Applications of Epidemiology in Community Health Nursing Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example

Applications of Epidemiology in Community Health Nursing Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example

Epidemiology in community health nursing involves the study of the determinants and distribution of the health states of a specific population. Whenever a disease occurs in a given population, epidemiologists carry out studies that comprehend the etiology of the disease and the consequential or probable impacts. Moreover, epidemiology describes the magnitude of the disease and health problems and their distributions in the community. Such studies provide crucial data information that can help control the spread of the disease, manage impacts in the community, and prevent future prevalence. This paper identifies epidemiological research of diabetes among rural residents of Saskatchewan.(Applications of Epidemiology in Community Health Nursing Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example)

Epidemiology Literature: Alam, M. S., Dyck, R., Janzen, B., Karunanayake, C., Dosman, J., & Pahwa, P. (2020). Risk factors, incidence, and prevalence of diabetes among rural farm and non-farm residents of Saskatchewan, Canada; a population-based longitudinal cohort study. Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders, 19(2), 1563-1582.(Applications of Epidemiology in Community Health Nursing Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example) http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40200-020-00693-z

The study identified is a population-based longitudinal cohort study. Baseline data were collected from participants at the beginning of the study and the end of the study. Significant information was collected from the participants, including respiratory health-related problems and non-respiratory chronic conditions, including diabetes, and primary health outcomes. The data was collected using self-reported data and survey questionnaires.(Applications of Epidemiology in Community Health Nursing Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example)

The findings reported are primarily consistent with the knowledge that I have of diabetes.  Throughout the four-year study, the prevalence of diabetes among rural Saskatchewan residents increased, with a higher prevalence among non-farm residents than farm residents. Remarkably higher than the national average.  Previous studies have shown that most farm residents are more active than non-farm residents explaining the variation in diabetes prevalence (Dyck et al., 2013). Notably, the Diabetes Canada Clinical PracticeGuidelines associated physical activity with low cholesterol and glucose levels and reduced insulin resistance, consistent with the study findings among farm residents of Saskatchewan (Sigal et al., 2018).(Applications of Epidemiology in Community Health Nursing Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example)

The identified risk factors included age, family history of diabetes, male sex, high body mass index (BMI), and low income. Notably, the study found a high incidence of diabetes among males than females for farm and non-farm residents. The results were consistent with the national and global diabetes gender statistics. For example, Nordström et al. (2016) found that older males have an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) than females due to men’s larger amounts of visceral fat. Particular findings on risk factors of diabetes such as marital status and economic status, including lack of adequate education, have also been widely associated with diabetes in literature.(Applications of Epidemiology in Community Health Nursing Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example)

The study also associated comorbidities such as high blood pressure and heart attack with diabetes diagnosis among rural dwellers. Other significant factors associated with diabetes identified in the study included abnormal sleep apnea and Epworth Sleepiness Score.  The identified relations make sense considering diabetes is a lifestyle condition primarily determined by an individual, family, and community lifestyle, including physical activity and nutrition. In this case, a sedentary lifestyle and eating junk food or improper diet can predispose an individual to diabetes. Moreover, high blood sugar in diabetic patients can damage blood vessels and nerves in the heart, leading to comorbid conditions including high blood pressure and heart attack. Equally, sleep apnea is associated with altered glucose metabolism, consequently promoting insulin resistance, leading to higher risks of diabetes development.(Applications of Epidemiology in Community Health Nursing Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example)

The non-significance of risk factors such as exposure to agricultural chemicals, age, male gender, and low income were deemed after adjusting variables was attributed to a low number of participants. Obesity, age, and sex were observed to have a strong association with diabetes. Obesity increases diabetes incidence among rural incidence, as those who are obese are twice likely to develop diabetes than normal or overweight people. Males aged 45 years and over are associated with higher risks of developing diabetes. However, the study highlighted higher education as the protective factor to the risks of developing diabetes.(Applications of Epidemiology in Community Health Nursing Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example)

I would incorporate these findings in my community nursing health practice. The findings are crucial in targeting intervention measures and establishing appropriate involvement mechanisms during practices. For example, the study identifies lack of physical activity and food insecurity as crucial determinants of diabetes risk. In my practice, I will uphold interdisciplinary community health partnerships, i.e., involving nutritionists for proper diet among high risk and diabetic individuals; therapists for appropriate exercise regimes; and advocate for government intervention on households with low income and food insecurity. Physical activity helps in reducing BMI and maintaining healthy body weight.(Applications of Epidemiology in Community Health Nursing Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example)

Furthermore, I would contribute to the health literacy programs that promote healthy eating habits and self-management skills to help reduce behavioral risk factors and outcomes that might contribute to poor health among diagnosed people. Lastly, I would adopt the findings to champion and establish targeted initiatives, i.e., intervention measures to reduce risks of developing diabetes among high-risk individuals, including males, adults, individuals with a family history of diabetes, low-income households, and sleep apnea. Managing sleep apnea contributes to improved glucose levels reducing the risks of developing diabetes and other complications.(Applications of Epidemiology in Community Health Nursing Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example)

Further research questions that this study helps answer are; (a) what is the association between rural residency and risks of developing diabetes? (b) How does the incidence and prevalence of diabetes compare between farm and non-farm residents in Saskatchewan? Although the study determines T2D as the typical type of diabetes among older adults, the study fails to outline the risks factors of developing type 1(T1D) and T2D. Therefore, further studies should seek to answer the risk factors associated with each type of diabetes to support evidence-based community health interventions.  Moreover, further research should seek to determine the specific links between occupational exposure to agricultural chemicals and diabetes through objective measures. Lastly, future studies should seek to demonstrate the racial/ethnic distribution of diabetes in rural Saskatchewan, considering most participants in this study were Caucasian. (Applications of Epidemiology in Community Health Nursing Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example)

Reference

Alam, M. S., Dyck, R., Janzen, B., Karunanayake, C., Dosman, J., & Pahwa, P. (2020). Risk factors, incidence, and prevalence of diabetes among rural farm and non-farm residents of Saskatchewan, Canada; a population-based longitudinal cohort study. Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders, 19(2), 1563-1582.(Applications of Epidemiology in Community Health Nursing Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example) http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40200-020-00693-z

Dyck, R., Karunanayake, C., Pahwa, P., Hagel, L., Lawson, J., Rennie, D., & Dosman, J. (2013). Prevalence, risk factors and comorbidities of diabetes among adults in rural Saskatchewan: the influence of farm residence and agriculture-related exposures. BMC Public Health, 13(1), 1-11.(Applications of Epidemiology in Community Health Nursing Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example) https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-7

Nordström*, A., Hadrévi, J., Olsson, T., Franks, P. W., & Nordström, P. (2016). Higher prevalence of type 2 diabetes in men than in women is associated with differences in visceral fat mass. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 101(10), 3740-3746.(Applications of Epidemiology in Community Health Nursing Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example) https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2016-1915

Sigal, R. J., Armstrong, M. J., Bacon, S. L., Boule, N. G., Dasgupta, K., Kenny, G. P., & Riddell, M. C. (2018). Physical activity and diabetes. Canadian Journal of Diabetes, 42, S54-S63.(Applications of Epidemiology in Community Health Nursing Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcjd.2017.10.008