Week 1B: Health and Health Promotion.docx

Health and Health Promotion Readings: pg 137-166 Beginning to Understand What We Know About Health (pg 137-166) - Subjective knowing: a way of thinking and feeling based on personal experiences and interactions with others or the environment - Objective knowing: concrete, measurable knowledge that is based on scientific data - Collecting data (subjective or objective) is part of the first step in assessment Health, Wellness, Illness, and Disease - Historically, being healthy was an objective concept that meant stability and balance, the absence of disease and symptoms - There is a close relationship between being healthy and being well, and either or both of those concepts are equated to well-being. - Health, wellness, and well-being are often used interchangeably, but they are actually distinctly different from each other - The WHO defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” the WHO’s new definition of wellness is the optimal state of health of individuals and groups - Wellness is split into two groups: - The realization of the fullest potential of an individual physically, psychologically, socially, spiritually, and economically - The fulfillment of one’s role expectations within the family, community, place of worship, workplace, and other settings - Disease is the physiological deviation from normal, which is objective or measurable. It is defined as “a condition marked by subjective complaints, a specific history, clinical signs and symptoms, and laboratory or radiographic findings” - Diseases cause altered functioning that requires clients to adapt and move towards health - Illness is the experience of living with a disease, it is subjective, depending on the personal experience of associated symptoms, suffering or distress What do Canadians Think about Health? - Life expectancy has increased to 82 years, fewer people are smoking, more people are completing highschool, but cancer is still the leading cause of death, diabetes has doubled, and obesity has increased dramatically. - Health risk assessments provide nurses a snapshot of the client’s knowledge about health, current behaviours, and areas of knowledge deficit based on past medical history, family history, and exposure to harmful substances - The nurse should consider 3 components when working on a client to determine health risks: psychological, scientific and media-related factors - Psychologically: the perception of health may depend on the amount of fear, the impact on quality of life, etc - - - - - - - - - - Scientifically: the statistical information may be hard to understand or place in life, or they may just reject the information. - Media-related: many health risk factors may be brought to light from media, but a lot of the information may also be inaccurate, not thorough, or sensationalized Wellness is the process of trying to reach optimal health. Wellness is assessed through the emotional, intellectual, occupational, physical, sexual, environmental, and social domains (8 domains of wellness) - Wellness assessments provide nurses opportunity to learn what clients think and feel about being healthy Emotional wellness: understanding feelings, managing or controlling those feelings when necessary, and being able to express feelings appropriately Intellectual wellness: the attainment of knowledge and the realization of creative potential, opportunities for critical thinking to ensure the growth of self Occupational wellness: the value that individuals place on work, being satisfied with providing service to others by using personal skills to advance the community and society at large. This includes the attitude and desire to enjoy the benefits of both work and play Physical wellness: activities directed at sustaining states of health including lifestyle choices (not smoking or using recreational drugs, consuming alcohol in moderation, and engaging in regular physical activity), maintaining a nutritious diet, and self-care Sexual wellness: ecompasses sex, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, pleasure, intimacy, reproduction. Intimacy can include respectful relationships, function, safety, and cultural context Spiritual wellness: relates to a holistic view of the individual as a mingling of mind, body and spirit, that life is sacred and life has a higher purpose, and a sense of meaning in life Environmental wellness: the use of and need for natural resources, as well as the impact of humans on the environment and vice versa. Environmental health is also connected to the social determinants of health Social wellness: the relationship of the individual to others or the environment including respect, cooperation, support, and communication skills. Social relationships, economic partnerships, including safety and support which incorporate the values of trust, respect, altruism, and belonging Clients living with disability have a unique relationship with their bodies, themselves, and others. In a health context, disability is viewed from medical, disability and social models - Medical model - the health care provider is considered powerful, ans the client is a victim, unable to function normally, at a psychological loss without the health care provider - Disability model - views the client as the result of a tragedy to be adjusted to and overcome, oppressed because of inability - Social model - focuses on the limits that have been placed on the client based on the space (environment, context) where the client interacts (Got bored here) - - - - Disability: disability can be understood by medical, disability and social models. These tend to focus on the deficits of the individual/situation rather than letting the disabled person define what is wellness Gender & Sexually Diverse Populations: this population has historically faced stigmatization & discrimination when accessing healthcare. This can contribute directly to feelings of wellness. Indigenous Health: ideas of health and wellness are shaped by indigenous practices & culture. Indigenous health is based on holism, whereby “the balance of physical, spiritual and mental aspects” contribute to health. Determinants of health: any factors that impact health. This includes income, social status, social support networks, education and literacy, employment/working conditions, social environments, physical environments, personal health practices and coping skills, healthy child development, biology and genetic endowment, health services, gender, and culture. - determinants can affect an individual, a family, a community, or a larger population