NR717 Week 5 Population Health Practice Problem

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NR717 Week 5 Population Health Practice Problem Assignment – Step-by-Step Guide With Example Solution

The first step before starting to write the NR717 Week 5 Population Health Practice Problem is to understand the requirements of the assignment. The first step is to read the assignment prompt carefully to identify the topic, the length and format requirements. You should go through the rubric provided so that you can understand what is needed to score the maximum points for each part of the assignment. 

It is also important to identify the paper’s audience and purpose, as this will help you determine the tone and style to use throughout. You can then create a timeline to help you complete each stage of the paper, such as conducting research, writing the paper, and revising it to avoid last-minute stress before the deadline. After identifying the formatting style to be applied to the paper, such as APA, review its use, including writing citations and referencing the resources used. You should also review the formatting requirements for the title page and headings in the paper, as outlined by Chamberlain University.

How to Research and Prepare for NR717 Week 5 Population Health Practice Problem

The next step in preparing for your paper is to conduct research and identify the best sources to use to support your arguments. Identify a list of keywords related to your topic using various combinations. The first step is to visit the Chamberlain University library and search through its database using the important keywords related to your topic. You can also find books, peer-reviewed articles, and credible sources for your topic from the Chamberlain University Library, PubMed, JSTOR, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Google Scholar. Ensure that you select the references that have been published in the last 5 years and go through each to check for credibility. Ensure that you obtain the references in the required format, such as APA, so that you can save time when creating the final reference list. 

You can also group the references according to their themes that align with the outline of the paper. Go through each reference for its content and summarize the key concepts, arguments and findings for each source. You can write down your reflections on how each reference connects to the topic you are researching. After the above steps, you can develop a strong thesis that is clear, concise and arguable. Next, create a detailed outline of the paper to help you develop headings and subheadings for the content. Ensure that you plan what point will go into each paragraph.

How to Write the Introduction for NR717 Week 5 Population Health Practice Problem

The introduction of the paper is the most crucial part, as it helps provide the context of your work and determines whether the reader will be interested in reading through to the end. Begin with a hook, which will help capture the reader’s attention. You should contextualize the topic by offering the reader a concise overview of the topic you are writing about so that they may understand its importance. You should state what you aim to achieve with the paper. The last part of the introduction should be your thesis statement, which provides the main argument of the paper.

How to Write the Body for NR717 Week 5 Population Health Practice Problem

The body of the paper helps you to present your arguments and evidence to support your claims. You can use headings and subheadings developed in the paper’s outline to guide you on how to organize the body. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence to help the reader know what point you will be discussing in that paragraph. Support your claims using the evidence collected from the research, and ensure that you cite each source properly using in-text citations. You should analyze the evidence presented and explain its significance, as well as how it relates to the thesis statement. You should maintain a logical flow between paragraphs by using transition words and a flow of ideas.

How to Write the In-text Citations for NR717 Week 5 Population Health Practice Problem

In-text citations help readers give credit to the authors of the references they have used in their work. All ideas that have been borrowed from references, any statistics and direct quotes must be referenced properly. The name and date of publication of the paper should be included when writing an in-text citation. For example, in APA, after stating the information, you can put an in-text citation after the end of the sentence, such as (Smith, 2021). If you are quoting directly from a source, include the page number in the citation, for example (Smith, 2021, p. 15). Remember to also include a corresponding reference list at the end of your paper that provides full details of each source cited in your text. An example paragraph highlighting the use of in-text citations is as below:

“The integration of technology in nursing practice has significantly transformed patient care and improved health outcomes. According to Morelli et al. (2024), the use of electronic health records (EHRs) has streamlined communication among healthcare providers, allowing for more coordinated and efficient care delivery. Furthermore, Alawiye (2024) highlights that telehealth services have expanded access to care, particularly for patients in rural areas, thereby reducing barriers to treatment.”

How to Write the Conclusion for NR717 Week 5 Population Health Practice Problem

When writing the conclusion of the paper, start by restating your thesis, which helps remind the reader what your paper is about. Summarize the key points of the paper by restating them. Discuss the implications of your findings and your arguments. Conclude with a call to action that leaves a lasting impression on the reader or offers recommendations.

How to Format the Reference List for NR717 Week 5 Population Health Practice Problem

The reference helps provide the reader with the complete details of the sources you cited in the paper. The reference list should start with the title “References” on a new page. It should be aligned center and bolded. The references should be organized in an ascending order alphabetically, and each should have a hanging indent. If a source has no author, it should be alphabetized by the title of the work, ignoring any initial articles such as “A,” “An,” or “The.” If you have multiple works by the same author, list them in chronological order, starting with the earliest publication. 

Each reference entry should include specific elements depending on the type of source. For books, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the book in italics, the edition (if applicable), and the publisher’s name. For journal articles, include the author’s last name, first initial, publication year in parentheses, the title of the article (not italicized), the title of the journal in italics, the volume number in italics, the issue number in parentheses (if applicable), and the page range of the article. For online sources, include the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) or the URL at the end of the reference. An example reference list is as follows:

References

Morelli, S., Daniele, C., D’Avenio, G., Grigioni, M., & Giansanti, D. (2024). Optimizing telehealth: Leveraging Key Performance Indicators for enhanced telehealth and digital healthcare outcomes (Telemechron Study). Healthcare, 12(13), 1319. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12131319

Alawiye, T. (2024). The impact of digital technology on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. E-Health Telecommunication Systems and Networks, 13, 13-22. 10.4236/etsn.2024.132002.

NR717 Week 5 Population Health Practice Problem Assignment Instructions

Purpose

This assignment will allow for the exploration of a selected population health practice problem, encompassing social determinant risk factors, epidemiological factors, an evidence-based population health intervention, and relevant measurable goals and objectives. Have a look at NR717 Week 6 ErnestYoung Discussion: Policy Analysis to Impact Population Health.

Instructions

Use the population (at the local, regional, or national level) you have engaged throughout the course thus far and develop a comprehensive analysis of the important population health concepts and propose an evidence-based intervention and evaluation plan.

The assignment should include the following components:

  1. Introduction
    1. Introduce topic of paper.
    2. Develop a focused one-sentence purpose statement.
    3. Present subtopics that will be discussed.
  2. Population
    1. Present the selected population in general terms.
    2. Identify three key social determinant risk factors associated with the population.
  3. Practice Problem
    1. Explain the National Practice Problem and how it affects the population.
    2. Explain the significance of the practice problem at the local, regional, or national level.
    3. Explain the prevalence of the practice problem at the local, regional, or national level.
  4. Epidemiology
    1. Explore the epidemiologic principles and measures used to address your selected practice problem.
    2. Examine the use of descriptive and/or analytic epidemiology to address the practice problem.
    3. Propose how you might use surveillance to influence the determinants of health and improve the health outcomes of your population.
    4. Anticipate any ethical concerns that you might have related to the use of surveillance data in your population.
  5. Goal and Objective
    1. Explore and detail one Healthy People 2030 goal that addresses the selected practice problem.
    2. Develop one measurable objective using the SMART format (review Week 4 Lesson) to help achieve the Healthy People 2030 goal that addresses the selected practice problem.
  6. Evidence-Based Population Intervention
    1. Identify one evidence-based intervention from a research study to achieve the goal and objective. (This research study must be at the population level and should not be one that was used in a previous course.)
    2. Add the study to the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Individual Evidence Summary Tool.
      • Johns Hopkins Individual Evidence Summary Tool
    3. Identify where the selected intervention is located on the Minnesota Public Health Wheel.
    4. Provide objective rationale for the evidence-based intervention to address the practice problem.
  7. Evaluation
    1. Describe how you would evaluate if your intervention were efficient, effective, and efficacious, and equitable.
  8. Conclusion
    1. Summarize the impact of the practice problem on the identified population.
    2. Summarize the role of the evidence-based intervention to address the practice problem idea.
  9. References
    1. Identify and list four scholarly sources on the reference pages.
    2. Identify and list other scholarly sources used in the paper on the reference pages.
    3. List sources in alphabetical order.
    4. Use correct hanging-indent format.
  10. Appendix: Summary Table of the Evidence
    1. Attach the completed Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice Individual Evidence Summary Tool.
    2. Provide a minimum of one research study describing the selected intervention.
    3. Complete all sections completely for the source of evidence.
    4. Identify both the quality and level of evidence for each scholarly source on the table.

Writing Requirements (APA format)

  • Length: 7-8 pages (not including title page or references page)
  • 1-inch margins
  • Double-spaced pages
  • 12-point Times New Roman or 11-point Arial font
  • Headings & subheadings
  • In-text citations
  • Title page
  • Reference page
  • Standard English usage and mechanics
Program Competencies

This assignment enables the student to meet the following program competencies:

  1. Analyzes health care policies to advocate for equitable health care and social justice to all populations and those at risk due to social determinants of health. (POs 2, 9)
  1. Translates a synthesis of research and population data to support preventative care and improve the nation’s health. (PO 1)
  1. Leads others in professional identity, advanced clinical judgment, systems thinking, resilience, and accountability in selecting, implementing, and evaluating clinical care. (PO 1)
Course Outcomes

This assignment enables the student to meet the following course outcomes:

  1. Critically analyze the history, formation, and implementation of local, state and national health policies from the perspectives of stakeholders and the profession of nursing. (PC 5; PO 2)
  1. Synthesize ethical and legal principles to advocate for value-based, equitable, and ethical health policies at the micro, meso, and macrosystem levels. (PC 5; PO 9)
  1. Assimilate epidemiology principles and interventions to impact the social determinants of health, Global Burden of Disease, and population health outcomes. (PCs 7, 8; PO 1)
  1. Formulate strategies for providing culturally relevant and high-quality healthcare to vulnerable and high-risk populations to address social injustice and health inequities. (PCs 7, 8; PO 1)
  1. Demonstrate collaborative interprofessional leadership and political competency to develop and implement healthcare policy to improve healthcare delivery and population health outcomes. (PC 5; PO 2)

NR717 Week 5 Population Health Practice Problem Assignment Example 

Population Health Practice Problem

By forming an interdisciplinary team to address individuals’ specific needs and the behavioral, environmental, and social factors that contribute to their overall health, a population health practice aims to improve the well-being and medical needs of a specific population. Cases of illness or injury within a population constitute a difficulty in population health practice. The paper aims to investigate the population’s health problems and possible solutions.

It also aims to identify the health practice issues plaguing a specific group and to outline interventions that can be implemented to mitigate their consequences. It will do so by discussing the key areas: the practice problems that affect the selected population, epidemiology assessments that can be used to confront the practice problem, measurable goals that can help accomplish health 2030 Goals, evidence-based interventions that can aid in accomplishing objectives and goals, and an assessment of the mentioned intervention.

Population

African Americans in Jackson, Mississippi, were chosen as the study population. Jackson is the largest city in Mississippi, located in both Hinds and Rankin counties. By 2021, the population of Jackson city had risen to 149,761 (United States Census Bureau, 2022).

82% of the population was black, whereas the white share was 16.54 percent, the Asian share was 0.32 percent, and the other racial and ethnic groups comprised 0.29 percent (United States Census Bureau, 2022). Jackson city has a poverty rate of about 25.42 percent and a median income of about $55,850.

The average monthly rental cost in recent years has been $847. In Jackson’s early years, the population grew to a peak of almost 200,000. Nonetheless, recent censuses show that the population has dropped for several years. People have left the city for the surrounding suburbs, explaining the downturn. African Americans in Jackson, Mississippi, face inequities in health care, economic hardship, and a lack of educational opportunity due to these three causes.

Practice Problem

Concerns about racial health disparities in healthcare are the most pressing issue affecting African Americans in Jackson, and this is a vital national practice problem. Recent research from the Jackson Heart Study has linked racial health inequalities to the rise in hypertension and heart disease in African Americans. It has been hypothesized that the persistent anxiety caused by racial health disparities is a factor in the development of hypertension.

Jackson Heart found that whereas black patients received care without respect to their health issues or necessities, white patients were more likely to be admitted to facilities that only serve white people as urgent cases (NLHBI, 2019). This action affects the client’s reaction to healthcare professionals, which may later contribute to the individual’s lack of trust, dissatisfaction, and unfavorable perception of the practitioners.

It affects people’s day-to-day lives, relationships, and places they can comfortably visit. Their options and choices are impacted. When people are discriminated against based on their religion, gender, race, ethnicity, or sexuality, it results in racial health disparities.

Epidemiology

When it comes to public health, studying racial health inequalities is crucial but often ignored. Disparities in health care for people of different races, ages, sexes, and other demographics have severe consequences for people’s physical and mental well-being (Brown et al., 2022). The negative impacts of racial health disparities have complicated causes, repercussions, and potential solutions.

Discrimination and other structural racism contribute to racial health inequalities (Brown et al., 2022). Epidemiologists can reduce racial health inequalities by focusing on socioeconomic determinants of health, adopting a lifespan approach, and developing culturally appropriate solutions (Schillinger, 2020).

Performing population-based studies on factors like residential environment and mortality risk are examples of measures. For instance, because they are less likely to have access to good schools and medical facilities, young black men have a death rate five times greater than young white men.

Racial health inequalities are studied and addressed using both descriptive and analytical epidemiological approaches. In descriptive epidemiology, researchers seek to identify health inequalities and examine their connections to factors such as patient and healthcare provider demographics (Celentano & Szklo, 2019). It helps answer questions about who is at the greatest risk, the disease’s incidence or mortality rate, how it progresses, whether it affects both sexes equally, and whether there are any discernible trends (Celentano & Szklo, 2019).

Descriptive epidemiology applies statistical techniques to report population aspects, such as disease incidence and prevalence rates, discrepancies in disease progression, variations in healthcare utilization, and the frequency of individuals contracting a specific disease or seeking certain medical services (Celentano & Szklo, 2019).

This strategy can be broken down into two distinct categories: one that emphasizes history, such as by defining past trends, and another that focuses on the future, employing forecasting models to identify vulnerable groups or predict the future burden of diseases (Celentano & Szklo, 2019). Although one method places more weight on the past while the other looks to the future, both can guide racial and health inequalities policy.

Conversely, an analytical approach to epidemiology would involve conducting experiments to determine the factors that contribute to health inequalities. It focuses on separating the effects of environmental exposures from the effects of observable variations in risk behaviors or underlying genetic traits (Celentano & Szklo, 2019). This methodology is ideal for studying racial inequalities because it enables researchers to accurately evaluate complex problems, such as those arising from racial prejudice.

Application of Epidemiology to Improve Health Outcomes

Using samples from various local groups and comparing them with data from other communities, I would conduct surveillance to identify issues and develop solutions to improve population health. This can aid in diagnosing health issues, allowing for more targeted treatment. Furthermore, it can establish the necessity of interventions and quantify their outcomes, which can help determine if the intervention is working as intended or needs to be modified.

Ethical Concern

Using surveillance information for purposes other than what it was designed for raises ethical concerns. Information obtained should be put to good use in a way that helps the people to whom the data originally belonged (Elwy et al., 2022). Surveillance data, for instance, should not be gathered for a select few people who do not fit the target demographic. Using surveillance data in this way is unethical. The population involved in the epidemiological study is the main stakeholder who should receive information while disseminating the results.

Goals and Objectives

The primary objective of a healthy goal is to enhance people’s health status. In this instance of health inequalities, the objective is to guarantee universal access to healthcare. This is what entails health equity. Experts in the field of health state that health equality is achieved when the highest degree of health is attained for all people (Liburd et al., 2020).  To eliminate healthcare and health inequalities and promote health equality, society must work to remove existing inequalities, historical and modern injustices, and a lack of value for all members of society (Liburd et al., 2020).

According to Healthy People 2030 (2021), a health disparity is a specific variation in a population’s health directly tied to social, financial, and environmental disadvantage. Groups of people or populations who face or have suffered discrimination based on race or ethnicity, such as those who are geographically or physically disadvantaged or whose sexuality, age, psychological health, socioeconomic position, or sexual orientation are impacted negatively (Healthy People 2030, 2021).

Consequently, the primary objective of Healthy People 2030 is to eradicate health disparities, realize health equity, and promote access to health information to enhance the well-being and general health of all individuals (Healthy People 2030, 2021). Because of this, people of all backgrounds and income levels are guaranteed and affirmed equal access to medical treatment.

Evidence-Based Population Intervention

Reducing Health Insurance Costs for Vulnerable Populations is one example of a research-based intervention. This is the most efficient strategy for reducing health inequalities and enhancing people’s quality of life. Shrank et al. (2021) found that the primary factor in healthcare inequalities between different groups was the high cost that patients had to pay out of pocket.

Access to primary, specialty care, preventive services like vaccinations and screening tests, and other vital health checks that can help prevent serious illnesses is made more affordable with health insurance coverage, thereby lowering these financial constraints (Shrank et al., 2021). This intervention is in the yellow tier of Minnesota’s Public Health Wheel, as it entails advocacy for enforcing policies that will make healthcare more affordable.

Individuals now have more flexibility in selecting a healthcare provider, thanks to the increased coverage they enjoy. Individuals without health insurance have lower access to healthcare and higher mortality rates, making it imperative to expand health insurance coverage to reduce health disparities (Shrank et al., 2021).

The availability of healthcare professionals, the cost of care, and other factors all have a role in determining whether or not a patient can get the medical attention they need (Shrank et al., 2021). Due to their lower socioeconomic status, lower educational attainment, and other risk factors, those without health insurance are more likely to develop potentially fatal conditions, including heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.

Evaluation

The plan is to assess the effectiveness, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of the initiative to increase health insurance coverage. Counting the number of applications submitted to insurance providers and the proportion of those granted coverage will determine whether the intervention succeeded. If the Affordable Care Act were to be assessed, it would be determined whether or not the number of individuals without health insurance has decreased and whether or not the number of people with insurance has increased.

To gauge the success of the intervention, it would be assessed whether or not more individuals are using their health insurance plans before they get sick rather than after. Also, looking at whether or not more people have the opportunity to receive medical care that they did not have before due to the Affordable Care Act can help one determine if the problem is quantitative, such as whether or not their location or economic status played a role, or qualitative, like whether they had health insurance or not.

Conclusion

The city’s health gap disproportionately affects African Americans in Jackson, Mississippi. Healthcare for them is rated lower than for people of other cultural backgrounds. Inequalities may arise due to age, economic status, gender, sexual orientation and level of education.

As a result, the population suffers from a high death rate and a wide range of chronic illnesses such as hypertension and heart disease. Greater access to health insurance can help reduce health inequalities. More people will be able to get the preventative care they need, and some conditions can be detected and managed sooner if more people have healthcare available to them.

References

Brown, D., Hardy, M., & Bruno, A. (2022). rationing and disparities in health care: implications for radiology clinical practice guidelines. Journal of the American College of Radiology, 19(1), 84–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacr.2021.09.023

Celentano, D., & Szklo, M. (2019). Gordis epidemiology (6th ed.). Elsevier.

Elwy, R., Maguire, M., Kim, B., & West, S. (2022). Involving stakeholders as communication partners in research dissemination efforts. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 37(S1), 123–127. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-021-07127-3

Healthy People 2030. (2021). Health Equity in Healthy People 2030 – Healthy People 2030 Accessed March 15th, 2023 from https://health.gov/healthypeople/priority-areas/health-equity-healthy-people-2030

Liburd, C., Hall, E., Mpofu, J., Marshall Williams, S., Bouye, K., & Penman-Aguilar, A. (2020). Addressing Health Equity in Public Health Practice: Frameworks, Promising Strategies, and Measurement Considerations. Annual Review of Public Health, 41. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-040119-094119

NLHBI. (2019). Jackson Heart Study (JHS) | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Accessed March 15th 2013 from https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/science/jackson-heart-study-jhs

Schillinger D. (2020). The intersections between social determinants of health, health literacy, and health disparities. Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, 269, 22–41. https://doi.org/10.3233/SHTI200020

Shrank, H., DeParle, A., Gottlieb, S., Jain, H., Orszag, P., Powers, W., & Wilensky, R. (2021). Health costs and financing: Challenges and strategies for a new administration. Health Affairs, 40(2), 235–242. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01560

United States Census Bureau. (2022). QuickFacts: Jackson, Mississippi. Accessed March 15th 2023 from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/jacksoncitymississippi