CLC: Health Disparities Among Diverse Populations

CLC: Health Disparities Among Diverse Populations

HLT312V

HLT-312v Week 5 Discussion 1

Assess the ethical issues surrounding end-of-life decisions. How has the living will affected medical response and why is this important for guiding end-of-life decisions? Should families be able to impact how and if a person’s living will is carried out? Should parents have the right to choose to end the life of their child if the child has Down Syndrome?

HLT-312v Week 5 Discussion 2

What would be the implications for society if physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia were legal in all states? What would be the benefits to the patient and what dangers would exist?

HLT-312v Week 5 Assignment – Collaborative Learning Community: Health Disparities Among Diverse Populations

Details:

This is a CLC assignment.

Students will be assigned to groups by the course instructor. This is a two-part assignment that will consist of a presentation and an accompanying flyer.

Part 1: Presentation

Develop a 10-15 slide presentation, using PowerPoint or Prezi that includes the following information:

1. Analyze the health care status of a specific minority group. Select a minority group that is represented in the United States (examples include: American Indian/Alaskan Native, Asian American, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander).
2. Compare  the health status of the minority group you have selected to the national average. What is the current health status of this minority group? What health disparities exist for this group?
3. You will find important health information regarding minority groups by exploring the following resources: “Minority Health” and “Racial and Ethnic Minority Populations,” both of which are located on the the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
4. Explain the cultural and socioeconomic barriers to health. How do race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and education influence health for the minority group you have selected?

A minimum of three references must be used for this assignment.

The title slide and reference slide are not counted in required minimum slide count.

Part 2: Flyer

1. Develop a one-page flyer that describes a healthy prevention strategy to address one of the 10 leading causes of death for the minority group you have selected.
2. Refer to the resource “HealthyPeople 2020” for information regarding healthy prevention strategies.
3. Include the flyer in your group’s presentation.

While APA format is not required for the body of this assignment, solid academic writing is expected and in-text citations and references should be included within the presentation using APA documentation guidelines, which can be found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center.

 

 

MORE INFO 

Health Disparities Among Diverse Populations

Introduction

We all want to live healthy lives, but some of us face greater challenges than others. Whether it’s because of race or gender, socioeconomic status or other factors, there are many different considerations when it comes to health. One way to understand how disparities affect groups in America is by looking at patterns in trends among different groups across the country. In this article, we’ll explain some of the ways in which health disparities can be addressed at each level: individual-level behavioral interventions; community-level strategies that improve access for underserved populations; and systemic approaches such as policies governing education programs for children from low-income families who attend college elsewhere (e.g., free tuition).

For decades, health data has been primarily collected based on national averages.

For decades, health data has been primarily collected based on national averages. The U.S. Health Insurance Plan (HIP) collects and publishes information on the general health status of Americans as well as that of specific subpopulations, such as children with chronic conditions or those who are covered by Medicaid. However, there is no comparable system for collecting data on diverse populations within the U.S., meaning that we don’t have a good way to compare one group’s health outcomes against another’s—a problem if you want to understand whether disparities exist in your community or state compared with other places around the country where similar communities live under different circumstances (e.g., socioeconomic status).

To truly understand our health, we need to account for diversity.

To truly understand our health, we need to account for diversity. Data is collected based on national averages, which are often skewed by the demographics of those who participate in research and surveys (e.g., white Americans). Diverse populations have different experiences with illness and disability that may not be reflected in average statistics. For example, people from racial minorities tend to experience higher rates of cancer than their white counterparts; however, this difference is often not taken into account when calculating cancer rates among both men and women.

In order to better understand how diverse communities impact one another’s health outcomes and needs, it’s important that researchers consider findings from multiple studies at all levels—individual (e.g., diet), community (neighborhoods or zip codes), or systemic (the entire system).

Health disparities can be addressed at the individual, community, and systemic levels.

Health disparities can be addressed at the individual, community and systemic levels.

Individual Level: Education, access to healthcare and healthy lifestyle are factors in improving health outcomes for minority populations. Social support is also important as it provides an environment that encourages healthy behaviors and helps communities thrive. Community Level: Resources such as jobs with good wages, affordable housing and safe neighborhoods are essential to reducing health disparities because they lead to better overall health outcomes for individuals within these communities (e.g., less stress). Systemic Level: Policies that address structural racism or other forms of discrimination can help reduce these disparities within an organization or society as a whole (e..g., hiring practices).

Diversity is important to consider when studying health.

Diverse populations are important to consider when studying health. Diversity is not just about race, but also about gender, sexual orientation and socioeconomic status. Diversity can be studied at the individual level (e.g., differences in body size), community level (e.g., different cultural norms) and systemically (e.g., how individuals’ behaviors impact others).

Conclusion

Health disparities are an important topic to consider. They can be difficult to understand and address, but with the right data and resources, we can make a difference. As we move forward in our journey towards improving the health of our diverse communities, let us not forget that there are many ways to create a healthier society for everyone.