One strategy that has proven effective for improving population health outcomes is screening. Screening programs for breast, cervical, prostate, and colon cancer allow for early detection and treatment, thereby improving health outcomes. Advocates of early screening programs have sought to inform populations at risk of the value of participating in early screening.
Consider the following examples: In Florida, mobile mammography units have reached out to uninsured women and provided free mammograms. In Maryland, Wellmobiles go out into the community to provide primary and preventive health care services to geographically underserved communities and uninsured individuals across the state. Many such programs are available for individuals to participate in screening, regardless of ability to pay.
In this Assignment, you will evaluate the characteristics of preventive health programs that lead to successful outcomes.
To prepare:
Review the article “Improving Female Preventive Health Care Delivery Through Practice Change” found in this week’s Learning Resources. Consider why the Every Woman Matters program was not effective in meeting its goals.
Using the Walden Library and other credible websites, identify at least two successful advocacy programs for early cancer screening and evaluate the characteristics that made them effective based on the evidence presented in the article or website.
To complete:
Write a 3- to 5-page paper that includes the following:
Summarize the Every Woman Matters program and how the issue of women’s preventive health care was approached. Analyze possible reasons the program was ineffective.
Summarize the characteristics at least two prevention programs that advocate for early screening, describing what made them successful.
If you were the nurse leader in charge of developing a follow-up to the Every Woman Matters program, what strategies would you propose for creating a more effective prevention program?