United States Department of Health and Human Services: Developing an Implementation Plan - Essay Example

Implementation Plan Implementation Plan Planning is essential for the implementation of any activity. It is particularly important when it involves a complex chain of activities which are aimed at attaining a common goal (New Zealand & New Zealand, 1999). Thus, planning is evidently crucial in such activities such as research which involves more than an activity in its execution. Moreover, planning is important in order to achieve a harmonious undertaking in any activity which involves more than one party. In some contexts a plan of how an activity is intended to be implemented is mandatory (New Zealand & New Zealand, 1999). This is not only meant to monitor the seriousness of the undertaking but also to aid in gaining the necessary support for the implementation of the activity. For instance, the proposed research is aimed at improving the health situation affecting mothers and children caused by the inefficacy of detection and intervention of the disorder. The achievement of this change is going to involve various parties as well as activities. The participants are human subjects adding to the criticality of the need for an implementation plan. Consequently, an implementation plan will play a profoundly important role in eliciting approval and support for the implementation of the research. Method of Obtaining Approval U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2009) refers the systematic investigation which involves research development, testing as well as evaluation with an aim of contributing to generalizable knowledge as research. The proposed research involves human subjects which makes it critical and thus has to be approved by the relevant authorities before it is conducted. According to U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2009), a human subject is the living individual relied upon by the investigator to provide data either through intervention and interaction with or through private information about him/her which is identifiable. A review of the proposed research and its approval by the institutional review board (IRB) will ensure that the research will be conducted legally. The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (2009) describes the functions of the institutional review board (IRB) as chiefly being the assurance of protection of the human subjects involved in any research. Consequently attaining an approval from the institutional review board means that the proposed research meets the constraints set forth and therefore it can be conducted (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2009). The presentation of the approved proposal to the relevant authorities in one’s institution instills confidence in them that it has put into thorough consideration the protection of the human subjects involved in the research. They, in turn, input their support to the research in order to enhance the achievement of the aims of the research to contribute to the development of the existing knowledge. The societies contribution to the protection of the mothers and the children will be enhanced through the achievement of improved efficacy as will be addressed by the research. Description of Problem Postpartum depression is observed to cause challenges in the normal mother-child bonding thus resulting in long-term personality problems in a child besides the effects it has on the mother (Moehler, Brunner, Wiebel, Reck & Resch, 2006). Thompson & Fox (2010) describe the effects of postpartum depression in a comprehensive analysis as affecting the neurological, the social-economical as well as the cognitive functioning of the victim. According to Field (2010) a child is more likely to face an intensified risk of developing behavior problems when both parents suffer from depression. Research indicated the existence of a positive association between postpartum depression and the problems in child behavior (Field, 2010). This happens as a result of malfunctioned mother-child bonding caused by the mother’s depression. Research has revealed that activities that enhance mother-child bonding lack between the mother-child interactions where mothers suffer postpartum depression (Kersten-Alvarez, Hosman, Riksen-Walraven, Van Doesum, & Hoefnagels, 2010). Field (2010) notes that statistics from earlier researchers indicate that postpartum depression affect approximately 13% of the mothers. In addition, 25% of these mothers seek professional help (McQueen, Montgomery, Lappan-Gracon, Evans, & Hunter, 2008). 50% of these women who are reported to suffer from postpartum depression are not diagnosed and, therefore, receive no intervention (McQueen, Montgomery, Lappan-Gracon, Evans, & Hunter, 2008). Detailed Explanation of Proposed Solution The neurological, socioeconomic and cognitive effects that postpartum depression caused to an individual are substantially a big challenge to many in the society. Thompson & Fox (2010) observes that there are significant impacts on social morbidity of a child caused by postpartum depression. This is caused by the inefficacy of detection and intervention of the postpartum depression in mothers. If there is an improvement in the efficacy of detection of the disorder, the 50% of postpartum depressed mothers who fail to be diagnosed with the disorder, can be diagnosed. Consequently, the percentage of those mothers who receive intervention in order to eliminate the prevalence of postpartum disorder together with its adverse consequences to the mother, child and the society at large can significantly increase. The proposed research proposes an improvement in the efficacy of detection and intervention of the postpartum depression through providing transformative education to the healthcare providers as well as the mothers who are the two parties most directly affected by this education. Educating nurses, due to the nature of their discipline and work, requires transformative education that is constant throughout their career (Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, At the Institute of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, & Institute of Medicine (U.S.), 2011). Giving nurses relevant education will enhance the outcome of their care to the patients. For instance, the use of an inappropriate screening tool may be one of the leading causes of failure of detection of postpartum depression in mothers. The consequences of this mistake, as has been observed in the cases given above, are profound and affect the society significantly. A solution to such a problem will be imparting nurses with knowledge of utilizing multiple screening tools as well as identifying the appropriate tools for screening postpartum depression in mothers from different cultures (Logsdon, Eckert, Beck & Dennis, 2012). Logsdon, Eckert, Beck & Dennis (2012) assert that this will avoid the high false-positive rate given at times when using a single screening tool. Thus, every health care provider dealing with mother-child issues is recommended to have expertise in the use of the Postpartum Depression Predictors Inventory (PDRI-R), the Postpartum Depression Screening Scale (PDSS) as well as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). In order for the nurses to be dynamic and adoptive of new practices, the government has the responsibility of providing the nurses with the necessary support so that they can continue delivering exquisite nursing care to their patients (Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, At the Institute of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, & Institute of Medicine (U.S.), 2011). Awareness creation through transformative education is the process by which this can be made possible. Thus, efficacy can be improved and the health of the mothers improved. Children who would have suffered from personality disorders from the effects of their mother’s ill-health caused by postpartum depression have a chance to benefit from health personalities. This timely detection and intervention of postpartum disorder is then seen to contribute to the wellbeing of not only the persons but also the whole society. Ultimately, improved mothers’ health is improved society’s health. Rationale for Proposed Solution Under the light of utilitarianism, 50% of a population who suffer from a case that requires intervention in order to avoid its long term effect on them and the other victims associated with the case is a significantly large proportion that is worth giving attention to. Since failure to detect postpartum depression in mothers is the challenge which causes problems in the mother-child bonding, all efforts should be directed to its solution. Therefore proposing for improved efficacy in the detection and intervention of postpartum depression in order to reduce the mother-child bonding problems through awareness creation is rational. 50% of the mothers who suffer from postpartum depression yet are not diagnosed with it can receive early intervention if their cases are detected. According to Moehler, Brunner, Wiebel, Reck & Resch (2006) there is a positive association that has been revealed through research between early detection and intervention of postpartum depression and a health mother-child bonding. Evidence to Support Proposed Solution Logsdon, Eckert, Beck & Dennis (2012) observe that having knowledge of utilizing multiple screening tools and identifying the appropriate tools for screening postpartum depression in mothers from different cultures is crucial in the detection of PPD. In addition, the use of multiple screening tools avoids the high false-positive rate given at times when using a single screening tool (Logsdon, Eckert, Beck & Dennis, 2012). Consequently, early detection of PPD allows early intervention that has been observed to have a positive association with a healthy mother-child bonding (Kersten-Alvarez, Hosman, Riksen-Walraven, Van Doesum, & Hoefnagels, 2010). Description of Implementation Logistics The government, nurses and mothers are expected to work harmoniously for the implementation of this research. The United States government will provide the nurses with the appropriate facilitation in order adapt to the education that it will provide to them regarding efficacy improvement in the detection of PPD. Thus the government and the nurses will be involved in the training programme. The nurses will engage the postpartum mothers in awareness creation on how the mother should identify postpartum depression symptom and seek professional help. They will also engage them in elaborating the components of the questionnaires that they will complete. Resources Required for Implementation To begin with, an approved copy of IRB reviewed proposal will be important to attain the permission to conduct the research. Questionnaires designed to collect the data that will be analyzed for presentation will be designed to suit the proposed research. The government, nurses and mothers will be involved in a harmonious participation in the research. The investigator will analyze the data collected in the research and use the analysis to prepare a PowerPoint presentation. References Committee on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Initiative on the Future of Nursing, At the Institute of Medicine, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, & Institute of Medicine (U.S.). (2011). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Field, T. (2010). Postpartum depression effects on early interactions, parenting, and safety practices: A review. Infant Behavior & Development, 33(1), 1-6. Kersten-Alvarez, L. E., Hosman, C. H., Riksen-Walraven, J., Van Doesum, K. M., & Hoefnagels, C. (2010). Long-term effects of a home-visiting intervention for depressed mothers and their infants. Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 51(10), 1160-1170. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2010.02268.x. Logsdon, M., Tomasulo, R., Eckert, D., Beck, C., Dennis, C. (2012). Identification of Mothers at Risk for Postpartum Depression by Hospital-Based Perinatal Nurses. MCN, The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing. 37(4), 218-225. McQueen, K., Montgomery, P., Lappan-Gracon, S., Evans, M., & Hunter, J. (2008). Evidence-based recommendations for depressive symptoms in postpartum women. JOGNN: Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing, 37(2), 127-136. doi:10.1111/j.1552-6909.2008.00215.x Moehler, E., Brunner, R., Wiebel, A., Reck, C., & Resch, F. (2006). Maternal depressive symptoms in the postnatal period are associated with long-term impairment of mother-child bonding. Archives of Womens Mental Health, 9(5), 273-278. New Zealand, & New Zealand. (1999). Implementation plan. Wellington, N.Z.: Ministry of Health. Thompson, K., Spring, & Fox, J., E. (2010). Post-partum depression: A comprehensive approach to evaluation and treatment. Mental Health in Family Medicine, 7(4), 249-257. U.S. Department Of Health & Human Services. (2009, July 14). Code of Federal Regulations | HHS.gov. Retrieved April 28, 2015, from http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.html#46.102 Read More