NURS 6050 Discussion 1: Evidence Base in Design Assignment

NURS 6050 Discussion 1: Evidence Base in Design Assignment

NURS 6050 Discussion 1: Evidence Base in Design Assignment

When politics and medical science intersect, there can be much debate. Sometimes anecdotes or hearsay are misused as evidence to support a particular point. Despite these and other challenges, however, evidence-based approaches are increasingly used to inform health policy decision-making regarding causes of disease, intervention strategies, and issues impacting society. One example is the introduction of childhood vaccinations and the use of evidence-based arguments surrounding their safety.

In this Discussion, you will identify a recently proposed health policy and share your analysis of the evidence in support of this policy.

To Prepare for NURS 6050 Discussion 1: Evidence Base in Design Assignment:

• Review the Congress website provided in the Resources and identify one recent (within the past 5 years) proposed health policy.
• Review the health policy you identified and reflect on the background and development of this health policy.

By Day 3 of Week 7

Post a description of the health policy you selected and a brief background for the problem or issue being addressed. Explain whether you believe there is an evidence base to support the proposed policy and explain why. Be specific and provide examples.

Learning Resources 

Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus.

Required Readings

1 Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.

• Chapter 5, “Public Policy Design” (pp. 87–95 only)
• Chapter 8, “The Impact of EHRs, Big Data, and Evidence-Informed Practice” (pp. 137–146)
• Chapter 9, “Interprofessional Practice” (pp. 152–160 only)
• Chapter 10, “Overview: The Economics and Finance of Health Care” (pp. 183–191 only)

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5  Klein, K. J., & Sorra, J. S. (1996). The challenge of innovation implementation. Academy of Management Review, 21(4), 1055–1080. doi:10.5465/AMR.1996.9704071863

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

6  Sacristán, J., & Dilla, T. D. (2015). No big data without small data: Learning health care systems begin and end with the individual patient. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice, 21(6), 1014–1017. doi:10.1111/jep.12350

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

7  Tummers, L., & Bekkers, V. (2014). Policy implementation, street level bureaucracy, and the importance of discretion. Public Management Review, 16(4), 527–547. doi:10.1080/14719037.2013.841978.

Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.

Mental health is a public health issue worldwide. It spans across continents and affects many other aspects of a person’s health. According to Andersson et. Al (2014) “The World Health Organization estimates that depression will be the second most common disease leading to disability adjusted life years by 2020.” It is widely acknowledged that there is a disparity in the physical health of patients with and without mental illness Noblett and Henderson, 2015). Mental Health is not exclusive. It almost never exists without the presence of other health issues. It leads to the “chicken or egg first” type of debate. Mental health is influenced by all five population health determinants (medical care, individual behaviors, social environment, physical environment and genetics) in some manner but not proportionally.

Access to health care holds a symbiotic relationship to mental illness. S. Hardy et. Al (2012) found that significantly higher mortality rates from physical illness among those with a diagnosed mental illness, together with unequal access to health care had global significance when seen against wider health-inequality challenges. There are some mental health disorders such as Huntington’s that can only genetically linked. Others such as substance abuse, anxiety and depression have been shown to run in families. According to Web MD, it is referred to a genetic susceptibility. Genetics may pre dispose an individual to a mental illness but other factors or determinants may influence or trigger an illness in a person who has susceptibility to it. Many social behaviors affect the development of a mental health disease. Hardy and Thomas (2012) found that there is consistent evidence that suggests an unhealthy diet is a key modifiable risk factor for some mental health disorders.

Hardy et al. (2012) found that physical activity may not prevent depression, it has been shown to have a positive impact on mental health. Hardy et al (2012) discussed a relationship between increased poverty levels in England and increased diagnosis of mental health disorders amongst children in England. Other social factors may influence mental health disorders as well. For instance a occupation that offers mental health services leaders to timely and more effective interventions. Lower education levels may provide barriers to recognition and treatment of mental health disease. One’s physical state has a direct relationship on mental illness. Hardy et. Al states that a person with a mental health illness is nearly twice as more likely to have a serious health condition than the rest of the population. It is also commonly known that sunlight can have a positive affect on one’s mental health. This is why some health care providers may still use light therapy in the treatment of depression.

Mental illness may be directly caused by genetics or may lead a person to be susceptible to mental illness. For instance, Huntington’s disease is a genetic disease. There is always a genetic link in development of the disease and can therefore, be prevented. Other mental health illness such al substance abuse, depression etc may lead a person susceptible to development but does not mean they will always develop the disease. I believe that all the determinants make an impact on mental illness in so………………………