Planning Before Teaching
Topic
Diabetes Management to Empower the Community
Estimated Time Teaching Will Last
1 hour
Location of Teaching
The United Methodist Church community hall
Supplies, Material, Equipment Needed
- A projector and laptop are required to demonstrate to the participants the practical aspects of diabetes management. This may include showing them how to use a glucose meter and proper exercise techniques.
- Printed handouts highlighting healthier food alternatives and simple in-door aerobic exercises may be a tangible resource they can refer to after the teaching session.
- A whiteboard and markers are needed to teach them about different types of diabetes and for real-time illustration of how it can be managed, for example, using a self-care wheel: nutrition, exercise, stress management, and sleep.
- Interactive activity materials, such as food models, glucose meters, and exercise props, will be required to keep the participants active and interested in the topic.
- Tables and chairs for participants.
- Water and healthy snacks.
Estimated Cost
An approximate cost could range between $150 and $300.
Community and Target Aggregate
The health promotion teaching plan is designed for the United Methodist Church community. According to a report, adults between the ages of 40 and 64 years are concerned about the risk of developing diabetes and want to be healthier (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] 2022). The target aggregate includes church members who may have diabetes, are at risk of developing diabetes, or are interested in learning about diabetes management for themselves and their families.
Identification of Focus for Community Teaching
The community teaching program focuses on diabetes management among young and older adults, who can be affected by changes in beliefs, attitudes, and lifestyles. Therefore, the decision to choose this topic was based on the increasing prevalence of diabetes within the community due to a sedentary and demanding lifestyle. For example, church members encompass individuals with busy schedules, implying they may prioritize work, family, and other responsibilities over their health. This can contribute to unhealthy behaviors, such as poor nutrition, limited exercise, and lack of self-care. In this case, increased awareness about effective diabetes management strategies can positively influence them to make healthy life changes (CDC, 2022).
A study indicates that health promotion programs can be beneficial in managing chronic diseases such as diabetes (Powers et al., 2020). This is because individuals are likely to take medications as prescribed, use primary care and preventive services, and control their cholesterol levels, lowering health costs of long-term complications. Therefore, church members must be equipped with knowledge and skills to empower them, leading to better life choices while preventing adverse health outcomes.
Epidemiological Rationale for Topic
Diabetes is one of the prevalent health conditions impacting many communities around the globe. Research shows that 1.4 million Americans are diagnosed with diabetes yearly (American Diabetes Association [ADA], 2022). It is also ranked as the seventh leading cause of mortality, with about 87,000 deaths reported in the United States in 2019 (ADA, 2022). In addition, diabetes affects 1 in 10 adults in the country, with an estimated 37.3 million or 11.3 of the American population, including children and adolescents (ADA, 2022). Of the population segment affected by diabetes, 28.7 million patients were diagnosed, and 8.5 million remained undiagnosed.
Similarly, the statistics reveal that diabetes is more prevalent among senior Americans aged 65 and above than adults 18 to 44 years (CDC, 2019). Of this older adult population, 15.9% and 29.2% million are undiagnosed and diagnosed, respectively (ADA, 2022). Diabetes contributes significantly to the public health burden because it is linked to co-morbid conditions, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral neuropathy, and kidney failure (Eilat-Tsanani et al., 2021). Consequently, this indicates that diabetes is a debilitating chronic disease that leads to high healthcare costs and reduced quality of life.
Problem Statement
A major social concern is the lack of awareness among the church community, especially those aged 40 to 64, regarding age-related health challenges, such as cardiovascular issues, bone health deterioration, and cognitive well-being decline. The knowledge deficit impedes their ability to make informed decisions and lead healthier lives during aging. This is because those affected need to take responsibility for their own care and effective diabetes management.
Readiness for Learning
Church seminars organized regularly where members discuss age-related topics indicate the target’s aggregate readiness for learning. Many individuals in the community have experienced personal health challenges, such as hypertension or obesity, which motivate information-seeking behavior. Being actively involved and attending health-related sessions indicates a readiness to engage in health promotional activities.
Learning Theory to Be Utilized
The adult learning theory or andragogy will guide the teaching process. This approach intends to capitalize on participants’ self-directed learning tendencies (Mukhalalati & Taylor, 2019). The theory assumes that adults have unique ways of learning. Therefore, interactive discussions, such as sharing personal experiences regarding diabetes management and preventive strategies, can help participants learn from one another. Andragogy resonates with the target aggregate’s autonomy and leverages their knowledge to gain insights about age-related health measures.
Goal
The Healthy People 2030 (HP2030) objective to be used is the D-14. It aims to increase the proportion of individuals with diagnosed diabetes who receive formal education (Healthy People, 2022). The rationale for choosing this objective is that it can help adults in effective disease management, prevent complications, foster empowerment, and enable church members to lead healthier lives. Such initiatives can give these people the knowledge and skills to make informed decisions and take proactive steps toward better diabetes control.
How Does This HP2030 Objective Relate to Alma Ata’s Health for All Global Initiatives
Objective D-14 relates to Alma Ata’s Health for All Global Initiatives. Under Declaration VII, the initiative emphasizes the significance of treating illnesses, promoting health, and preventing diseases through health promotion and disease prevention (World Health Organization [WHO], 2023). This includes strategies for health education, nutrition, clean water, sanitation, and immunization.
Develop Behavioral Objectives, Content, and Learning Activities
Creativity
The participants will engage in interactive discussions, scenarios, and hands-on demonstrations.
Planned Evaluation of Objectives
- Objective 1: Identify age-related health challenges and associated preventive measures.
- Measurement 1: Participants will need to accurately list and explain two age-related health challenges related to diabetes and describe some of the self-preventive care.
- Objective 2: The participant must demonstrate proper techniques for low-impact bone health exercises.
- Measurement 2: The participants’ level of execution of designated exercises will be observed during a supervised practice session.
- Objective 3: The participants will need to express their own perspectives on mental and physical well-being.
- Measurement 3: Written reflections will be reviewed to gauge attendees’ understanding.
- Objective 4: Listing community-based sources of balanced nutrition.
- Measurement 4: The individual written tasks will be provided to enable the participants to demonstrate their comprehension of at least three local nutritional recipes and their nutritional benefits.
Planned Evaluation of Goal
The participant’s knowledge about age-related health challenges, preventive measures and the importance of physical activity will be gauged using pre- and post-session surveys. The difference in responses between these two periods will enable the teacher to the level of knowledge acquired through the presentation.
Planned Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Teaching
Various approaches can be employed to assess the effectiveness of the teaching. For example, the attendees can provide open-ended responses and share specific aspects of the presentation they found valuable, or areas they believe could be improved. Additionally, feedback boxes within the church premises will be used to anonymously gather additional thoughts or suggestions.
Barriers
Potential barriers include participants’ hesitance to discuss personal health concerns openly. In this regard, an inclusive and non-judgmental environment will be established to foster respectful and healthy discussions. Similarly, language or cultural barriers is another problem that might be encountered during this learning experience. Thus, clear and culturally sensitive language will be used and supported by visual aids and in-class demonstrations to cater to various learning styles.
Therapeutic Communication
A relatable anecdote will be utilized to commence the presentation. This will vividly illustrate the challenges these participants face due to age-related health issues, such as diabetes and heart disease. A short narrative will help capture their attention and establish a personal connection to the topic of discussion. An interactive learning experience will be employed to enhance active listening. The participants will form a circle and briefly share their health-related experiences or concerns they have encountered. Turn speaking may allow the facilitator to listen attentively, nod, and paraphrase to validate their input.
The insights gathered here will enable presentation content to be tailored or customized. For example, key concerns and perspectives voiced by participants will dictate specific aspects of the presentation and enhance its relevance to their unique health needs. A dynamic “Vision Board” exercise will be utilized to conclude the presentation. In this regard, participants will required to create a visual representation of their health goals and aspirations. Lastly, nonverbal communication techniques, such as consistent eye contact, gestures to emphasize key points, and open body language, will enhance engagement. These techniques will reinforce a sense of connection and receptiveness to participants’ input.
References
American Diabetes Association. (2022). Statistics about diabetes. Web.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). National diabetes statistics report, 2020: Estimates of diabetes and its burden in the United States. Web.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Want people to take prediabetes seriously? Make them laugh. Web.
Eilat-Tsanani, S., Margalit, A., & Golan, L. N. (2021). Occurrence of comorbidities in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients and their impact after 11 years’ follow-up. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 1-10. Web.
Healthy People. (2022). Diabetes. Web.
Mukhalalati, B. A., & Taylor, A. (2019). Adult learning theories in context: A quick guide for healthcare professional educators. Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development, 6. Web.
Powers, M. A., Bardsley, J. K., Cypress, M., Funnell, M. M., Harms, D., Hess-Fischl, A., Hooks, B., Isaacs, D., Mandel, E. D., Maryniuk, M. D., Norton, A., Rinker, J., Siminerio, L. M., & Uelmen, S. (2020). Diabetes self-management education and support in adults with type 2 diabetes: A consensus report of the American Diabetes Association, the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of PAS, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Pharmacists Association. The Diabetes Educator, 46(4), 350–369. Web.
World Health Organization. (2023). WHO called to return to the Declaration of Alma-Ata -International conference on primary health care. Web.