Despite the high level of development of modern healthcare, the medical community still faces problems that have a negative impact on patient outcomes. The tasks faced by doctors and nurses include not only the provision of qualified care but also the search for opportunities to exclude issues related to public health. One of these problems is an acute need to help patients with chronic diseases. The efforts of medical specialists to eliminate the negative consequences of such ailments may include a set of measures and procedures providing stakeholder involvement and appropriate funding. In the case of successful work, significant progress may be achieved through joint efforts.
Issue Description
Chronic diseases occupy one of the top positions in the list of health problems. Due to the development of medicine, “Americans are living longer, but chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and cancer are taking a growing toll on our health” (American Public Health Association, 2018, para. 1). Diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and other ailments pose a real threat to the population. Therefore, the task of medical specialists is to look for ways to combat these illnesses in order to achieve positive patient outcomes.
Background Information
Population Affected
The aging population is at threat of the negative consequences of the health problem under consideration. According to Bauer, Briss, Goodman, and Bowman (2014), approximately 33.7% of older adults over 65 are treated for cardiovascular diseases (p. 47). Moreover, as Prince et al. (2015) argue, “population aging will be the major driver of projected increases in disease burden in older people” (p. 1). Therefore, working with older people requires particular attention.
Level of Influence
The impact of the problem of chronic diseases is considered at the national level since many patients are at risk regularly. Special programs are designed to combat this problem – the National Diabetes Prevention Program, the State and Local Public Health Actions Program, and some other policies (American Public Health Association, 2018). The variety of chronic diseases and complications that they can cause necessitates the solution of this urgent public health problem at the widest possible level.
Evidence Regarding the Issue
The percentage of older adults suffering from chronic diseases is too high. Therefore, it is essential to take appropriate measures. According to Prince et al. (2015), “23% of the total global burden of disease is attributable to disorders in people aged 60 years and older” (p. 1). Also, as Bauer et al. (2014) remark, “in the USA, chronic diseases are the main cause of poor health, disability, and death, and account for most of the healthcare expenditures” (p. 45). All these facts show that the relevance of work concerning this problem and the search for ways to solve it is evident.
Problem Statement
In order to avoid the worsening of the situation, appropriate care courses and programs should be developed. In addition to existing state policies aimed at improving the health indicators of the population, additional strategies are to be offered and maintained. As one of the areas, the promotion of sports can be conducted. According to Pedersen and Saltin (2015), “over the past two decades, considerable knowledge has accumulated concerning the significance of exercise as the first-line treatment of several chronic diseases” (p. 1). Therefore, this direction may be promising.
Suggestions for Addressing the Issue
Stakeholders
In addition to the target audience, including older adults, the representatives of the healthcare sector can also be involved as stakeholders. The experience gained in the work process may be useful for developing new interventions aimed at preventing chronic diseases. Furthermore, the authorities are also interested in excluding the high level of health problems and spending budget funds on sponsoring other health issues. Thus, different participants can support the activities aimed at combating chronic diseases.
Funding Considerations
To ensure that the program aimed at combating the stated problem through promoting the physical activity of the population is effective, appropriate financial assistance should be obtained. The government officials can assist in funding from the budget. Also, sponsors can be notified of the need to assist in the fight against chronic diseases and an attempt to improve the health of the population. If enough people are aware of the importance of the activities conducted, high results may be achieved.
Impact on the Healthcare Delivery System
Due to the intervention aimed at reducing the effect of chronic diseases through stable physical activity, a positive impact on the healthcare delivery system may be observed. Medical staff will have an opportunity to devote more time to other topical problems, while patients with the issue stated will be able to maintain their normal health status independently. Thus, the relevance of work lies in the possibility to educate the population about the correct preventive procedures in order to improve treatment outcomes and strengthen the healthcare system.
Conclusion
If all stakeholders act in concert, significant positive results can be achieved in the fight against chronic diseases among the population. Older adults are more prone to this problem. Therefore, they need specific doctors’ and nurses’ attention. As a potentially successful solution, the promotion of physical activity is suggested. Due to work done, health professionals will be able to focus on other relevant tasks, and patients will have an opportunity to cope with the negative consequences of chronic diseases independently.
References
American Public Health Association. (2018). Chronic disease.
Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. (2018). Chronic disease prevention and health promotion.
Bauer, U. E., Briss, P. A., Goodman, R. A., & Bowman, B. A. (2014). Prevention of chronic disease in the 21st century: elimination of the leading preventable causes of premature death and disability in the USA. The Lancet, 384(9937), 45-52. Web.
Pedersen, B. K., & Saltin, B. (2015). Exercise as medicine – Evidence for prescribing exercise as therapy in 26 different chronic diseases. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 25, 1-72. Web.
Prince, M. J., Wu, F., Guo, Y., Robledo, L. M. G., O’Donnell, M., Sullivan, R., & Yusuf, S. (2015). The burden of disease in older people and implications for health policy and practice. The Lancet, 385(9967), 549-562. Web.