NRS 428 What are social determinants of health? 

NRS 428 What are social determinants of health? 

NRS 428 What are social determinants of health? 

Hello Professor, Social determinants of health (SDOH) refer to the conditions in which people are born, live, work, and age, which significantly impact their health outcomes. These determinants include socioeconomic status, education, housing, access to healthcare, social support, and transportation. Common SDOH factors include low income, poverty, education, housing, healthcare access, social support, and transportation.

Education is the one I would like to discuss in the home care setting that I work. Not many of the parents speak English. What the home care agency did was to have an interpreter hot line where the parents can express themselves in their local language. pamphlets are also made available in different languages.

Healthcare facilities can address these determinants through case management, community partnerships, health education, telehealth services, culturally competent care, and financial assistance. Regular needs assessments are crucial for healthcare providers and facilities to identify the most prevalent SDOH affecting their patient population and tailor their resources and interventions accordingly.

Reference

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Lesson 1: Introduction to epidemiology. 

Thank you for your intentional response. Education is crucial, especially when there are language barriers and many people do not take the time to make sure that the patients/families understand. Your thoughtful insight is the perfect approach. Well said 🙂

Where I work which is a prison setting, the most prominent social determinant of health is healthcare and quality. It is important because we ought to offer our patients the best available care regardless of who they are. We are very consistent in assessing our patients. We offer them sick call slip which is a way to communicate to nursing every day and voice their issues, we make sure we do follow ups on each patient that is presented with an issue. We do weekly summaries of each patient by ensuring they comply with their appointments.

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Health access and quality are the most prominent in my hospital. We have elderly patients without healthcare access or Medicare/Medicaid coverage that does not cover the needed rehab services. We have case management that helps facilitate different resources for the uninsured and underinsured. Many places are willing to take charity cases. A patient recently did not have health insurance due to being self-employed. She had altered mental status and could not make decisions; the case manager got ahold of the family and suggested they fill out a Medicaid application. Now she will be able to get the care she needs long-term.

The field of medicine continues to operate under a “risk factor” paradigm focused on behavioral modification for high-risk groups as the primary strategy for preventing disease (e.g., smoking cessation, decreasing salt and fat intake, and reducing sedentary lifestyle) (Andermann, 2016). Healthcare professionals have to create supportive environments. Our hospital is centered in the middle of a low-income community. There are convenience stores on every corner, making it easy to access cigarettes and alcohol. With no access to healthy foods, crime rates are high as well. The hospital has a homeless pantry that provides healthy foods for patients who come in off the street, and clothes and shoes are available for discharge. The transition from home to health and health to home needs to be seamless to prevent any hesitation from patients seeking medical care and prevention from returning to unhealthy habits leaving the hospital.

Andermann, A. (2016). Taking action on the social determinants of health in clinical practice: A framework for health professionals. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal, 188(17-18), E474. https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.160177

The social determinants of health are key components of an individual’s overall well-being and play a critical role in shaping their health outcomes (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion [ODPHP], n.d.). They help to describe how health is influenced by various factors, such as socioeconomic status, education, and access to resources (ODPHP, n.d.). Social determinants of health contribute to disease because individuals may not have access to care, face financial barriers, or lack essential resources (ODPHP, n.d.). For example, a pregnant woman may not be able to attend her routine prenatal visits due to a lack of transportation, financial constraints, or inadequate childcare support. As a result, she may miss out on essential prenatal care, which can increase the risk of complications during pregnancy and negatively impact the health outcomes of both the mother and the baby. In this scenario, the social determinants of health, such as transportation, financial stability, and support systems, directly affect the woman’s ability to access necessary healthcare, leading to potential health challenges for her and her unborn child. In order to address the issues faced by individuals at risk of not achieving health wellness due to social determinants, it is essential to foster programs that promote equity and provide support to those in need (ODPHP, n.d.). One fundamental concept, the communicable disease chain model, is designed to represent how germs and infectious diseases spread from one living being to another (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], n.d.). This visualization, with its components of portal of entry, reservoir, mode of transmission, susceptibility, and portal of exit, aids in public understanding of the chain processes and how to break it (CDC, n.d.). Nurses play a pivotal role in breaking the link in the chain of infection through measures like frequent handwashing, proper sanitization, isolation protocols, vaccination promotion, and infection control practices (CDC, n.d.). By diligently employing these methods, healthcare professionals can help stop the chain of infection and promote better health outcomes for individuals and communities.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Lesson 1: Introduction to epidemiology. 

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. (n.d.). Social determinants of health.