Introduction
Prevention programs and health promotion initiatives are vital aspects of health systems across the globe. They are designed to empower and encourage communities to adopt healthy behaviors and practice activities that reduce the risk of developing diseases. The implementation of technology to improve program efficiency is critical. The ability to reach more people at a lower cost ensures that populations gain the knowledge and skills necessary to limit the burden associated with chronic and preventable illnesses.
Preventing Disease and Facilitating Health Promotion
Targeted prevention refers to the implementation of interventions aimed at limiting the spread of disease and promoting health. Preventive healthcare is a well-integrated aspect of a hospital’s functioning (Larsen et al., 2018). It includes measures to eliminate or reduce exposure to risks that may heighten the chances that a person or a group will suffer an illness, disability, or death. For instance, as a nurse working in a Miami Hospital, I believe the prevention of type 2 diabetes can be accomplished by ensuring that patients exercise, maintain a proper diet, get a comprehensive annual physical, and participate in lifestyle change seminars. In effect, patients will spend less time in the hospital, they will incur fewer costs, and the mortality rate will reduce.
Target Stakeholder Audience
The target audience for this executive brief includes the Chief Nursing Administrator, the Chief Nursing Officer, colleagues, and investors. It is vital to engage stakeholders through consultations and the provision of information regarding the project. For instance, it is essential to consult the Chief Nursing Officer and the Nursing administrator on the available policy framework regarding the prevention of diabetes. Presenting data on the shortcomings and possible improvements that can be made to the policy is critical. It is vital to involve colleagues in the decision-making process and collaborate with them to find viable solutions.
Finally, it is essential to empower stakeholders by providing concrete evidence of the efficacy of the proposed solution. The cost implications for the proposed intervention must be evaluated comprehensively. Cost efficiency through the implementation of low-cost strategies such as brisk exercises and dietary control is critical. The cost-saving impacts in terms of reduced hospital stay should be evaluated.
Healthy Behavior Promotion Program
Preventing the incidence of type 2 diabetes in the community is crucial. The development of a diabetes prevention program entails the evaluation of the community’s needs and the development of a surveillance plan. Next, it is essential to create a diabetes prevention committee that will oversee the implementation of measures intended to reduce the prevalence of metabolic illness. Developing evidence-based guidelines and ensuring that the infrastructure and supplies necessary to ensure implementation is available is critical. It is essential to create a review framework that will be used to audit healthy behavior, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, and train healthcare workers on how to educate the community.
Technology and Health Promotion
Technological advances have facilitated the promotion of health in a variety of contexts. Digital applications are particularly useful in the management of chronic conditions such as diabetes. For instance, it supports health promotion initiatives such as internet-delivered tutorials for clients to facilitate weight loss (Naslund & Aschbrenner, 2019). In addition, wearable activity tracking devices can monitor patient activity and provide vital data that facilitates the enhancement of community-based initiatives. Lifestyle modification is an essential aspect of the prevention of type 2 diabetes. The use of technology is essential because it helps susceptible individuals to gain access to information on the condition and institute measures necessary for prevention.
Barriers to the Implementation of Technological Programs
The target population for the type 2 diabetes prevention program in overweight and obese children and adults in Miami. Other individuals include those with a family history of diabetes, an African American or Hispanic racial background, and a recent diagnosis of pre-diabetes (Dunbar et al., 2019). Some of the barriers to the implementation of technology in health promotion include limited internet infrastructure, organizational challenges, shortages in healthcare information technology personnel, and health information security concerns. Wearable tracking devices have had limited success because some of the patients did not visit healthcare facilities for a review of progress. Follow-up phone calls have had significant success because patients can get immediate feedback and advice on how to prevent diabetes.
Impact of the Technological Program on the Target Population
Conducting online seminars for individuals at risk of developing type 2 diabetes is essential because it provides an avenue where people’s concerns can be addressed immediately. The program will help the target population effect change by providing a framework for specific activities individuals can engage in to facilitate weight loss, ensure compliance to a healthy diet, encourage physical activity and promote regular clinical evaluations. The seminars will be conducted weekly, and they will be available through the hospital’s social media pages.
The Diffusion of Innovations Theory
The diffusion of innovations theory explains the social processes that occur in populations in response to learning about innovation. It offers a variety of concepts and approaches that define receptivity to healthcare initiatives (Dearing & Cox, 2018). People in a community do not spontaneously adopt new technologies. Some people are more likely to adopt innovations than others. The principles of diffusion can be used to hasten the absorption rate and increase the reach of prevention initiatives. Understanding the different categories of adopters is vital to ensuring the online seminar program is a success.
Formulating specific strategies to allow early adopters and innovators to gain access to the social media page is critical. In addition, ensuring that the needs of conservative individuals who tend to avoid technology are met is essential.
The Evaluation Process
Evaluating the effectiveness of the health promotion program is essential. The first step in the evaluation process is the collection of participant data. It is vital to gather data on the population’s demographics, biological markers such as BMI, cholesterol levels and weight, health status, and medical history. The next step involves the review of program process measures such as the total number of participants engaged in the initiative and the number of individuals that received follow-up services. It is also important to document the number of educational materials produced in the program, the degree of stakeholder involvement, and the cost of program completion. The final step involves the evaluation of the target community’s outcomes. This includes assessing perceived health status, healthy behaviors, biometric markers, disease prevalence, and participant knowledge.
Conclusion
The success of a health promotion program depends on the effective utilization of available resources to create meaningful solutions to persistent problems. It is crucial to engage stakeholders through consultations and the provision of information regarding the program. The evaluation of the community’s needs and the development of a surveillance plan will ensure that the technological solution reaches the target population. Evaluating the initiative’s effectiveness ensures that challenges are addressed and improvements are made to ensure the set goals are achieved. Disease prevention is the cornerstone of health promotion because it facilitates the adoption of healthy behaviors.
References
Dearing, J. W., & Cox, J. G. (2018). Diffusion of innovations theory, principles, and practice. Health Affairs, 37(2), 183–190. Web.
Dunbar, J. A., Versace, V., Janus, E., Laatikainen, T., Vartiainen, E., Absetz, P., Best, J. D., & Bennett, C. (2019). Letter to the editor regarding “public health approaches to type 2 diabetes prevention: The US national diabetes prevention program and beyond.” Current Diabetes Reports, 19(78), 1–11. Web.
Larsen, L. B., Sonderlund, A. L., Sondergaard, J., Thomsen, J. L., Halling, A., Hvidt, N. C., Hvidt, E. A., Mønsted, T., Pedersen, L. B., Roos, E. M., Pedersen, P. V., & Thilsing, T. (2018). Targeted prevention in primary care aimed at lifestyle-related diseases: A study protocol for a non-randomised pilot study. BMC Family Practice, 19(1), 1–15. Web.
Naslund, J. A., & Aschbrenner, K. A. (2019). Digital technology for health promotion: Opportunities to address excess mortality in persons living with severe mental disorders. Evidence-Based Mental Health, 22(1), 17–22. Web.