A family health assessment is a vital tool for identifying weak areas that family members should work on to sustain their general well-being. Typically, the health is monitored using functional health patterns, however, they do not provide full information (Fettig et al., 2015). As a result, it is essential to analyze the social determinants of health (SDOH), which can impact family soundness. They comprise political, socioeconomic, environmental, educational, cultural, and health accessibility factors (Smith et al., 2017). Therefore, the paper seeks to determine the SDOHs and establish a plan of action for health promotion of the family.
The first determinant that influences Yaryshev’s family is socioeconomical. Mr. Yaryshev owns a real estate agency and spends much time working, leaving home at 8:00 in the morning, and returning home at 9:00 in the evening. Besides, opening his own firm was quite stressful, and he commenced smoking. As a result, this habit took its toll on his lungs. However, due to his busyness and tight schedule, he cannot visit a doctor for a checkup.
Another factor contributing to the family’s well-being relates to their cultural background. The Yaryshevs were all born in Ukraine and only moved to the United States in 2008. The spouses have spent most of their lives in the country of their origin, while their children grew up in America. Thus, their children have different tastes, outlooks, and preferences, especially in food, but their parents encourage them to preserve their traditions. Despite having traditional Ukrainian food served daily, their son consumes much junk food, chocolate in particular. Therefore, he might have some dental problems due to eating sweets.
In addition, linguistic competence can be considered as a factor contributing to the availability of medical services. After moving to the United States, the family did not know the language well, so they had to seek help from the Russian and Ukrainian communities. Thus, the Yaryshevs struggled trying to find a doctor who could provide them with adequate medical care. However, they have mastered their language skills, and now it is not a problem for them to get medical care.
The social health of the determinants significantly impact the family’s ability to make decisions related to their wellness. Despite their access to annual health checkups, they still do not manage to visit the doctor when something concerns them. This poses a health risk to Mr. Yaryshev who refuses to see his physician for a lung screening despite his troublesome cough. Moreover, their eldest son may encounter dental problems if he does not stop consuming chocolate bars each day. Mrs. Yarysheva and a younger daughter do not have significant health implications; however, it is necessary that they attended the hospital for a checkup more than once a year.
Mr. Yaryshev and Mrs. Yarysheva are 43 and 39 years old, respectively. Mr. Yaryshev is recommended to have a lung exam because he smokes one pack of cigarettes a day; the procedure should reveal the risk of lung cancer. It is also vital that Mrs. Yarysheva obtain a gynecological examination to eliminate the chance of ovarian or breast cancer because the women of her age are mostly subjected to such risk. Their 16-year-old son must have an appointment with a dentist to check up his oral cavity for caries. Therefore, choosing an appropriate health model to create a plan of action is crucial to address the family’s issues.
Considering the above-listed determinants affecting the Yaryshev’s mental and physical well-being, the Denham Family Health Model would be perfectly integrated in the practice. The model includes three domains: structural, contextual, and functional (Denham, 2017). These aspects consider the factors influencing the family’s well-being and evaluate the health outcomes of the patients. In addition, the Denham model helps to assess the family both as a whole and each of its members separately.
It is possible to describe the dynamics and changes within Yaryshev’s family using the family theory proposed by Denham. The health professionals can identify the causes that make Mr. Yaryshev smoke and his son eat sweets. Moreover, the model allows practitioners to establish the interpersonal connections between the family members and their emotional state. Once a medical worker identifies these aspects, they must create a plan of action for the Yaryshevs.
Since the Denham model is based on an individual approach to every family member, it is necessary to establish a strategy for each. First, Mr. Yaryshev should identify the reasons for smoking and decide if he wants to give it up. Second, their eldest son should consult with a dentist and nutritionist to determine the substitutes for chocolate. Mother and daughter do not have complaints concerning their well-being; therefore, there are no specific steps for improving their health. However, the model also views a family as a unit; thus, there should be a common strategy the family would adhere to (Denham, 2017). So, their mutual goal would be to encourage each other to eat healthier food and get rid of destructive habits.
In conclusion, it seems reasonable to state that the Yaryshevs should implement both individual and collective approaches to promote their family well-being. The Denham model would be the most efficient to meet the Yaryshevs’ healthcare needs. Each family member should solve their own problems and distinguish themselves from other members of the family clearly. Recognition of their own health improvement strategies would help to boost the entire family’s wellness.
References
Denham, A. S. (2017). Moving to a culture of health. Journal of Professional Nursing, 33(5), 356-362.
Fettig, A., Schultz, T. R., & Sreckovic, M. A. (2015). Effects of coaching on the implementation of functional assessment–based parent intervention in reducing challenging behaviors. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 17(3), 170-180.
Smith, S., DeGrace, B., Ciro, C., Bax, A., Hambrick, A., James, J., & Evans, A. (2017). Exploring families’ experiences of health: contributions to a model of family health. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 22(10), 1239-1247. Web.