Provide a report of 12 pages based on the points below.
This assignment will require that you have delivered your education at the community agency (Brea community center). Please address the following:
Briefly summarize your population and the educational topic chosen.
How did your audience react to your presentation?
What was the result of your evaluation plan?
How will your education improve the outcomes of the population?
What went well?
What could you have done better?
What advice would you give to a student who will be doing this project in the future?
Unit 3 Individual Project
Christina Bermeo
Colorado Tech University
Unit 3 Individual Project
The agency interview took place in the Brea Community Center where I interviewed the leader of the after-school program. The interview took place on Friday December 17th. The leader works with the Hispanic population, the low-income socio-economic class, and childhood obesity. The interviewee coordinates the program and equally works to provide care and assistance to the vulnerable populations. The agency interview provides insights regarding the problems that the vulnerable populations face as well as the needs that must be met to ensure the populations achieve optimal health outcomes. Some of the issues facing the populations that came up during the interview include inequalities associated with their social class and immigration status, low income and low access to healthcare services as well as discrimination (Tangcharoensathien et al., 2018). The above issues are likely to make the populations shy away from seeking care or health-related interventions. The agency recommended education on the washing of hands to prevent the contracting and transmission of COVID-19.
Based on the assessment of my research on the agency interview, the vulnerable population’s educational needs related to COVID-19 include washing hands and nutrition. The interview brought into the limelight gaps related to proper handwashing and nutrition patterns. Due to the vulnerable population’s social/economic status, they barely access healthy foods. Similarly, the population does not take seriously the issue of proper handwashing as preventive measures to acquiring and transmitting COVID-19. The two educational needs are significant in determining the population’s health outcomes. HealthyPeople.gov. (2019) asserts that educational interventions focus on disease prevention, improving the population’s health, and enhancement of quality of life. If the populations are therefore educated on nutrition and proper handwashing, they are likely to show a change of lifestyle and behavior that will promote the achievement of positive health outcomes
Yes. My assessment needs and those of the agency were the same. My assessment established that one of the populations (childhood obesity) served by the agency required comprehensive education on nutrition to improve their health outcomes and reduce the risk of having complications especially in adulthood. According to Sanyaolu et al. (2019), childhood obesity in the US has reached the epidemic status with the prevalence rate being at 17 percent. The condition is linked to heart diseases, stroke, and poor quality of life. Similarly, I noted that the populations practiced minimal and improper hand hygiene exposing them to the virus. Some of the populations washed their hands without soap which was ineffective in preventing contracting or transmitting COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends regular handwashing with soap and water (Rundle et al., 2020). Both the agency and I felt the need for more sensitization on the importance of proper handwashing and proper nutrition to minimize infections.
The evaluation process is of great significance in determining whether the recommended activities have been carried out as desired. Evaluating a project allows the project managers to analyze both the successes and flaws while equally providing an opportunity for improvement. The evaluation process would be largely reliant on the populations’ ability to change behavior and perceptions on the identified needs. The two identified needs were nutrition and hand washing. The populations need to show a change in eating habits for example more consumption of fruits and vegetables as compared to foods high in fats, sugars, and carbohydrates. Similarly, on handwashing, the populations need to demonstrate regular handwashing practices with soap and water. The evaluation would be based on either a positive or negative view of the entire process of education. It is important to note that some people view a change of their lifestyles as an intrusion into their personal lives hence are likely to show resistance. A show of resistance to either changing eating habits or engaging in regular hand washing would communicate the need to make changes in the educational processes.
The anticipated health outcomes would include a reduction of the childhood obesity rates among the populations. Obesity rates are directly proportional to weight and BMI. According to Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. (2018), childhood obesity is marked by a body mass above 85th percentile. If the population’s show a reduction of the population’s weight would be a positive indicator of a change and new preferences for fresh and balanced meals as compared to foods high in cholesterol, sugars, and sodium. Besides weight reduction, a reduction in cholesterol levels would be an indicator of healthy eating patterns. It is important to note high cholesterol levels and unproportioned body mass index (BMI) are risk factors for comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases, high burden of healthcare costs, and poor quality of life among the populations (Carson et al., 2020). Another health outcome that would be expected to improve over time is the populations’ immunity. Due to the consumption of healthy foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, they are likely to have an improved immunity. Hence their probability of acquiring easily transmitted infections like flu will reduce. Regular and proper handwashing will equally lower their probability of acquiring infectious diseases among them COVID-19.
References
HealthyPeople.gov. (2019, September 26). Educational and community-based programs. Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/educational-and-community-based-programs
Rundle, C. W., Presley, C. L., Militello, M., Barber, C., Powell, D. L., Jacob, S. E., … & Dunnick, C. A. (2020). Hand hygiene during COVID-19: recommendations from the American Contact Dermatitis Society. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. (2018). Healthy Schools. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/obesity/facts.htm
Sanyaolu, A., Okorie, C., Qi, X., Locke, J., & Rehman, S. (2019). Childhood and adolescent obesity in the United States: a public health concern. Global pediatric health, 6, 2333794X19891305.
Carson, J. A. S., Lichtenstein, A. H., Anderson, C. A., Appel, L. J., Kris-Etherton, P. M., Meyer, K. A., … & Van Horn, L. (2020). Dietary cholesterol and cardiovascular risk: a science advisory from the American Heart Association. Circulation, 141(3), e39-e53.
Tangcharoensathien, V., Mills, A., Das, M. B., Patcharanarumol, W., Buntan, M., & Johns, J. (2018). Addressing the health of vulnerable populations: social inclusion and universal health coverage. Journal of global health, 8(2), 020304. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.08.020304
Unit 4 IP
Name
Institution
Date
Unit 4 IP
The populations chosen were the Hispanic population, childhood obesity, and low-income socio-economic class. The three populations are vulnerable to negative health outcomes due to their social determinants of health which include low income, low access to healthcare services, and lack of health insurance (Tangcharoensathien, et al., 2018). The educational topics related to COVID-19 that were chosen are nutrition and hand washing. The interview that took place in the Brea Community Center showed gaps related to nutrition patterns and proper handwashing. The recommended proper handwashing protocol entails thorough washing of hands with soap and running water. Proper nutrition entails consuming healthy foods in limited portions based on a person’s age and nutritional requirements.
I did my presentation using a poster that was designed to suit a grade five audience. The audience showed positive reception to my presentation as it was easy to read and understand. The presentation included both words and graphics which made it appealing to different senses.
The evaluation plan focused on a change of behavior among the target audience about handwashing and nutrition patterns. Upon completion of the educational phase, the evaluation plan noted some changes in the target population. There was a positive change regarding hand washing. The populations now practiced more regular hand washing with soap and running water. The change of behavior aligned with the project’s anticipated outcomes. However, little change was noted regarding the populations’ dietary patterns. It was noted that the populations had little income and therefore could barely afford fresh foods, especially from the farmer’s relatively expensive markets. The populations’ nonetheless expressed their desire to consume healthy meals and snacks to maintain healthy outcomes, lower the burden of disease, especially childhood obesity while at the same time improving their quality of life.
My education is likely to facilitate a change of behavior both in feeding patterns and hand hygiene. It is important to note that while some people might engage in some things due to ignorance, others might do similar things due to a lack of knowledge. For example, someone might think that handwashing with plain water is equally effective as handwashing with soap. The education will therefore instill knowledge into the target populations resulting in the modification of their lifestyles hence improving their health outcomes. Proper handwashing with soap and running water is likely to minimize the transmission of infectious diseases from one person to the other. Similarly, the consumption of healthy foods will ensure that the populations’ immunity is high hence minimizing their risks of acquiring infections.
The delivery of the health education went well since the audience was receptive and appreciative of the project whose overall goal was to improve their health outcomes. The use of a poster as an educational material was effective since some members of the audience vowed to safely pin the posters at home as points of reference.
I would advise a student that would be doing this project in the future to use diverse educational methods to appeal to different learners’ styles of learning. For example, when presenting the educational material, one could include role-plays, simulations, and demonstrations which could help to improve mastery of content. Similarly, the student should ensure that the project is audience-centered which will allow them to be active rather than passive participants.
Reference
Tangcharoensathien, V., Mills, A., Das, M. B., Patcharanarumol, W., Buntan, M., & Johns, J. (2018). Addressing the health of vulnerable populations: social inclusion and universal health coverage. Journal of global health, 8(2), 020304.