Population-Focused Interventions In A Rural Community
Population Focused Interventions In A Rural Community
Population Focused Interventions in a Rural Community In this activity, you will identify health issues or concerns that impact a specific population group living in Sentinel Town to address health promotion and disease prevention. Enter Sentinel Town and click the map to locate a citizen or family. Review the bio-sketch relevant to the specific population group (i.e., elderly, immigrants, single parents, Hispanic men or women, etc.). Identify three (3) key health issues or concerns that impact a specific population group living in a rural community. List the determinants of health relevant to each of the issues or concerns. What are three (3) common issues or concerns similar for people in this population group who live in urban areas might encounter? Explain why or why not this would be different from the rural setting. Provide an evidence-based health promotion or disease prevention intervention for each identified issue or concern. Would the location, rural or urban, impact your interventions, why or why not? Provide a rationale that includes statistical data. Read Chapter 10 in Rubenfeld, M. G., & Scheffer, B.K. (2015). Critical thinking TACTICS for nurses: Achieving the IOM competencies (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett. Read Finn, P. (2011). Critical thinking: Knowledge and skills for evidence-based practice, Language, speech, and hearing services in schools, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (42), 69–72. All submissions should have a title page and reference page. Utilize a minimum of two scholarly resources. Adhere to grammar, spelling, and punctuation criteria. Adhere to APA compliance guidelines. Choose one submission option: a 4-6 page paper including title and reference pages.
Paper For Above instruction
Introduction
The importance of targeted health interventions in rural communities cannot be overstated, especially when addressing specific population groups that face unique health challenges due to environmental, social, and economic factors. Sentinel Town, as a representative rural community, provides a context for understanding these issues, which are often compounded by limited healthcare access and resource disparities. This paper identifies three key health issues affecting a specific population group in Sentinel Town, explores their determinants, compares these issues with urban counterparts, and proposes evidence-based interventions while considering the impact of rural versus urban settings.
Population Group Selection and Health Issues
For this analysis, the focus will be on elderly individuals residing in Sentinel Town. This population often faces distinct health challenges related to aging, mobility, social isolation, and chronic disease management. The three primary health concerns identified are:
1. Chronic Disease Management (e.g., hypertension, diabetes)
2. Social Isolation and Mental Health
3. Access to Healthcare Services
Each of these issues significantly impacts the health outcomes and quality of life of rural seniors.
Determinants of Health
1. Chronic Disease Management: Determinants include limited healthcare access, low health literacy, and transportation barriers. Rural residents often lack nearby clinics or specialists, complicating ongoing management of chronic conditions (Bennett et al., 2018).
2. Social Isolation and Mental Health: Factors such as geographic isolation, limited social networks, and transportation difficulties contribute to loneliness and depression among seniors (Cohen-Mansfield et al., 2016).
3. Access to Healthcare Services: Geographic barriers, provider shortages, and inadequate health infrastructure hinder timely and comprehensive healthcare delivery (Hing et al., 2017).
Comparison with Urban Settings
In urban areas, similar issues—such as chronic disease management, social isolation, and healthcare access—are prevalent but often manifest differently. Urban seniors may benefit from closer proximity to healthcare facilities, community centers, and social networks. However, they also encounter issues like healthcare system complexity and disparities among subpopulations (Berkowitz et al., 2020).
Differences lie mainly in physical accessibility and social connectivity; rural seniors experience greater physical barriers, while urban seniors may face social fragmentation amid dense populations. Despite these differences, both groups contend with managing chronic illnesses and mental health concerns, albeit influenced by their environments.
Evidence-Based Interventions
1. Chronic Disease Management: Implement telehealth programs tailored for rural seniors, providing remote consultations and self-management education. Studies demonstrate that telehealth improves disease control and reduces hospitalization rates among rural populations (Kvedar et al., 2014). Rationale: Telehealth mitigates transportation barriers; statistical data show increased telehealth use led to better hypertension control (Dering et al., 2020).
2. Social Isolation and Mental Health: Establish community-based social programs incorporating regular check-ins via telecommunication, and mobile health clinics. Randomized controlled trials reveal that such interventions decrease loneliness and depressive symptoms (Choi et al., 2014). Rationale: Rural settings benefit from mobile outreach, as fixed clinics may be inaccessible.
3. Access to Healthcare Services: Expand community health worker (CHW) programs trained to assist with scheduling, transportation, and health education. Evidence indicates CHW interventions improve healthcare navigation and outcomes for rural seniors (Viswanathan et al., 2010). Rationale: CHWs act as a bridge between healthcare services and rural residents, a critical factor due to provider shortages.
Impact of Rural vs. Urban Settings on Interventions
Location significantly influences intervention efficacy. In rural communities, interventions like telehealth and mobile clinics are essential due to physical barriers and provider scarcity (Floyd et al., 2018). Conversely, urban interventions might focus more on integrating services within existing high-density facilities and targeting subpopulations with social or economic vulnerabilities (Lloyd & Johnson, 2019).
While interventions such as telehealth are adaptable across settings, their success depends on infrastructure, internet access, and technological literacy, which are often less developed in rural areas. Therefore, tailoring interventions to environmental realities ensures better health outcomes.
Conclusion
Addressing health issues among rural populations necessitates a comprehensive understanding of environmental and social determinants and their impact on health. Tailoring evidence-based interventions such as telehealth, community outreach, and health navigation programs can substantially improve health outcomes for rural seniors. Recognizing the differences between rural and urban contexts is vital for effective health promotion and disease prevention, ultimately reducing disparities and fostering healthier communities.
References
Bennett, K., Valentine, J., & Kenealy, T. (2018). Healthcare access and chronic disease management in rural populations. Rural and Remote Health, 18(2), 4333.
Berkowitz, S. A., Traore, C., & Chen, S. (2020). Urban health disparities and social determinants influencing health outcomes. Journal of Urban Health, 97(3), 366–378.
Choi, N. G., Marti, C. N., & Bruce, M. L. (2014). Social connectedness and depression among rural older adults. Aging & Mental Health, 18(4), 397-404.
Dering, K., O'Malley, S. S., & Valdmanis, V. (2020). Telehealth efficacy for chronic disease in rural settings. Telemedicine Journal and e-Health, 26(8), 960-967.
Floyd, J. E., Head, D., & Brown, P. (2018). Infrastructure challenges in rural health interventions. Public Health Reports, 133(6), 778–785.
Hing, E., Kearney, A., & Cohen, R. (2017). Access to rural healthcare: Barriers and solutions. American Journal of Public Health, 107(9), 1358–1362.
Kvedar, J. C., Fogel, A. L., & Milstein, A. (2014). Digital health technologies and integrated care. NPJ Digital Medicine, 1, 1-8.
Lloyd, S., & Johnson, C. (2019). Urban health and intervention strategies. Urban Institute Publications, 45(3), 211–220.
Viswanathan, M., Kraschnewski, J. L., & Nishikawa, B. (2010). Outcomes of community health worker interventions. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 39(4), 356-363.