Practice Problem Identification
Introduction
Purpose Statement
The purpose of this assessment is to investigate a practice problem. The appraisal will focus on various aspects of the practice problem. One of the core tasks will entail an examination of its implications, including on stakeholders, at both the national and local levels, will take place.
Practice Problem Identification
The applicable practice problem in this assessment is obesity. It indicates a condition in which one has excessive deposits of body fats. According to the U.S Burden of Disease Collaborators (2018), it has become a significant public health concern. According to Ward et al. (2019), the projected national prevalence rate of the disease as of 2030 would be 48.9%. Further, the authors also note that increasingly, all the socioeconomic strata are affected by the disease. In the past, the disease was associated with only those in the high-income categories. Moreover, the management of the disease is a cost-intensive process. Ward et al. (2019) attribute this situation to the complex nature of the disease and its tendency to occur with other chronic illnesses. Consequently, it is a major practice problem that requires evidence-based interventions from all stakeholders.
Role of DNP Practice Scholar in Influencing Practice Problem
The essentials of a DNP program confer a DNP practice scholar with numerous responsibilities regarding the management of a practice problem. According to Vanderkooi et al. (2018), such a scholar should seek to enhance the knowledge surrounding a specific practice problem. Consequently, in addressing obesity, a DNP practitioner should set the foundation for conducting evidence-based research on the epidemiology of the disease. This activity includes the application of scientific theories in the research process. However, they should not only engage in experimentation; instead, they should also disseminate the findings of the studies actively. Knowledge dissemination is a critical pillar in clinical practice.
Health policy advocacy is another critical aspect of DNP practice. It improves the integrity and efficacy of the entire healthcare ecosystem. Additionally, it also acts as a means of monitoring the effects of existing policies while providing a platform for the identification of practice gaps. Therefore, a DNP practice scholar should engage in advocacy to improve regulations and Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) on the care and management of obesity patients.
A DNP practitioner should also evaluate the existing models for the delivery of care. Such models are crucial in determining the quality of patient outcomes. Accordingly, such a scholar should assess whether the current approaches used in addressing obesity are effective. In case they are, they should suggest means of improving on them, and. However, if they are not, then they should propose other more effective evidence-based solutions.
Implications of the Practice Problem at the National Level
- Significance
Obesity has major implications for various aspects concerning its management at the national level. For instance, it is influencing the existing nursing procedural guidelines. Nurses must learn to cater to the needs of heavier patients when compared to the past. Thus, national nursing associations and educational institutions should overhaul their practice guidelines and curricula. Further, Hruby and Hu (2015) contend that the illness is a predisposing factor to other types of diseases like hypertension and stroke. This situation improves the complexity of managing the disease, a factor that places an undue burden on healthcare practitioners and existing infrastructure.
- Relevance
Addressing the underlying issues regarding the practice problem is relevant. It provides the foundation for a deeper understanding of the epidemiology of the disease, as well as its social and economic implications. Consequently, any proposed interventions will be based on evidence and objective scientific theory.
- Economic ramifications
The disease places a substantial economic burden on both the individual and society. According to Tremmel et al. (2017), as of 2014, the global economic impact of the ailment was US$2.8 trillion annually. It includes the direct cost of providing medical care to the affected persons and the lost productivity because of the social and income-earning limitations that the disease places on the affected individuals.
Impact of the Practice Problem at the National Level on Key Stakeholders
Numerous national stakeholders are involved in creating a conducive environment for the reduction of the prevalence of diabetes. Healthcare Organizations (HCOs) have been forced to expand their medical infrastructure to enable them to deal with not just the adiposity but also other co-occurring issues like chronic illness and mental health. It implies that providers and other stakeholders must adopt a team-based approach to the management of the disease.
The nursing fraternity has also been forced to align their guidelines to suit the needs of obese patients. For instance, nurses should learn how to undertake injections when intravenous access is restricted — a common occurrence for persons with obesity. Additionally, it has also led to an increase in the workload for nurses not only because of the patients’ weight-related issues but also the propensity for the disease to be comorbid with others. This aspect places a strain on nursing practice, especially coming at a time when shortages of human resources are perverse.
Obesity also has important repercussions on patients and their families. According to Daniel et al. (2018), the disease places a huge financial burden on the affected person’s family, especially in situations where it co-occurs with other illnesses. The struggle is made worse because of the reduced productivity of the patient due to lower mobility and general health complications. Increasingly, obesity patients are forming a relatively large population of persons with mental health illnesses (Rajan & Menon, 2017). Therefore, its impact on the community is enormous.
Implications of the Practice at the Local Level
- Significance
At the local level, the number of obesity cases has been rising consistently. The increase in the prevalence is occurring at a time when the local healthcare facility is facing considerable personnel challenges. Moreover, apart from being overworked, the staff at the facility are poorly trained in handling patients with obesity.
- Relevance
Addressing the issue will provide from a holistic perspective would help alleviate some of the challenges at the local level. For instance, by training the practitioners on how to educate patients and the community on healthy lifestyles, incidents of the disease may reduce in the long run. It would improve the productivity of the providers.
- Economic ramifications
In the local community, several families have been left without breadwinners because of the diseases. In others, the financial toll of managing the disease has led to a deterioration of their living standards.
Impact of the Practice Problem at the Local Level on Key Stakeholders
The practice problem has led to an evolution in the local approach to healthcare. Patients, families, and the local healthcare facility have formed an association. Its purpose is to create awareness on the disease, its effect, and how to lower one’s exposure. For the nurses and interprofessional team members, the situation has increased their workload; however, it has also offered them an opportunity to participate in the process of finding solutions. While some are engaged in healthcare policy advocacy, others have commenced evidence-based research.
Conclusion
The growing prevalence of obesity has led to a rethink of the existing CPGs, protocols, and policies at the national level. An urgency in aligning policies with evidence exists as this will reduce the adverse effects of the disease to stakeholders. At the local level, the illness has forced stakeholders to form close associations with others as a means of addressing the existing resource shortages and to create awareness. DNP practice scholars play an essential role in this process, especially as regards healthcare policy advocacy and generating research.
References
Daniel, H., Bornstein, S. S., & Kane, G. C. (2018). Addressing Social Determinants to Improve Patient Care and Promote Health Equity: An American College of Physicians Position Paper. Annals of Internal Medicine, 168(8), 577. https://doi.org/10.7326/m17-2441
Hruby, A., & Hu, F. B. (2014). The Epidemiology of Obesity: A Big Picture. PharmacoEconomics, 33(7), 673–689. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40273-014-0243-x
Menon, V., & Rajan, T. (2017). Psychiatric disorders and obesity: A review of association studies. Journal of Postgraduate Medicine, 63(3), 182. https://doi.org/10.4103/jpgm.jpgm_712_16
Tremmel, M., Gerdtham, U.-G., Nilsson, P., & Saha, S. (2017). Economic Burden of Obesity: A Systematic Literature Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(4), 435. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14040435
VanderKooi, M. E., Conrad, D. M., & Spoelstra, S. L. (2018). An Enhanced Actualized DNP Model to Improve DNP Project Placements, Rigor, and Completion. Nursing Education Perspectives, 39(5), 299–301. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.nep.0000000000000384
Ward, Z. J., Bleich, S. N., Cradock, A. L., Barrett, J. L., Giles, C. M., Flax, C., Long, M. W., & Gortmaker, S. L. (2019). Projected U.S. State-Level Prevalence of Adult Obesity and Severe Obesity. New England Journal of Medicine, 381(25), 2440–2450. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmsa1909301