Responses to Critical Thinking Activities



Chapter 25 Responses to Critical Thinking Activities

0. 1. Distinguish between the terms race and ethnicity.

Cooper (2004) defines race as a social construct that categorizes an individual or group based on physical and anatomical features, most notably the color of one’s skin. Ethnicity is a cultural construct that categorizes groups of people based on their geographic origins, languages, or cultural similarity in the world.

0. 2. What national and state surveillance data measure racial and ethnic health disparities?

Public health nurses obtain national and state surveillance data from state vital statistics records, CDC national health statistics, national surveys, hospital discharge data, health utilization data from public insurance records like Medicaid or Medicaid programs, the Behavioral Risk Surveillance Survey, and the Youth Health Risk Surveillance Survey. The CDC (2004) collects data to measure Healthy People 2010 objectives, including health indicators in racial and ethnic minority groups.

0. 3. Analyze morbidity and mortality data for your community or state. What racial and ethnic disparities exist in infants and children, adolescents, and adults?

Answers will vary based on the community or state. The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, located at and the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health, located at: are agencies that provide national and state data on minority health disparities.

0. 4. What are examples of population characteristics, environmental, and behavioral factors that contribute to racial and ethnic health disparities?

Population characteristics include age, sex, race, ethnicity, education, employment, social support, values/attitudes, income, health insurance, health access, and a regular source of health care. Environmental factors are those that may influence access, availability, or acceptance of health care services. For example, racism, culturally inappropriate care, cumulative stress, and poverty may contribute to low-birth weight and infant mortality. Personal or behavioral factors include tobacco use, substance abuse, physical activity, overweight and obesity, responsible sexual behaviors, nutritional habits, exercise and physical activity.

0. 5. Describe at least six historical events, publications, or health policies that influenced interventions to reduce health disparities.

See Table 25-5 Landmark Reports, Policies, and Publications Influencing Interventions to Eliminate Racial/Ethnic Health Disparities.

0. 6. What are primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies targeted at individuals, populations and systems to prevent or reduce racial/ethnic minority health disparities in a community?

Primary prevention interventions included activities to change modifiable risk factors as nutrition and weight management, exercise and physical activity, stress management, and avoidance of tobacco or tobacco products. Secondary prevention strategies aim to cure or slow the progression of a disease or illness by early diagnoses and prompt treatment. Screening programs are the best examples of this level. Screening for high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and developmental delays in children are examples of secondary prevention strategies. Public health nursing case management to reduce health risk behaviors is another example of secondary level interventions. Tertiary prevention strategies aim to prevent the further progression or deterioration of a disease or illness. Prevention at this level focuses on managing symptoms, effective treatment, and preventing further complications (i.e., diabetes-related neuropathies).

0. 7. How could community health nurses collaborate with other community agencies and groups to reduce racial/ethnic health disparities in a community?

Answers will vary based on the community and the particular disparity addressed. Community and faith-based organizations, voluntary and social service agencies, public health departments, hospitals, and health professionals can collaborate with public health nurses to expand health services and support for racial/ethnic minorities. For example, to address increasing rates of asthma attacks and emergency room visits among minority children, public health nurses partner with health agencies, voluntary organizations, and community groups to deliver asthma education programs to children and families affected by asthma.

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