Proposed Solution to the Project Topic Selection and Approval

The topic of the current evidence-based practice project centers on effective disease control and prevention initiatives among marginalized groups. Marginalized groups such as racial minorities, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT), the elderly, the poor, and those who live in remote areas are overburdened by various diseases. These include chronic health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and various types of cancer (Baah et al., 2019; Lopez III et al., 2021). Some are affected by mental health disorders like depression, dementia, and schizophrenia (Schimitz et al., 2019). Due to economic and social disadvantaging that the marginalized populations are subjected to, they are often not able to access quality healthcare services for their conditions. As a result, they encounter poor health outcomes. This is one of the reasons as to why high rates of mortality are often reported among these groups.

In order to address the issue of disease among the targeted communities, there is need to put important measures in place. To begin with, some of the marginalized groups live in rural regions or areas that are very remote. Here, they are underserved by healthcare facilities. They also do not have enough healthcare personnel that can attend to their health needs. These problems can be solved by constructing more facilities, and recruiting more healthcare workers in the areas where these populations live (Wheatley et al., 2017). This can help to ensure that they easily access healthcare services.

Some marginalized people are extremely poor. They cannot afford basic healthcare services. This issue can be addressed by ensuring that they are able to access affordable health insurance cover (Nelson, 2014; Braveman et al., 2018). It is also important to note that marginalized groups such as the elderly are usually left behind in terms of accessing health information. This is due to the fact that many are not on social media, and they don’t normally follow mainstream media news. Ensuring that these people access relevant health education is important (Samonte & Vallente, 2018; Ward et al., 2018). It can be useful in improving their health outcomes by way of increasing their disease awareness.

Initially, the proposed solution to disease prevention and control in marginalized groups focused on general initiatives aimed improving these populations’ access to healthcare services. These included establishment of more healthcare facilities in marginalized areas, recruitment of more healthcare providers, provision of health insurance that is affordable, and provision of relevant health information (Wheatley et al., 2017; Braveman et al., 2018; Ward et al., 2018). However, the progress of the project has seen the proposed intervention changing in some significant ways. For instance, part of the solution now includes the provision of safe and quality healthcare services to the marginalized populations. There is also emphasis on the provision of patient-centered care. Moreover, the intervention is concerned with the improvement of nurses and other healthcare providers’ cultural competence.

There are three main factors that informed the change that led to the current perspective or direction of the proposed solution. Firstly, the achievement of better health outcomes requires quality and safe care services (Wheatley et al., 2017). Such services can help to ensure that various diseases affecting the marginalized are effectively dealt with. Secondly, patient-centered care is necessary for patient satisfaction (Nelson, 2014; Ward et al., 2018). Satisfied patients are more likely to achieve improved health outcomes than those who are not satisfied. Thirdly and lastly, cultural competence can enable the healthcare providers to understand the marginalized groups’ beliefs about disease and health (Samonte & Vallente, 2018; Ward et al., 2018). This knowledge can make it easy for them to work effectively with the populations.

References:

Baah, F. O., Teitelman, A. M., & Riegel, B. (2019). Marginalization: Conceptualizing patient vulnerabilities in the framework of social determinants of health – An integrative review. Nurs Inq., 26 (1): e12268. doi: 10.1111/nin.12268.

Braveman, P., Arkin, E., Orleans, T., Proctor, D., Acker, J., & Plough, A. (2018). What is health equity? Behavioral Science & Policy, 4 (1): 1-14. doi:10.1353/bsp.2018.0000.

Lopez III, L., Hart, L. H., & Katz, M. H. (2021). Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities Related to COVID-19.  JAMA, 325 (8):719-720.

Nelson, A. M. (2014). Best practice in nursing: A concept analysis.  International Journal of Nursing Studies, 51 (11).DOI:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2014.05.003

Samonte, P. R. V., & Vallente, R. U. (2018). Evidence-based practice (EBP). Salem Press Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://library.purdueglobal.edu/HA535/readings

Schimitz, R. M., Robinson, B. A., Tabler, J., Welch, B., & Rafaqut, S. (2019). LGBTQ+ Latino/a Young People’s Interpretations of Stigma and Mental Health: An Intersectional Minority Stress Perspective. Society and Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156869319847248

Ward, M., Schulz, A. J., Israel, B. A., Rice, K., Martenies, S. E., & Markarian, E. (2018). A conceptual framework for evaluating health equity promotion within community-based participatory research partnerships. Evaluation and Program Planning, 70: 25-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2018.04.014

Wheatley, L., Doyle, W., Evans, C., Gosse, C., & Smith, K. (2017). Integrated Comprehensive Care – A Case Study in Nursing Leadership and System Transformation. Nurs Leadersh, 30 (1):33-42. doi: 10.12927/cjnl.2017.25107. PMID: 28639549.