There are many governmental and quasi-governmental agencies that affect public health systems and nursing in the United States. For instance, the Health Resources and Services Administration is responsible for funding various programs and services, as well as for establishing goals for the U.S. healthcare system (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2018). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is responsible for research in public health, and thus it monitors health data, identifies public health gaps, and develops policies to address them (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2018).
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality monitors the quality of services provided to patients and collaborates with other agencies to improve it continuously (Stanhope & Lancaster, 2018). Among quasi-governmental organizations, there are various research institutes and academies that are tasked with enhancing evidence-based practice through research and education.
Cultural diversity plays a critical role in the public health arena in America. Many cultural minority groups are considered vulnerable populations due to inadequate access to care and increased exposure to health hazards (Taillepierre, 2016). Additionally, cultural diversity may affect the relationship between care providers and patients by hindering communication and preventing the formation of a therapeutic relationship. Hence, public health providers in the U.S. need to find ways of connecting with people from different cultural backgrounds. Programs based on the value-expectancy theories may help to understand diverse patients’ behaviors.
For instance, the health-belief model can be used to assess patients’ attitudes, knowledge, and motivation, and then apply patient education to achieve increased patient involvement in health promotion (Studer & Knecht, 2016). Such programs could help in identifying and addressing limiting beliefs and engaging patients from different backgrounds, thus achieving better health outcomes in diverse populations.
References
Stanhope, M., & Lancaster, J. (2018). Foundations for population health in community/public health nursing (5th ed.). St. Louis, MI: Elsevier.
Studer, B., & Knecht, S. (2016). Motivation: What have we learned and what is still missing? Progress in Brain Research, 229, 441-450.
Taillepierre, J. D. (2016). Why diversity and inclusion matter in public health. Web.