Evidence-based nursing empowers clinicians to apply or introduce appropriate interventions that can address patients’ needs. This objective is achievable when caregivers use clinical information, evidence, or ideas to offer competent care. Nurses can apply evidence-based guidelines to support the management of illnesses across the age continuum. This paper discusses how such practices can empower many diabetic African Americans to manage the condition and lead high-quality lives.
Identified Patient Population
Every cultural group has its unique religious and social norms. It also supports specific beliefs and behaviors whenever focusing on the major illnesses affecting them. The selected population for this analysis is that of African Americans suffering from obesity. This choice presents different aspects that practitioners should take into consideration in order to support the management of their illnesses across the age continuum. The identified group is relevant for this discussion since it faces numerous health complications (Correa-de-Araujo, 2016). Additionally, many African Americans with obesity find it hard to access high-quality and timely medical services.
Evidence-Based Practice Guidelines
Patients with various conditions require adequate disease management practices across the age continuum. The first evidence-based practice guideline is founded on this 5As counseling framework: Assessing (A), Advising (A), Agreeing (A), Assisting (A), and Arranging (A). Using this model, practitioners can collaborate to address the psychiatric commodities and psychological issues affecting the targeted individuals (Fitzpatrick et al., 2016). The next stage is to provide personalized counseling in order to engage in self-monitoring practices. The final stage is to connect the targeted patients with the existing resources in the community.
The second possible clinical guideline is that of lifestyle change. This approach will encourage children, adults, and elderly African Americans suffering from obesity to engage in regular exercises, adopt portion control, and identify the best food choices. These initiatives will guide and empower them to lose weight. Practitioners, counselors, and physicians will be involved throughout the process.
The beneficiaries will eventually overcome the complications of obesity, including diabetes and hypertension (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2016). This model can also promote the importance of cultural sensitivity. This means that practitioners can guide more African Americans to embrace the use of traditional medicines and practices. They can consider appropriate herbs and foods that can manage obesity and other opportunistic diseases.
The use of a multidisciplinary team is another evidence-based guideline that can address the needs of the targeted at risk population. When practitioners, physicians, clinicians, dieticians, and psychologists work as a team, it will be possible for the beneficiaries to make appropriate adjustments. They will benefit from nutritional ideas and behavioral interventions. Such people will eventually record positive health outcomes across the age continuum (Correa-de-Araujo, 2016). Practitioners can apply emerging evidence in obesity management to deliver positive results.
Professionals can go further to use the above guidelines to standardize medical care practices to the target population. This model can reduce existing variations in medical support and overcome potential barriers. They can also consider emerging technologies to educate and equip members of the selected population to engage in practices that will result in positive health outcomes (Fitzpatrick et al., 2016). Students of nursing, caregivers, and practitioners can engage in discussions to present better models for empowering patients with obesity.
Conclusion
Care delivery models should be sensitive to patients’ cultural values. This practice is necessary since patients belong to specific groups that have their unique beliefs, medical practices, and ideas. The evidence-based clinical guidelines discussed above can, therefore, make a significant difference for obese African Americans across the lifespan.
References
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (2016). Position of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics: Interventions for the treatment of overweight and obesity in adults. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 116(1), 129-147. Web.
Correa-de-Araujo, R. (2016). Evidence-based practice in the United States: Challenges, progress, and future directions. Health Care Women International, 37(1), 2-22. Web.
Fitzpatrick, S. L., Wischenka, D., Appelhans, B. M., Pbert, L., Wang, M., Wilson, D. K., & Pagoto, S. L. (2016). An evidence-based guide for obesity treatment in primary care. The American Journal of Medicine, 19(1), 115.e1–115.e7. Web.