Mammography is an effective screening tool for the early detection of breast cancer among women 50 years and older (Wong, 2008). However, barriers hinder women from obtaining mammograms. Understanding and addressing barriers encountered by women and by their physicians will improve patient compliance (Wong, 2008). To help alleviate these barriers, we have identified two interventions to improve mammography rates among Medicare women who suffer from kidney failure and/or mental illness:
1. A community-wide campaign consisting of placing educational posters in high-traffic areas.
2. A series of educational workshops targeting women in the community who meet the mammography measure’s eligibility criteria.
However, we only have the resources
Chapter 13 in Tong discusses the Cape Fear Endocrinology and Metabolic Associates who are the only endocrine specialist in their county. For reasons of cost-control, they do not accept either Medicaid patients. Because of this policy, people in this county do not have access to specialists for treatment of their chronic diseases (for example, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, and gout). (Tong p. 326)
Mental Health is a chronic misdiagnosis today. For many years, mental illnesses were down played and not taken seriously. Physicians thought women suffered from “the baby blues” when in reality, they were suffering from serious illnesses. Woman who were not treated properly for depression would spiral into out of control psychosis.
As of today, there are many programs and efforts being made that have either already decreased the gap or are attempting to bring change to the problem of increased deaths of African American women from breast cancer. One example is a study that was done in Massachusetts that gave low-income African American women aged 50-70 resources and education for six years, and it was “concluded that the Massachusetts program appeared to mitigate the disadvantages of living in high-poverty neighborhoods” for the incidence of breast cancer in that specific area (Cunningham 595). This study shows that these women need help that has not been previously provided to them in order to reduce the disparity. In this regard, the role of affordable health care needs to be available in order to decrease this problem. The same study showed that “among women without health insurance, disproportionately large numbers are [older African Americans], providing an explanation for high rates of advanced stage cancers at presentation among [African American] women in general” (Cunningham 594). If women are to be able to access affordable screenings, affordable health care must also be provided. Once again, this brings in the role of government in the lives of African American women. Federally qualified health centers offer preventative health care and screenings for a reduced or free cost to women of low socio-economic status, many of which happened to be African American women at a particular clinic, and it was found that the incidence of breast cancer in that community was reduced from the rates that were established previously (Adams 640). Therefore, if low-income women are to be able to access quality health care, then there must be more federally qualified ...
Women." Journal Of The American Academy Of Nurse Practitioners 24.12 (2012): 726-734. Academic Search Premier. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. In 2008, more than one million women underwent a diagnostic evaluation for suspected breast cancer. Approximately 182,500 women of the more than one million that received an evaluation also received a positive diagnosis (Montgomery, 2010). Risk factors linked to Breast Cancer include: gender, age, family history, prior breast cancer, previous biopsy, race and ethnicity, breast density, and long menstrual history because of prolonged hormonal stimulation. Modifiable related risk factors also include hormone replacement therapy, alcohol, weight, and physical activity (Giurescu, Hu, Obembe, 2010). The period between the initial discovery of a breast lump until diagnosis is known to cause considerable suffering and distress among patients (Liao, Chen, Chen, Chen, 2009). Patients need to receive care during this period as “unresolved distress may lead to future mental health and adjustment difficulties” (Lally, 2010). Patients with suspected breast cancer who received informational and psychological supportive care during their diagnosis period have an improved psychological status when compared to patients who did not receive supportive care. The care received should be both culturally sensitive and individualized for each patient. In addition, patients care should be coupled with continuous evaluation of psychological and emotional status. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of supportive care on anxiety levels of women during the diagnostic period. Supportive care included evaluation of the participants health care and support nee...
The women-centered event I chose to attend for this assignment was a workshop called ‘Look Good, Feel Better’. Doing a little bit of background research I found that this workshop is Canada’s only charitable cancer program that is dedicated to empowering women on how to manage the effects cancer and its treatments can have on their appearance. Using the example of the ‘Look Good Feel Better’ workshop for women undergoing cancer treatment, I will analyze the concept of body image, Third Wave Feminism idea of empowerment along with the difference between men and women’s appearance in society.
Planning and implementing a breast screening event in a predominantly African American community is one way the ARPNs are able to address disparities in preventative care. The event needs to be publicized at local social centers, parishes and other religious establishments. APRNs should collaborate with local health care providers in order to ensure follow up care is available to address any clinical findings.
The Information gathered in 2012 from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studies concluded that cervical cancer, “... used to be the leading cause of cancer death for women in the United States” (“Cervical Cancer Statistics”). But these statistics have gone down significantly in the past forty years because Planned Parenthood facilities provide to women pap smears to detect cell changes before the cancer develops. On the other hand, Planned Parenthood does not directly provide mammograms for women, their doctors and nurses “... teach patients about breast care, [and] connect patients to resources to help them get mammograms” ("Breast Cancer Screenings"). The important health care work done by the Planned Parenthood Clinics is, at times, over sought and even forgotten when the organization is embroiled in controversy as it finds itself in
Mental health makes up a small percentage of total healthcare costs. As a result, coverage for mental health issues is not seen as a priority. We’ve identified that coverage for the poor and elderly is important. People with pre-existing conditions should be covered. No-cost preventative care and longer coverage for young adults under their parent’s plans is now available. The Affordable Care Act has made significant changes to what healthcare covers and to the availability of healthcare.
Oncology Nursing Forum, 35(3), 449-454. Kazer, M. W., Jr., D. E., & Whittemore, R. (2010). Out of the Black Box: Expansion of a Theory-Based Intervention to Self-Manage the Uncertainty Associated With Active Surveillance (AS) for Prostate Cancer. Research and Theory for Nursing Practice,24(2), 101-112.
The Effects of Feminist Theory Based Interventional Methods in Classroom Settings on Body Image Among Women
The elderly represents a large amount of the population in our society and continues to grow each day. As the population grows, it is important to meet the demands and resolve the challenges that we encounter in regards to the overall quality of health and well-being of the elderly. Mental health of the elderly is a major issue but majority of the time goes unnoticed and untreated by caregivers and loved ones. About 20 percent of adults 55 and older are suffering from some type of mental health disorder, and one in three elderly adults do not receive any type of treatment (The State of Mental Health, 2008). Those suffering from mental illness are hesitant to seek out help or any type of treatment because of the stigma, services and cost for care that then comes with mental health disorders. Mental health issues that affect elderly include dementia, delirium, and psychosis. Some of the most common conditions include anxiety, mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder and cognitive impairment such as Alzheimer’s disease. Mental health is essential to the
The NSDUH reports that individuals with a mental illness is more like to also have a chronic health condition and are more likely to use hospitalization and emergency room treatment (NSDUH, 2014). According to SAMSHA (n.d.), 50% of Medicaid enrollees have a diagnosable mental health condition. Individuals with a diagnosed mental health condition have health care cost that is 75% higher than those without a mental health diagnosis (SAMSHA, n.d.). For an individual with a co-occurring disorder the cast is nearly three times higher than what the average Medicaid
My mother has suffered from a rare kidney disease called glomerulonephritis my entire life. This disease eats away at my mother’s health, leaving her mostly bed-ridden and depressed. My father is a store director at a local grocery store and has been for twenty-seven years.
The program would target African American women because despite lower breast cancer incidence, they typically experience increased mortality as compared to Caucasian women. This can be attributed to African American women’s lower rates of mammography screening and tendency for later stage diagnosis. Breast cancer screening rates are also lower amongst women in rural areas, women of lower socioeconomic status, and women without health insurance coverage. The program would implement the utilization of lay health advisors (LHAs) to promote breast cancer screenings which is evidence-based and research tested. The LHAs will conduct culturally-appropriate small group educational sessions (10-15 women) and promote the program at intercept sites (i.e. grocery store, shopping center, etc.). A small media campaign will be simultaneously implemented, emphasizing the importance of screening and the availability of no-cost services for eligible women. The program will reduce access barriers by contracting with local partners (mobile detection unit) and evaluated by tracking and documenting the number of targeted women reached through education and outreach efforts, their change in knowledge (pre/post test) after exposure to the educational session, and the number of eligible women who take