NURS FPX 6026 Assessment 2 Biopsychosocial Population Health Policy Proposal

NURS FPX 6026 Assessment 2 Biopsychosocial Population Health Policy Proposal

Student Name

Capella University

NURS-FPX 6026 Biopsychosocial Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice 2

Prof. Name:

Date

Biopsychosocial Population Health Policy Proposal 

Our team’s position focused on addressing adolescent obesity through school-based interventions, which include educational initiatives and policy changes to foster healthier lifestyles among adolescents. While educational initiatives include nutritional counseling and physical therapy, policy development emphasizes healthier diets and nutritious food. This assessment proposes policy and practice guidelines to improve the care and enhance health outcomes of adolescent obesity within the targeted population. 

Policy Proposal and Guidelines for Improved Outcomes

To address obesity among the adolescent population, the proposed policy is to implement school-based interventions that include educational initiatives and policy changes. 

Adolescents in the 12-18 age group should become a part of preventive health education programs within the schools. These programs should focus on evidence-based nutritional guidance and enhanced physical therapy. Additionally, develop and implement school-based policies to regulate the availability of nutritious foods within school premises and limit access to sugary snacks and beverages. 

This policy will enhance outcomes and quality of care for adolescents suffering from or at high risk of developing obesity by impacting behavioral changes and improving adolescents’ lifestyles in achieving desired health states. Additionally, school-based policy regulations help create a supportive environment for targeted individuals to address critical contributors to obesity and make impactful behavioral shifts (Jacob et al., 2021). This proactive approach averts immediate health risks associated with obesity, promoting long-term well-being and allowing the healthcare system to provide quality care against obesity-related chronic diseases.

Guidelines for stakeholders to implement the policy include four significant steps – 1) Curriculum development and integration, which includes incorporating evidence-based nutritional education and physical activity components into the existing school curriculum, guaranteeing a high-quality delivery of health information. 2) Professional development comprises ongoing training for teachers and educators to deliver health education efficiently using interactive modules and persuasive knowledge. This training ensures educators stay updated on best practices, enhancing the quality of health education (Nubani Husseini et al., 2022). 3)

NURS FPX 6026 Assessment 2 Biopsychosocial Population Health Policy Proposal

Community engagement through active collaboration with parents, healthcare professionals, and community leaders to expand the impact of interventions beyond school boundaries and reinforce healthy behaviors. 4) Policy enforcement to regulate the availability of food items on school premises creates a supportive environment that aligns with the intended goals, promoting adherence to health recommendations (Narayanan, 2019). 

However, resource limitations, resistance to change, and cultural sensitivity may arise as potential difficulties during the implementation of this proposed policy. Effective budgeting and advocating for enhanced funds will benefit to address limited resources. These funds can be received by emphasizing the importance of managing obesity on long-term cost-effectiveness to prevent chronic diseases. This information can be spread through comprehensive awareness campaigns, which will also help address the resistance among stakeholders. Lastly, community input and tailoring health education according to cultural differences using culturally sensitive approaches will mitigate cultural sensitivity barriers. 

Advocacy for the Proposed Policy

The current health outcomes for adolescent obesity reveal a rising prevalence of healthcare concern among the targeted population. The World Health Organization considers obesity as one of the most crucial underdiagnosed healthcare conditions, affecting more than 200 million school-aged children. Another statistic uncovers that 1 in 10 school-going children suffer from this chronic disease and its related health conditions (Kumari et al., 2022). Another study reveals that adolescent obesity is higher (20.6%) as compared to pre-school children (13.9%). Moreover, the authors claim that approximately 80% of adolescents suffering from obesity will continue the disease in their adulthood (Sanyaolu et al., 2019). Additionally, obesity-related health issues, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, are increasingly prevalent.

Similarly, the quality of care for adolescents varies widely. Currently, the strategies to manage obesity are segregated, and there is a lack of a holistic approach. Johnson et al. (2020) focus on explaining how a multi-disciplinary treatment through a holistic approach is essential to reduce these numbers of cases. Moreover, the current care lacks standardization, consistency, and evidence-based approaches across educational institutions. Variations in these factors and the lack of a holistic approach contribute to disparities in health outcomes among adolescents, advocating for comprehensive school-based interventions to address the issue. 

NURS FPX 6026 Assessment 2 Biopsychosocial Population Health Policy Proposal

Addressing this issue through comprehensive school-based interventions is paramount to mitigating long-term health consequences. School-aged children are in their critical development stage. Addressing the issue at this stage prevents immediate health risks and instills positive behavioral changes for lifelong habits (Jacob et al., 2021). Thus, our proposed policy is instrumental in ensuring improved outcomes and quality of care by introducing standardized, evidence-based preventive health education programs and policy shifts in schools to address the root causes of obesity and reduce its prevalence. However, some contrary viewpoints about the potential for stigmatization and resource wastage are pertinent in this case.

The literature presents that stigmatization is a common comorbid for obesity in school-aged children. School-based interventions may become overaggressive and target obese individuals, which affects their inclusion in primary activities, exacerbating mental health challenges (Baile et al., 2022). Moreover, some critics underline the need to allocate resources to societal projects instead of individualized school-based programs. They advocate redirecting resources to address crucial issues, especially in resource-constrained settings (Almutairi et al., 2022). Yet, the comprehensive nature of our proposed policy and interventional program, along with its potential long-term benefits in preventing obesity-related health issues, underscores its importance in working toward meaningful improvements in outcomes and the quality of care for adolescents.

Potential of Interprofessional Approach

Implementing the proposed policy would significantly benefit from an interprofessional approach. Involving professionals such as health educators, nutritionists, physical education instructors, school nurses, policymakers, parental involvement coordinators, and community liaisons would guarantee a holistic approach to the policy implementation. According to Garg et al. (2023), the interdisciplinary approach offers several benefits. First, it utilized the diverse expertise of professionals, ensuring a multifaceted understanding of the challenges adolescents face.

This approach helps to respond to physical, mental, and lifestyle needs and preferences. Additionally, the interprofessional approach encourages shared commitment to the policy’s success, promoting a cohesive and sustainable effort to achieve high-quality outcomes (Garg et al., 2023). Despite the potential benefits of an interprofessional approach, questions about effective modes of communication and strategies for overcoming potential conflicts need clarification. It is essential to identify how to adapt the approach to various cultural contexts and socioeconomic backgrounds for its successful implementation.

References

Almutairi, N., Burns, S., & Portsmouth, L. (2022). Barriers and enablers to the implementation of school-based obesity prevention strategies in Jeddah, KSA. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 17(1), 2135197. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2022.2135197 

Baile, J. I., González-Calderón, M. J., & Rabito-Alcón, M. F. (2022). Obesity bias in the school setting: A brief report. Children, 9(7), 1067. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9071067 

Garg, M., Badiuddin, H. F., Begum, S., Kumar, P., Ali Mohammed, C., Kalasuramath, S., & Gilbert, J. HV. (2023). Evaluation of co-existence of overweight and anemia among young adults in Coastal Karnataka, India using an interprofessional approach. Clinical Epidemiology and Global Health, 23, 101386. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cegh.2023.101386 

Jacob, C. M., Hardy-Johnson, P. L., Inskip, H. M., Morris, T., Parsons, C. M., Barrett, M., Hanson, M., Woods-Townsend, K., & Baird, J. (2021). A systematic review and meta-analysis of school-based interventions with health education to reduce body mass index in adolescents aged 10 to 19 years. The International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 18, 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-020-01065-9 

NURS FPX 6026 Assessment 2 Biopsychosocial Population Health Policy Proposal

Johnson, V. R., Cao, M., Czepiel, K. S., Mushannen, T., Nolen, L., & Stanford, F. C. (2020). Strategies in the management of adolescent obesity. Current Pediatrics Reports, 8(2), 56–65. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40124-020-00214-9 

Kumari, S., Shukla, S., & Acharya, S. (2022). Childhood obesity: Prevalence and prevention in modern society. Cureus, 14(11), e31640. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.31640 

Narayanan, N. (2019). A school-based intervention using health mentors to address childhood obesity by strengthening school wellness policy. Preventing Chronic Disease, 16. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd16.190054 

Nubani Husseini, M., Zwas, D. R., & Donchin, M. (2022). Teacher training and engagement in health promotion mediates health behavior outcomes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(5), 3128. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19053128 

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, 2333794X1989130. https://doi.org/10.1177/2333794X19891305