Chapter Three: Social Determinants of Health and Vulnerable Populations
Chapter Three: Social Determinants of Health and Vulnerable Populations
Practical Application: Book Activity
Practical Application
Setting the Scene
Healthcare Disparities: Sharlene Adams Goes to Buy a Blood Pressure Cuff
Watch the video at https://youtu.be/d6wH4nQVmhw
Think About It
Consider Sharlene’s experience as showcased in the video.
- What factors did you notice that either contributed to or reduced Sharlene’s overall health?
- Of the factors you identified, how many are considered social determinants of health?
- What changes could the physician’s office make to make healthcare more accessible to Sharlene?
- What were the transportation barriers Sharlene experienced? Do you think this will reduce her health-seeking behaviors in the future? For example, future health screenings?
- What state or national policies can you identify that would contribute to or present barriers to Sharlene’s health if she lived in your neighborhood?
Practical Application: Additional Guidance
Exercise Title
Addressing Healthcare Disparities
Objective
This exercise aims to engage nursing students in critical analysis of healthcare disparities through the lens of a patient’s experience, with a focus on identifying social determinants of health and exploring potential interventions and policy implications.
Preparing for the Exercise
- Introduction: Introduce the scenario of Sharlene’s experience as showcased in the video, emphasizing the challenges she faced in accessing healthcare and the potential impact on her overall health outcomes. Introduce students to the concept of upstream vs. downstream actions.
- Video Viewing: Direct students to watch the provided video on healthcare disparities or access it through the provided QR code. Encourage active observation and note-taking.
Exercise Components:
- Analysis of Factors: Prompt students to identify factors that either contributed to or reduced Sharlene’s overall health based on her experience in the video. Encourage them to consider social, economic, cultural, and environmental determinants of health.
- Identification of Social Determinants: Guide students in identifying which of the factors they identified are considered social determinants of health, such as access to healthcare, socioeconomic status, education level, transportation, and social support networks.
- Proposed Interventions: Challenge students to propose changes that the physician’s office could make to improve healthcare accessibility for patients like Sharlene. Encourage them to consider strategies such as expanding clinic hours, providing transportation assistance, offering language interpretation services, and implementing culturally sensitive care practices.
- Transportation Barriers: Facilitate a discussion on the transportation barriers that Sharlene experienced and their potential impact on her health-seeking behaviors, including future health screenings. Encourage students to consider the role of transportation infrastructure, affordabilit