handle? b. How does the family feel about their relationship with neighbors and community? 9. Sexuality-Reproductive Pattern a. In your opinion, what is the appropriate age to discuss or explain sexual subjects to children? b. How does the family deal with the problems of family planning? 10. Coping-Stress-Tolerance Pattern a. How does the family handle stressful situations? b. How does support from other family members help ease the tension? 11. Value-Belief Pattern a. How important is religion to the family? b. What are the rules in the family that everyone believes to be deemed important? Analysis of the Family Health Assessment Based upon the interview, the following are the summary of the findings for each functional health pattern: 1. Health-Perception-Health-Management Pattern. The last few years have been a year of healthiness for the family. No family members got serious diseases nor were admitted for hospitalization. The family believed and learned from their experiences that the most important things to keep them healthy are early prevention, seeking treatment from a doctor once feeling of discomfort arises, and eating healthy and nutritious food. Analysis: The family is in healthy state. They have appropriate perception of what is considered healthy, managed health effectively, and demonstrate health-seeking behaviors. According to Basavanthappa (2008), a family is healthy if it opens its boundaries to admit and seek help with problems (p. 128). 2. Nutritional-Metabolic Pattern. Eating three times a day with 2 snacks in between are the typical meal pattern/food intake of the family. The mother makes sure that the meals being served are combination of meat, vegetables, and fruits. The family stated that they go to dentist twice a year for dental care. During the interview, we have found out that the eldest wanted to increase her dental care because she frequently has mouth sore. Analysis: The overall nutritional-metabolic pattern of the family is in line with the standards of healthy eating. Dental care needs were attended accordingly. However, one of the family members expressed additional need for dental care to address issues in mouth sore. Evidence suggests that a family who follow healthy eating habits such as eating regularly on time and including fruits, vegetables and whole grain on the meal live longer, healthier, and a more active life (Stanton, 2007, 9). 3. Elimination Pattern. Assessment revealed that the father suffers frequently from constipation and uses Dulcolax tablet to aid in the elimination. The family also addressed problems in waste/garbage disposal as the garbage collector are often late in collecting the family’s garbage, leading to a foul smell coming from the uncollected garbage. Analysis: The family is at high risk for diseases because of problems in waste disposal. The father also expressed his desire to have a normal bowel elimination pattern. Strict legislation in the community is needed to ensure safe handling, segregation, and disposal of waste/garbage; thus, the family has the responsibility to collaborate the problems with the city officer (Lawrence & May, 2003, 86). Meanwhile, the father who suffered frequently from constipation must be cautioned to minimize use of bulk-forming agents and seek the help of a doctor to find the real cause of constipation (Thaper, 2003, 83). 4. Activity-Exercise Pattern. Due to busy schedule, the family only got to exercise every weekend. The family enjoyed both active (sports, walking, traveling, etc.) and passive (reading, watching TV, etc.) leisure activities. The family expressed need for increased exercise activity that would fit their tight schedule. Analysis: Pilliteri (2009) stated that the families’ level of exercise are greatly reduced because of the busy schedule, which may led families to turn to fast food lunches and dinners to fit with their time management (p. 51). Despite engagement to activity-exercise regimen, the family expressed desire to enhance it as manifested by their request for counseling about exercise and nutritional program. 5. Sleep-Rest Pattern. The mother stated that with just one look at her children during breakfast, she can tell whether they got a well-rested night or not. Usually, her children are constantly gnawing if sleeps were not complete. The usual sleeping time of the family is 10pm; however, the three boys always stayed late at night because of computer games. Analysis: The routine time of sleep is imposed by the mother and the lack of sleep is well-noticed in their behavior. Although there are routine time for sleep, disruptive factors such as playing computer games, reduced the hours of sleep of other children. Children who do not receive enough sleep can suffer from sleep deprivation and 4 consecutive days of spoor sleep may cause them to experience disorientation, misperception, and difficulty in concentrating (Pilliteri, 2009, 1054). 6. Cognitive-Perceptual Pattern. Assessment revealed that a member of the family has ear infection and most of them use graded eyeglasses because of poor vision. Visual and hearing problems are managed by doctor consultation and use of corrective lenses. Any big decision in the family are decided collaboratively; family members talked about the decision and asked for the consensus of the group. Analysis: A family member with problems in vision or hearing poses a threat to the normal growth and development because much of what we know about the world is through sensory organs (Pilliteri, 2009, 1485). Meanwhile, Hepworth, Rooney, Rooney, Gottfried & Larsen (2010) states that a family is a social group wherein, each member is entitled to cooperate and coordinate their efforts, talk to each other, and express their preference in the decision-making process (p. 261). 7. Self-Perception-Self-Concept Pattern. A peaceful and happy family is the general mood of the family. The achievement of the family goals, stability, and presence of cute little children helps the family mood. Analysis: The family has positive perception and concept about themselves. The sense of stability raises their self-esteem and the cute little children makes them happy and hopefuls to daily life struggles. In the Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, families who were able to achieve stability and received affection from family members such as infants and children are more likely to have positive self-perception and self-concept pattern (White, 2005, 33). 8. Role-Relationship Pattern. The family has close familial relationship and viewed that there is no problems that they found difficult to handle. Conflicts were easily resolved because they talked about it. However, the family was not close with the neighborhoods and communities and is often inactive during community works and activities. Analysis: Hunt (2009) stated that the wide variety of family structures makes them not fit for the community living (p. 97). Further assessment of the community situations is necessary so that families can adjust to the place they live in. Meanwhile, minor conflicts are common in a family and communication matters a lot to resolve it and further develop a close familial relationship. 9. Sexuality-Reproductive Pattern. Parents agreed that the appropriate age to discuss or explain sexual subjects to children is at the age of 12. Parents believe that the “start of teen years” must be coupled with sexual education to teach them responsible parenthood and safety measures. However, teachings are limited to natural method as the family’s religion is Catholic. The couple faced problems in family planning because the method of family planning that they prefer is not in accordance with their religion; thus, the family tries to resolve this by bringing up the issue to a counselor. Analysis: The family is open-minded about sexual education but their religious culture is in conflict with the preferred sexual/reproductive pattern. According to Younge, Van Niekerk & Mogotlane (2003), sexuality is a basic human need but the social regulation and expression of sexuality varies from culture to culture (p. 134). Therefore, discussion related to sexuality, contraception, and safe sex practices must be discussed correctly, carefully, and based on one’s culture. 10. Coping-Stress-Tolerance Pattern. The family handles stressful situations through the support of each family member. The support of family members is extremely important as it made them feel sense of relief, comfort, and stronger because they know that there is someone they can turn to. Analysis: Boyd (2008) state that the ability to cope from different stressors is the result of family members’ involvement in the stress recovery process wherein, each member of the family are viewed as major source of support (p. 234). Therefore, the family support system makes the family tolerate or cope stress. 11. Value-Belief Pattern. The family values religion as extremely important as it guides their actions and belief towards life. There are family rules that they viewed as extremely important such as politeness towards elderly, attending mass, and other cultural norms of respect and religiosity. Analysis: Religion and religious belief extremely influenced a family and respect must be given to what they believe in. Knowing a family’s value/belief pattern requires creativity and variety of communication and assessment skills in order to effectively deliver necessary interventions (Daniels, 2004, 1509). Wellness Diagnosis Based upon the assessment and interview data derived from the family, the following are the identified wellness diagnosis of the family patterned according to Weber (2005) Nurses’ Handbook of Health Assessment, 5th edition: Health seeking behaviors Readiness Enhanced Skin Integrity Readiness for Enhanced Bowel Elimination Pattern Readiness for Enhanced Activity-Exercise Pattern Readiness for Enhanced Sleep Readiness for Enhanced Social Interaction Readiness for Enhanced Sexuality Pattern Conclusion Gordon’s 11 Areas of Functional Health Patterns is an effective tool in conducting a family assessment and formulating risk, actual, and wellness diagnoses. In addition, some of the Gordon’s 11 Areas of Functional Health Patterns assess a family’s situation through asking open-minded, family-focused questions. Family assessment revealed verbalization of the family to increase current health state in skin integrity, bowel elimination pattern, activity-exercise pattern, sleep, social interaction, and sexuality pattern. These are called the wellness needs of the family and categorized under wellness diagnoses. Wellness diagnoses are as important as other types of diagnoses in assessing a family. It is not only observable problems that should be noted but the request of the family also in improving the present state of health. Much as keeping the family healthy, the family also prioritizes achieving wellness in order to function effectively in the community and to contribute to the development of the overall health status of the community. Therefore, using Gordon’s 11 Areas of Functional Health Patterns will help a lot in identifying wellness diagnoses and improving the quality of life of the family and community. References Basavanthappa, B.T. (2008). Family Health Nursing. Community Health Nursing (2nd ed.) (p. 108-189). New Delhi: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers. Boyd, M.A. (2008). Stress and Mental Health. Psychiatric Nursing: Contemporary Practice (4th ed.) (p. 220-236). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Daniels, R. (2004). Spiritual Health. Nursing Fundamentals: Caring & Clinical Decision Making (p. 1489-1509). New York: Delmar Learning. Gordon, M. (2010). Functional Assessment Guidelines. Manual of Nursing Diagnosis (12th ed.) (p. 9- 34). Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Hepworth, D. H., Rooney, R.H., Rooney, G.D., Gottfried, K.S. & Larsen, J. (2010). Assessing Family Functioning in Diverse Family and Cultural Contexts. Direct Social Work Practice: Theory and Skills (8th ed.) (p. 227-272). California: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning. Hunt, R. (2009). Family Care. Introduction to Community-Based Nursing (4th ed.) (p. 79-120). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Lawrence, J. & May, D. (2003). Home Nursing. Infection Control in the Community (p. 77-102). London: Elsevier Science Limited. Pilliteri, A. (2009). The Childbearing and Childrearing Family. Maternal & Child Health Nursing: Care of the Childbearing & Childrearing Family (6th ed.) (p. 40-59). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Pilliteri, A. (2009). Nursing Care of a Family with an Ill Child. Maternal & Child Health Nursing: Care of the Childbearing & Childrearing Family (6th ed.) (p. 1033-1063). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Pilliteri, A. (2009). Nursing Care of a Family When a Child Has a Vision or Hearing Disorder. Maternal & Child Health Nursing: Care of the Childbearing & Childrearing Family (6th ed.) (p. 1485-1489). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Stanton, R. (2007). Introduction. Healthy Eating for Families (p. 8-11). Australia: Murdoch Books Pty. Limited. Thaper, G.D. (2002). Constipation. Family Handbook of Health (p. 81-83). India: Orient Longman Private Limited. Weber, J. R. (2005). Nurses Handbook of Health Assessment (5th ed. (n.p.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Retrieved on November 29, 2011 from http://jxzy.smu.edu.cn/jkpg/UploadFiles/file/TF_06928152357_nursing%20diagnoses%20grouped%20by%20functional%20health%20patterns.pdf White, L. (2005). Holistic Care. Foundations of Nursing (2nd ed) (p. 31-40). New York: Thomson Delmar Learning. Younge, A., Van Niekerk, C.F. & Mogotlane, S. (2003). Practicing Nursing within a Culturally-Diverse Society. Jutas Manual of Nursing (p. 130-140). Lansdowne: Juta and Co. Ltd. Read More