C350 Patient’s Economic Stability & Healthcare Western Governors University

1. Four Evidence-Based Interview Techniques for Assessing Social Determinants:

a. According to a study by J. A. Schickedanz et al. (2017), four evidence-based interview techniques for assessing social determinants include:

i. Using Open-Ended Questions: Asking open-ended questions such as “Tell me about your home life” or “What is a typical day like for you?” can provide insight into the patient’s social determinants.

ii. Active Listening: Listening actively and attentively to the patient’s responses can help the nurse understand their social determinants and identify areas of concern.

iii. Using Probes: Using probes such as “Can you tell me more about that?” or “What do you mean by that?” can help the nurse gather more detailed information about the patient’s social determinants.

iv. Repeating Information: Repeating information back to the patient in their own words can ensure that the nurse has a clear understanding of the patient’s social determinants.

b. Justification and Patient Responses:

i. Income: “What is your current employment status and monthly income?” Patient response: “I work part-time at a local grocery store and make about $800 a month.”

ii. Education: “What is your highest level of education completed?” Patient response: “I completed high school but did not attend college.”

iii. Housing: “Do you have stable housing or have you experienced any recent changes in your housing situation?” Patient response: “I am currently renting a one-bedroom apartment, but I am struggling to keep up with the rent payments.”

iv. Social Support: “Who do you rely on for support in times of need?” Patient response: “I have a few close friends and my sister who I can turn to for support.”

c. Patient Responses and Nursing Plan of Care:

i. Income: The patient’s low income may affect their ability to afford healthcare, medications, and healthy food options. The nursing plan of care may include connecting the patient with resources such as financial assistance programs, food banks, and low-cost healthcare options.

ii. Education: The patient’s low level of education may affect their health literacy and ability to understand healthcare information. The nursing plan of care may include providing education in simple language, using visual aids, and connecting the patient with resources such as literacy programs.

iii. Housing: The patient’s unstable housing situation may affect their access to healthcare and ability to follow a treatment plan. The nursing plan of care may include connecting the patient with resources such as housing assistance programs and social services.

iv. Social Support: The patient’s social support system may affect their emotional well-being and ability to manage their health. The nursing plan of care may include connecting the patient with resources such as support groups and counseling services.

2. Economic Stability and Access to Healthcare:

a. Socioeconomic Status: A patient’s socioeconomic status can affect their access to healthcare by limiting their ability to afford healthcare services and insurance premiums. Low-income patients are more likely to delay or forego healthcare due to cost concerns.

b. Employment Status: A patient’s employment status can affect their access to healthcare by limiting their access to employer-sponsored health insurance and sick leave. Patients without health insurance may delay or forego healthcare due to cost concerns.

c. Housing Stability: A patient’s housing stability can affect their access to healthcare by limiting their ability to keep up with healthcare appointments and follow a treatment plan. Patients who are homeless or living in unstable housing situations may struggle to prioritize their healthcare needs.

3. Educational Status and Health:

According to a study by S. M. Artiga et al. (2020), educational status can affect health outcomes by influencing health literacy, employment opportunities, income, and access to healthcare. Patients with lower levels of education are more likely to have poor health

2. Economic Stability and Access to Healthcare

Economic stability is a significant social determinant of health, and it affects an individual’s access to healthcare. Socioeconomic status (SES), employment status, and housing stability are three factors that influence access to healthcare. Patients with low SES have limited access to healthcare services and resources, including preventative care, medical treatments, and medications. Low-income individuals may struggle to afford health insurance, co-payments, and deductibles, leading to delayed or forgone healthcare services.

Employment status is another economic factor that affects healthcare access. Unemployed individuals may not have health insurance or may not have access to healthcare services due to financial constraints. Job loss or underemployment may lead to a lack of healthcare coverage, increasing the risk of adverse health outcomes.

Housing stability is another factor that influences healthcare access. Homelessness or unstable housing can lead to a lack of healthcare access due to the inability to afford healthcare services, transportation to healthcare facilities, or lack of insurance coverage.

3. Educational Status and Health

Educational status is another significant social determinant of health that affects an individual’s health outcomes. Education and health are interdependent and influence each other. Higher levels of education are associated with better health outcomes, including lower morbidity and mortality rates.

Low educational attainment may lead to lower health literacy, which can affect an individual’s ability to understand health information, make informed decisions about their health, and access healthcare services. Low literacy levels have been associated with a lack of preventive care and increased hospitalizations and healthcare costs.

4. Health and Healthcare Status and Quality of Life

Health and healthcare status are essential factors that affect an individual’s quality of life. Poor health and healthcare status can lead to decreased quality of life, decreased ability to perform daily activities, and increased healthcare costs. Individuals with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease, may experience reduced quality of life due to the burden of managing their condition.

Health literacy, or an individual’s ability to understand health information, is essential for individuals to make informed decisions about their health and healthcare. Low health literacy is associated with decreased healthcare utilization, medication errors, and increased healthcare costs.

5. Neighborhood and Environment and Access to Health

The neighborhood and environment in which an individual lives can affect their access to healthcare services and resources. Individuals living in low-income areas may face barriers to healthcare access, including limited availability of healthcare services, lack of transportation, and inadequate insurance coverage. Low-income neighborhoods may also lack healthy food options, leading to a higher risk of obesity and related health conditions.

In contrast, individuals living in high-income areas may have access to more healthcare services and resources, leading to better health outcomes. A study by Jha et al. (2018) found that individuals living in high-income areas had better access to healthcare services and resources and experienced better health outcomes than those living in low-income areas.

Access to healthcare services and resources also differs between rural and urban areas. Individuals living in rural areas may face barriers to healthcare access due to geographic distance, lack of healthcare facilities, and healthcare provider shortages. A study by Henry et al. (2019) found that rural residents had lower healthcare utilization rates and experienced worse health outcomes than urban residents.

Individuals living in neighborhoods with limited healthy food options may experience food insecurity, leading to poor nutrition and increased risk of obesity and related health conditions.

B. Importance of Addressing Social Determinants in Comprehensive Health Assessment

Social determinants of health are crucial factors that affect an individual’s health and well-being. Addressing social determinants of health is essential for improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities. A study by Braveman et al. (2011) found that addressing social determinants of health was essential for reducing health disparities and improving health outcomes.

3. Analyze how your patient’s educational status affects his or her health. Include a scholarly source to support your analysis.

Education plays a vital role in an individual’s health status. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults with lower levels of education have a higher risk of several chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes than those with higher education levels (CDC, 2021). Education is linked with better health outcomes as it provides individuals with knowledge and skills that enable them to make informed health decisions, including accessing and utilizing preventive health services.

a. Discuss the healthcare barriers and opportunities the patient might face because of his or her educational status.

Patients with lower education levels often face several healthcare barriers, such as difficulty understanding medical instructions and prescriptions, lack of awareness regarding preventive care services, and inadequate health literacy. Additionally, lower education levels often correlate with lower income levels, making it harder to access healthcare services, pay for healthcare costs, and take time off work for medical appointments. However, several opportunities for improving healthcare outcomes exist, such as targeted health education programs, patient navigators, and health literacy interventions (Pleasant, 2014).

4. Analyze how the patient’s health and healthcare status affect his or her quality of life.

The patient’s health and healthcare status significantly impact their quality of life. Patients with chronic illnesses often experience physical and emotional symptoms that negatively impact their daily activities and social interactions. Moreover, inadequate access to healthcare services, limited insurance coverage, and high healthcare costs often lead to unmet healthcare needs, financial stress, and difficulty obtaining appropriate care (Garcia & Sharif, 2015).

a. Analyze how an understanding of health literacy affects health. Include a scholarly source to support your analysis.

Health literacy refers to an individual’s capacity to access, understand, and utilize health-related information effectively. Low health literacy is linked with poor health outcomes, inadequate utilization of preventive health services, and increased healthcare costs (Koh, Rudd, & Nutbeam, 2019). According to a systematic review, health literacy interventions can improve self-care behaviors, medication adherence, and healthcare utilization among patients with chronic illnesses (Sarkar et al., 2015). Therefore, an understanding of health literacy is crucial for promoting health and improving healthcare outcomes among patients.

5. Explain how the patient’s neighborhood and environment affect his or her access to health.

a. Compare the healthcare (e.g., quality, access, outcomes) received by a patient living in a low-income area to the healthcare received by a patient living in a high-income area.

Patients living in low-income areas often experience inadequate access to healthcare services, inadequate insurance coverage, and poor healthcare quality, resulting in worse health outcomes than patients living in high-income areas (Artiga & Hinton, 2018). Limited access to healthcare services is linked with increased hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and preventable illnesses. Additionally, patients living in low-income areas often experience environmental health risks such as poor air quality, water pollution, and inadequate sanitation, which further contribute to poor health outcomes.

b. Discuss how access to healthcare differs for patients living in rural versus urban areas. Include a scholarly source to support your discussion.

Patients living in rural areas often experience inadequate access to healthcare services compared to those living in urban areas. Rural areas often have a shortage of healthcare professionals, limited healthcare facilities, and inadequate transportation systems, which make it harder for patients to access care (Thomas et al., 2019). Additionally, rural patients often experience lower insurance coverage and higher healthcare costs than urban patients, further exacerbating healthcare disparities.