Question

This is a Collaborative Learning Community (CLC) assignment.

An important role of nursing is to provide health promotion and disease prevention. Review the 2020 Topics and Objectives on the Healthy People website. Choose a topic of interest that you would like to address, in conjunction with a population at risk for the associated topic. Submit the topic and associated group to your instructor for approval.

1. Outline a proposal for health education that can be used in family-centered health promotion to address the issue of diabetes for the target population. Ensure your proposal is based on evidence-based practice.
2. Present a general profile of at least one health-related organization for the selected focus topic. Present two resources, national or local, for the proposed education plan that can be utilized by the provider or the patient.

Answer 1

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2020

ORAL HEALTH

Seventeen of the Healthy people 2020 objectives relate directly to oral health and a number of others reflect the connection between oral disease and other chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cancer. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), Indian Health Service (IHS), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) are the leads for tracking the progress of these objectives.

GOAL:

Oral health objectives is to prevent and control oral and craniofacial diseases, conditions, and injuries and improve access to related services. Like general health, oral health status in the United States tends to vary based on social and economic conditions.

Health Impact of Oral Health

Oral health is an essential part of staying healthy. Good oral health allows a person to speak, smile, smell, taste, touch, chew, swallow, and make facial expressions to show feelings and emotions.Poor oral health has serious consequences, including painful, disabling, and costly oral diseases. Millions of Americans are living with one or more oral diseases, including:

• Dental caries (cavities)
• Periodontal (gum) disease
• Cleft lip and palate
• Oral and facial pain
• Oral and pharyngeal (mouth and throat) cancers

Gum disease, in particular, is associated with diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. In pregnant women, gum disease is also associated with premature births and low birth weight.Many of these oral diseases may be prevented with regular dental care.

POPULATION AT RISK

Oral health is included as one of 12 Healthy People 2020 leading health indicators. The leading health indicator for oral health is the proportion of people aged ≥2 years who used the oral health-care system in the last 12 months. In 2011, among people aged ≥2 years, 41.8% had a dental visit within the previous 12 months, short of the Healthy People 2020 target of 49.0%. A total of 17 oral health objectives focus on the oral health of children, adolescents, and adults; access to preventive services; oral health interventions; monitoring/surveillance systems; and public health infrastructure.

HEALTH EDUCATION

• Control your blood sugar levels. Use your diabetes-related medications as directed, changing to a healthier diet and even exercising more can help. Good blood sugar control will also help your body fight any bacterial or fungal infections in your mouth and help relieve dry mouth caused by diabetes.
• Avoid smoking.
• If you wear any type of denture, clean it each day.
• Make sure to brush twice a day with a soft brush and clean between your teeth daily.
• See your dentist for regular checkups.