Reflective written analysis of clinical incident - copy 1

Answer

Nursing Educative Poster and Justification

Part Two: Justification of Poster

The Rationale for the Health Risk

According to a 2017 report published under the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) in 2018, nearly 15%, amounting to 3.8 million Australians, are aged 65 and above, making the elderly population in the country. In addition, statistics highlight that in the burden of the disease plaguing the Australian population of 55 years and above, obesity comes second to cardiovascular diseases as the leading health risk in the country (AIHW, 2020). Therefore, in partnership with healthcare professionals and caregivers, Australia's health system should focus on the nursing care administration to the geriatric population to help reduce the growing concern of overweight and obesity amongst the population.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) (2018), 69.825% of the geriatric population are obese. These statistics come with the measurement of obesity using the body mass index (BMI). Using the BMI scale, the Australian Aboriginals average at 74% overweight while 45% are obese (Thurber et al., 2018). On the total comparison, older adult males are obese, averaged at 74.4%, compared to older adult females, who average at 65.25% (AIHW, 2018). Of this population, the Aboriginal older adults have been observed to have obesity in more numbers than the non-Aboriginal population (Thurber et al., 2018). Looking into these statistics, it is evident that the Australian geriatric population lacks adequate information on care interventions and management of obesity as it continues to plague the population, being the second-leading health risk amongst the elderly population in Australia. Hence, making posters fitted with information on the causes of obesity, potential risk factors of elderly people with obesity, socio-economic factors influencing the rise of obesity in the geriatric population, and nursing care and management interventions are important as educative material for the registered nurses and geriatric population towards proper care, education, and management of obesity.

Rationale for Audience

Registered nurses and caregivers around healthcare institutions that include hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes are responsible for catering to the geriatric population towards the promotion of health and optimizing health outcomes even as they age.  McKee and Morley (2018) explain that aging older adults decrease growth hormones like testosterone and DHEA that help insulin action. Therefore, a reduction in growth hormones coupled with aging, reduced activity, and reduced energy expenditure after energy intake through foods makes the bodies of older adults aged 55 and above increase visceral fats, leading to individuals at these ages becoming overweight and eventually obese. It is empirical that nurses and caregivers attending to older adults offer education surrounding these body changes and their effect on fat accumulation.

Additionally, registered nurses are obliged to explain to patients already obese and overweight the potential risk factors of this health risk. Sajoux (2017) infers that older people with obesity are likely to risk contracting cardiovascular diseases, stroke, diabetes type 2, and elevated blood pressure. Kim (2018) adds that obesity in elderly people risks developing chronic diseases associated with aging that include arthritis, dementia, and impaired quality of life. Malenfant and Batsis (2019) expound that reduced life expectancy, hypertension, and obstructive sleep apnea are additional potential risks to older adults with obesity in the geriatric population. As such, registered nurses should use this information and make pamphlets and posters that educate the geriatric population on potential risk factors of obesity and explain the socio-economic determinants that increase the chances of obesity amongst peers of the geriatric population.

According to Thurber et al. (2018), socio-economic factors such as living standards, education levels, and level of income contribute to the prevalence of obesity. Older adults living in urban centers have been observed to have obesity compared to rural-dwelling elderly Australians (Thurber et al., 2018). Education also played a big factor since people with high levels of education in tertiary institutions know about taking care of themselves by having high-income jobs, compared to low-income earners with a low educational level (Thurber et al., 2018). Registered nurses bridge the gap between education, income-earning and places of living, whether rural or urban, by offering this information of proper care of one's body to avoid becoming overweight and eventually obese.  

While some of the older adults with obesity may seek weight-loss interventions, Malenfant and Batsis(2019) explain that nurses and other healthcare professionals should offer information on how to go about weight loss in geriatrics with obesity. Malenfant and Batsis(2019) advise that nurses and caregivers give patient-specific approaches to weight loss after thorough assessments of the individuals. This avoids the collective thought of giving out one intervention that may work on some patients while others are at risk of further complications and injuries from workouts. Nurses implement their knowledge and expertise in formulating a patient-centred care plan through health promotion interventions for each older adult with obesity, while geriatrics use the information on pamphlets and posters to look into lifestyle changes that help reduce the accumulation of fat in their bodies, leading them becoming overweight and obese.

On the nurses’ side of formulating care plans for older adults with obesity, Haywood and Sumithran (2019) and Goisser et al. (2020) propose lifestyle changes and exercise for elderly patients with obesity. Registered nurses should work hand in hand with dieticians to help formulate proper meals and diet plans for older adults with obesity (Haywood & Sumithran, 2019). These meal plans should include fruits and less sugary foods that accumulate fat in their aging bodies. Nurses who educate patients on this help them grow healthier and prolong their life expectancy. Goisser et al. (2020) add that on top of lifestyle changes, older adults should be advised to engage in less strenuous activities that help with increased activity and energy expenditure. Nurses should advise patients on the importance of exercises like walking and light jogging, if possible, elevating the burning of calories by the body, reducing fat accumulation and potential weight loss. Said interventions by nurses on educating older adult patients on management and care plans for obesity are essential in health promotion intervention and optimal health outcomes.

The rationale for the Poster

Barker & Phillips (2021) explain that a poster should have a target audience in mind to convey the message present. With older adult patients as my targeted audience, the title Obesity in Elderly Australians is specific towards capturing the audience. Content in the poster is divided into dialogue boxes placed strategically with clip arts that add to the fact-finding and presentation of the information conveyed. Each dialogue box is colour-coded with a distinct title that captures the reader’s attention with concise information, helpful to the reader in understanding the topic. The sub-topics all tie in towards the education of the geriatric population in Australia about obesity, its causes, and potential risk factors associated with obesity, and management interventions towards weight loss and living healthily. The choice of image centrally placedis ideal towards captivating the older adult audience in seeing the potential of managing obesity before it becomes an issue that leads to potential risk factors mentioned. Ultimately, the poster fits the purpose of educating older adults in Australia about obesity while invoking nurses to be a part of the caring process. 

Conclusion

            While the Australian health system seeks to provide care to the geriatric population, health risks such as obesity keep plaguing the population into low mortality rates and lowered life expectancies. Therefore, healthcare professionals should release readable material for older adults on such burdens of the disease plaguing the Australian older people population by offering care plans and education around these conditions while promoting health and seeking better outcomes.

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