Biopsychosocial Population Health Policy Proposal Assignment Paper
Introduction
Health disproportionality continues to affect vulnerable populations, including ethnic minority groups and those with low social economic status. This has been the case also for diabetes as these vulnerable groups continue to face higher morbidity and mortality rate. Barriers such as financial constraints, limited education, and limited mental health support contribute to the disproportionality of type 1 diabetes among the vulnerable group (Gumber & Gumber, 2017). In efforts to address inequality and improve the health outcomes of these populations, a policy can be implemented. The policy could aim to address risk factors, barriers, or management of T1DM. This paper aims to develop a policy proposal that seeks to enhance the outcomes of ethnic minority groups with TIDM. Biopsychosocial Population Health Policy Proposal Assignment Paper
The Proposed Policy
Implementing a policy that addresses the risk factors and social determinants of health can help reduce the disparities of T1DM among minority groups. A critical aspect that would address the issue is implementing tailored education and support programs for the vulnerable population. This policy would focus on providing specialized educational resources and community support for the prevention and management of type 1 diabetes. The policy will address specific barriers and social determinants of health that contribute to the prevalence of TIDM in minority groups. Through the policy, patients and at-risk individuals will have adequate knowledge and skills in diabetes management and prevention which consequently impact health outcomes and quality of care.
The guidelines for implementing this policy will involve providing culturally sensitive education and promoting community engagement. When conducting education programs, it is important to provide culturally sensitive education. This involves providing educational materials and resources that reflect consideration of the cultural beliefs, backgrounds, and preferences of minority groups. This will promote treatment adherence and improved self-management practices. It is also important that the policy integrates community engagement whereby, workshops and local support groups will be established. The groups and workshops will create a platform for individuals to connect and learn about risk factors, prevention, and management of type 1 diabetes. Biopsychosocial Population Health Policy Proposal Assignment Paper
The Need for the Proposed Policy in the Context of Current Outcomes and Quality of Care
The existing health disproportionality of outcomes and quality of care continues to create the urgency of implementing tailored education and support programs for minority groups. According to Agarwal et al., (2020), minority patients with T1DM continue to encounter disproportionalities in glycemic control, diabetes-related complications hospitalization, psychiatric comorbidity, and mortality rates. The inequalities are further exacerbated by a lack of insurance coverage that creates a barrier in accessing quality care, in addition, discrimination in care among the population contributes to poor quality care of minority patients with T1DM. Therefore, there is a need to improve the outcomes and quality of care to address the disproportionalities encountered by these minority groups.
Implementing the policy will address the disparities in health outcomes as it will empower patients and individuals with adequate skills and knowledge of T1DM prevention and management. A study by Pacheco et al. (2017), showed that structured education programs bring about positive health outcomes and improved glycemic control in patients with T1DM. Thus, the policy will be effective by enhancing health literacy on prevention and management, improving self-management behaviors which will ultimately reduce the high morbidity and mortality rates of the disease among the target group. Biopsychosocial Population Health Policy Proposal Assignment Paper
Interprofessional Approach to Implementing the Proposed Policy
Leveraging expertise from multiple healthcare disciplines can help achieve high-quality outcomes. Interprofessional best practices such as collaborative care teams and shared-decision making can contribute to the successful implementation of the policy. Involving different healthcare professionals to implement the tailored education and support program will facilitate the delivery of comprehensive patient care. A study by Abdulrhim et al. (2021) revealed the utilization of a comprehensive care model where multiple healthcare professionals collaborate in the management of diabetes was associated with optimal care and positive patient outcomes. As such, different healthcare professionals such as nurses, dieticians, physicians, endocrinologists, and social workers will collaborate to implement the policy. The approach will encourage open communications which fosters shared decision making consequently promoting informed treatment choices and enhanced self-management practices. In addition, an interprofessional collaboration approach will help address the multifaceted challenges of minority groups which promotes a holistic approach to care as it considers individual patient needs. Biopsychosocial Population Health Policy Proposal Assignment Paper
Conclusion
In conclusion, the prosed policy of a tailored education and support program is a viable approach to addressing the health disproportionality of minority patients with type 1 diabetes. The policy aims to empower patients and individuals of minority groups with skills and knowledge for effective self-management. The increased prevalence of type 1 diabetes among minority populations prompts the need to implement the policy. An interprofessional collaborative approach will be effective in addressing the unique challenges encountered by the population. This will facilitate a holistic approach to the management and treatment of type 1 diabetes. Ultimately, the policy will address the health disparity of type 1 diabetes experienced by these minority groups.
References
Abdulrhim, S., Sankaralingam, S., Ibrahim, M. I., Diab, M. I., Hussain, M. A., Al Raey, H., Ismail, M. T., & Awaisu, A. (2021). Collaborative Care Model for diabetes in primary care settings in Qatar: A qualitative exploration among healthcare professionals and patients who experienced the service. BMC Health Services Research, 21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06183-z
Agarwal, S., Kanapka, L. G., Raymond, J. K., Walker, A., Gerard-Gonzalez, A., Kruger, D., Redondo, M. J., Rickels, M. R., Shah, V. N., Butler, A., Gonzalez, J., Verdejo, A. S., Gal, R. L., Willi, S., & Long, J. A. (2020). Racial-ethnic inequity in young adults with type 1 diabetes. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 105(8). https://doi.org/10.1210/clinem/dgaa236
Gumber, A., & Gumber, L. (2017). Improving prevention, monitoring and management of diabetes among ethnic minorities: Contextualizing the six G’s approach. BMC Research Notes, 10(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-017-3104-9
Pacheco, A. P., Sande-Lee, S. van, Sandoval, R. de, Batista, S., & Marques, J. L. (2017). Effects of a structured education program on glycemic control in type 1 diabetes. Archives of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 61(6), 534–541. https://doi.org/10.1590/2359-3997000000278 Biopsychosocial Population Health Policy Proposal Assignment Paper