Health Education for Female African Americans With Diabetes

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Introduction

Currently, following changes in lifestyle and types of food people consume daily, there is a rise in health problems as a result of unhealthy eating habits. In order to address and inform the public about the challenges, nurses are required to intervene by educating the population on the issues to enhance their understanding of the risks associated with the conditions they are facing. Digital transformation in the healthcare sector has prompted the development of different telehealth programs to assist providers in imparting adequate information to patients and other endangered individuals in the community. The presentation will focus on diabetes health conditions among female African Americans.

The Population

The population target for the healthcare education assessment is African American women aged 55 years old and above. Based on previous research, females in the community are at risk of obesity. Some findings indicate that one in four women is obese, which makes the condition a major health concern in society. The rate has risen following limited intervention to educate and help people manage the situation. The inability to access early screening and the high level of male incarceration of male counterparts are key contributing factors to the epidemic amongst African American females.

Population Difference from My Own

The population under study is different from my own in terms of age, where the target is 55 years old females. Reduced level of literacy, which makes them unable to speak fluently and understand the English language. Moreover, their body structure contains more fat, especially on the upper parts. The group is not able to read and write effectively, following problems with eyesight. The lifestyle has significantly impacted their eating habit, leaving them less concerned about diet. The overwhelming and unbearable living conditions make the population face challenges leading to a high rate of depression and anxiety. For instance, the aspect of racial discrimination in various institutions in the country frustrates and makes them vulnerable to psychological disorders.

Importance of Health Needs

Accessing and understanding the healthcare needs of a given population is essential for enhancing patient safety. For instance, the health need of African American females is important because it enables health professionals to plan and commission the necessary resources to help in managing the menace of obesity among women. Similarly, it enables the professionals to uncover the underlying causes and impacts of the health condition to the target group. The assessment reduces the waste of facilities since the providers will focus on the exact population under threat. Furthermore, it makes it easier for the nurses to educate the individuals about the condition they are likely to encounter, thus increasing their understanding of possible ways to manage the disease.

Special Learning Challenges

Among African American females, a number of special learning challenges exist that require keen assessment in order to improve the condition of patients having diabetes. For instance, the community is experiencing high levels of poverty due to inadequate resources and government intervention, leaving them with little to no income to support their health insurance needs. Their genetic composition contains specific traits that make them prone to the disorder. Similarly, the group is more obese which increases their likelihood of suffering from diabetes. Following age and other factors, the population practices a sedentary lifestyle that makes them less inactive, leading to more fat accumulation in their body, causing obesity. Moreover, language barrier contributes to reduced visits to healthcare facilities for early screening to determine the blood sugar level.

Mobile Phone as the Teaching Tool

The appropriate tool that can be used to teach the population on health issues is mobile phones. Technology is common among the majority of people hence even the African American women can access and use them at their comfort. Similarly, the device is small in size which makes it portable hence the patient can carry them around wherever they go. The tool allows users to apply codes that require owner authentication to access the information contained within the handset. Smartphones are capable of performing different operations which makes them suitable for educational purposes. Moreover, the digital tool has the capability of accessing online platforms making it reliable for research and video-conferencing activities.

Features of Smartphone that make it Suitable Tool

The evolution of mobile phones has resulted in the development of high-tech smartphones that bear key features, such as those found in computer devices. Current handsets have search engines useful for research activities. They have software applications that can be used for communication and other relevant operations. Similarly, the devices have sound recorders and quality cameras hence suitable for video-conferencing. Some such as Android versions have the capability of sharing and accepting other Apps that facilitate consultation. Furthermore, apart from their internal storage (Random Access Memory), they can hold external (Read Only Memory) therefore making them have a massive storage system for large quantities of data.

How Smartphone Works in Nursing Practice

Smartphones are designed in such a way that it allows users to install different software needed for storing and accessing healthcare materials. Nurses and patients can use a given application that contains details and records of the specific disease condition. Features such as spreadsheets allow patients to keep medical information. Its ability to connect to the internet makes it suitable for browsing services and web-based activities. Their clear cameras and high-resolution screens make them suitable for video conferencing. In addition, by using apps such as WhatsApp, patients can easily communicate with their caregivers to ask questions and confirm the status of their health progress.

Uses of Smartphones in Healthcare

The incorporation of nursing informatics in healthcare has significantly impacted care delivery services in hospitals and clinics. Currently, smartphones are being used by nurses and other healthcare stakeholders to facilitate effective and quality patient care. The handsets offer an array of uses that are beneficial to both providers and patients. For instance, they are used to store patients’ medication records, educate a given population about disease prevalence and enhance communication between nurses and sick individuals. Moreover, smartphones allow physicians to access necessary information, especially during emergencies. In cases where the patient cannot reach the hospital as required by the doctor, it provides a platform where nurses can easily monitor the well-being of the sick person.

Why Smartphone Tool is Appropriate for the Population

Since most African American women are economically disadvantaged, it is easier for them to acquire smartphones as compared to other technical devices. Mobile phones are generally small in size, making them portable and thus can be carried and used anywhere the patients go. Similarly, most families are exposed to the device; hence they are familiar, making them to be common and user-friendly. Moreover, some smartphones have sensors that can be used to determine the health condition hence reducing the frequent patient visit to the healthcare. Their ability to connect to the internet allows for video conferencing, which is useful for remote diagnosis. The process enables sick individuals to reduce transport expenditures because they meet the nurses virtually.

Conclusion

The advancement in technology has played a significant role in patient care delivery. Sick individuals can be easily educated by nurses through smartphone devices that contain various features suitable for training purposes. The ease of accessing and using mobile phones makes them the appropriate tool for African American women suffering from diabetic conditions. Nurses can use the devices to store and retrieve medical data of the patients hence making it easier to provide quality care services. Through the technology, practitioners can reach the population and advise them on the prevalence of obesity among females of the given age bracket.

Reference

Ainsley, B., & Brown, A. (2009). The impact of informatics on nursing education: A review of the literature. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 40(5), 228-232.

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