The Interrelationships of Socio-Cultural Influences in Healthcare

Within this activity, you will explore how determinants of health such as poverty, behavior, education, and income are related. One common element underlies poor health: poverty. Money is required to purchase the essentials of health such as food, clothing, shelter, clean water, education, and access to preventative health services. Each day in nursing, you are faced with persons from varying economic, social, and cultural backgrounds. In addition to varying backgrounds, you will also experience differing patient values and preferences related to their individual health and behavior. Caring for the vulnerable, at-risk, and aging populations is an essential competency for nursing. Therefore, we need to explore the interrelationships of socio-cultural influences, behavioral influences, as well as economic and non-economic barriers to healthcare to improve our knowledge. In doing so, we will be able to plan specific interventions designed to help achieve healthier outcomes. You will have the opportunity to examine poverty, behavior, and other determinants of health in Sentinel City®. As providers of care, BSN nurses need to understand how these are related and impact the health of our patients.

Activity Instructions:

1. Review course textbook and other resources.
2. Review World Health Organization (2017). The determinants of health.  Retrieved from http://www.who.int/hia/evidence/doh/en/
3. Review Healthy People 2020 (Jan 25, 2017). Health Determinants. Retrieved from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/about/foundation-health-measures/Determinants-of-Health

Review Sentinel City® demographics and neighborhood demographics. Meet with Mayor Hill who can provide some information about Sentinel City® economics.  Enter Sentinel City® and begin the bus tour. After touring Sentinel City, select a specific vulnerable or minority population group and identify one of the most common diseases, chronic condition, injury, or health concern that impacts your population group. Then list a total of 3 determinants of health from the Healthy People website.  During your tour of the city, describe 1 observation related to the 3 selected determinants of health. (a total of 3 observations must be described). Note indicators of high or low employment. Consider education levels, number of female head of households, and median household incomes for example.  Finally, describe a total of 3 strategies or evidence-based recommendations to help reduce or eliminate the selected observations noted during your Sentinel City® tour.