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Healthcare Satisfaction Disparities in Minorities

Here is a 4-page report on the topic: SU_HSC4030_W5_A2_Smith_J.doc To BMI or not to BMI—What the issues are The Body Mass Index (BMI) scale is commonly used by healthcare professionals to determine obesity risk based on an individual’s weight relative to their height. However, recent research suggests the current BMI standards may not accurately assess obesity in African American women. This report will discuss the implications of these findings and their impact on patient counseling, societal perceptions, and healthcare policy. Why the current BMI scale may not be accurate for African American women The study “Ethnic-Specific BMI and Waist Circumference Threshold

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Vivek Surana
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
20 views5 pages

Healthcare Satisfaction Disparities in Minorities

Here is a 4-page report on the topic: SU_HSC4030_W5_A2_Smith_J.doc To BMI or not to BMI—What the issues are The Body Mass Index (BMI) scale is commonly used by healthcare professionals to determine obesity risk based on an individual’s weight relative to their height. However, recent research suggests the current BMI standards may not accurately assess obesity in African American women. This report will discuss the implications of these findings and their impact on patient counseling, societal perceptions, and healthcare policy. Why the current BMI scale may not be accurate for African American women The study “Ethnic-Specific BMI and Waist Circumference Threshold

Uploaded by

Vivek Surana
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© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Discuss at least three factors influencing differences in the rates of satisfaction with quality of

healthcare among African Americans and Hispanics.

The three primary factors influencing the healthcare quality satisfaction levels among

African American and Hispanics include,

Discrimination by race/ethnicity

Access to prevention services

Socioeconomic factors

Deaths from chronic illness such as the cardiovascular diseases, cancer (lung cancer and

breast cancer) are higher in African Americans than white Americans ([Link]). The

infant mortality rates are also higher in African Americans, which is mainly due to the poverty in

this population. The rate of diabetes in Hispanics is 14%, whereas about 8% of white Americans are

having diabetes. The incidence of cancers associated with infections, i.e. cervical cancer, and liver

cancer are higher in Hispanics than the African Americans and other non-Hispanics.

Explain how differences in the healthcare received by people contribute to disparities in

health.

When a individual is not provided equal treatments like others it leads to disparities in

health. For example, a White women who is suffering from Parkinson disease is treated and

provided all the medicines that is required. On the other hand, an individual belonging from

minority group is not provided apt treatment, and discrimination is done, then it is for sure that the

health issues for minority individual will deteriorate. Health disparities are costly, and in a recent

research it was seen that about $93 billion is expensed as an additional cost which arises from

disparities (Kendal Orgera and Samantha Artiga, 2018). And $42 billion, is expensed because of

premature deaths and unproductively. Also, when there is inequality involved, Hispanics, African

Americans and other minority groups feels left out and it causes dissatisfaction, that they are being

treated unfairly.
Identify at least three strategies that can overcome these differences in care.

The three strategies that could overcome these differences are:

1. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) makes an effort to reach out to those population who are

poor or are deprived of access to care. It seek to provide coverage to low and moderate

income group, so that they can reap same benefits of healthcare as everyone.

2. Promoting equality of healthcare services in rural regions and communities. It is important

that government should focus more on rural areas, because the population from there are not

known of their rights, and end up being not treated, which is more dangerous.

3. It is important to eliminate discrimination and make a society that is culturally breathable to

all. America is one of those countries which has diverse population, and doing

discrimination on the basis of race and ethnicity will leave the country crippled and most

affected when it comes to healthcare.

Explain why health indicators are an important tool in public health.

The use of health indicators for advocacy is one of the most important strategies for progress

because it can guide political decisions to improve levels of health in the population. Health

indicators provide a concrete report on which health related issues are affecting the country, on that

basis even health budgets are prepared. Setting benchmarks for the country’s health serves not only

public health workers, but communities and individuals as well. Health indicators can be used, for

example, to describe health care needs in a population, and the disease burden in specific population

groups. Health indicators can facilitate an understanding of why some individuals in a population

are healthy and others are not. The use of health indicators for advocacy is one of the most

important strategies for progress because it can guide political decisions to improve levels of health

in the population.

What are the leading health indicators as identified by Healthy People 2020?

As per Healthy People 2020, there are 26 indicators organized under 12 topics, they are

(2020 LHI Topics):


Access to Health Services

Clinical Perspective Services

Environmental Quality

Injury and Violence

Maternal, Infant and Child Health

Mental health

Oral health

Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity

Reproductive and Sexual Health

Social Determinants

Substance Abuse

Tobacco

Describe how organizations across the nation are addressing these priority health topics.

Organisation across the nation understands that there is need to act on the priorities with

regards to health indicators. They are forming one group to fight against the discrimination and

making sure to reach out poor and lower income group people. The National Center for Health

Statistics (NCHS) is responsible for monitoring the Nation’s progress toward Healthy People 2020

targets using data from about 175 different data sources. NCHS functions in several roles in Healthy

People with the primary role of the Statistical Advisor to the U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services and the topic area workgroup on health promotion data. NCHS conducts research and

develops methods for measuring progress toward the objectives and overarching goals of Healthy

People, as well as health disparities (Healthy People 2020).

Reference:

Sorkin, D. H., Ngo-Metzger, Q., & De Alba, I. (2010). Racial/Ethnic Discrimination in Health Care:

Impact on Perceived Quality of Care. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 25(5), 390–396.

Kendal Orgera and Samantha Artiga ,Disparities in Health and Health Care: Five Key Questions
and Answers, 2018, [Link]

and-health-care-five-key-questions-and-answers/

2020 LHI Topics, 2019, [Link]

Topics

Healthy People 2020, 2019, [Link]

[202]

Bibliography
202: , 2020 LHI Topics, 2019, [Link]
LHI-Topics

[202020]

Bibliography
202020: , Healthy People 2020, 2019, [Link]

Week 5 Project

To BMI or not to BMI—What the issues are

The calculation of Body Mass Index (BMI) is an important measurement tool for determining
relative disease risk for preventable conditions like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease.
These conditions may be controlled and/or prevented by maintaining a healthy weight relative to
height. For instance, the higher the BMI number above the normal range (18-25), the greater the
degree of overweight.

National indicators for obesity, as determined by the BMI report that women are more likely to have
higher BMI's in comparison to men. In addition, minority women including African Americans,
Hispanics, and Asian Americans are more likely to have a higher BMI in comparison to white
women. However, recent research suggests that current standards for measuring BMI may not be
accurate for African American women. Read the article "Ethnic-Specific BMI and Waist
Circumference Thresholds" and create a 4- to 5-page report in Microsoft Word document that
covers the following:

Explain why the current BMI scale may not be an accurate measure of obesity for African
American women.
How can these findings impact the manner in which physicians communicate with their female
patients about weight loss and disease prevention? In your explanation, be sure to describe at least
one positive and one negative implication that these findings might have on how physicians counsel
their female patients regarding weight-loss.
What influence might these findings have on societal perceptions of body image and weight loss?
Explain how an accurate perception of body image is associated with appropriate weight-control
behavior.
What social and cultural factors influence African American women's risk of becoming obese?
What role do the media play in promoting healthy eating behaviors in women and girls?
What can be the implications for healthcare policy as a result of the findings of the study?

Submission Details:
Support your responses with examples.
Cite any sources in APA format.
Name your document SU_HSC4030_W5_A2_LastName_FirstInitial.doc.

Common questions

Powered by AI

Using a universal BMI standard can lead to inaccurate assessments, especially for ethnic groups such as African American women, who may have different body compositions than those accounted for by the standard BMI measurement. This can result in misleading health assessments and inappropriate guidance on weight loss and disease prevention, highlighting the need for ethnic-specific thresholds .

To reduce discrimination, strategies include enhancing cultural competency training for healthcare providers, increasing diversity within the healthcare workforce, and implementing policy changes that hold discriminatory practices accountable. These measures aim to ensure fair and equitable treatment for all patients, regardless of racial or ethnic background .

Changing perceptions around BMI can lead to a broader understanding of health that considers cultural and ethnic differences, thus promoting more inclusive health communication. It may also prompt societal shifts in addressing obesity-related stigma and encourage the development of tailored health interventions for minority groups .

Health indicators provide a quantitative basis for identifying health issues within populations and inform political and budgetary decisions. By setting benchmarks on health metrics, these indicators aid in tracking progress toward health goals and identifying areas needing intervention, which is essential for both public health workers and policy makers .

Inaccuracies in BMI can lead to either overemphasizing or underemphasizing health risks, potentially impacting the trust necessary for effective communication. Physicians may either excessively encourage weight loss in patients whose BMI is inaccurately high or miss critical opportunities for intervention if BMI is misleadingly low, affecting treatment plans and patient perceptions of their health .

Cultural factors such as dietary habits, social norms around body image, and community-level factors play significant roles in influencing obesity risks among African American women. Cultural perceptions of body size can impact weight-control behaviors and acceptance of obesity, thus necessitating culturally sensitive health interventions .

Eliminating rural healthcare disparities is crucial because rural populations often lack adequate access to healthcare, leading to untreated conditions and poorer health outcomes. Strategies include enhancing rural healthcare infrastructure, increasing telehealth services, and ensuring equitable access to healthcare benefits under policies like the ACA .

The ACA aims to reduce healthcare disparities by offering coverage to low- and moderate-income individuals, thus attempting to provide equal benefits across different racial and ethnic groups. By expanding Medicaid and creating insurance exchanges, the ACA makes health services more accessible, thereby addressing one root cause of healthcare inequality .

Organizations use health indicators from Healthy People 2020 to prioritize health topics such as access to health services, mental health, and injury prevention. By employing these indicators, organizations form task forces and allocate resources effectively to areas and groups most in need, ultimately promoting equitable health outcomes across diverse populations .

Discrimination against minorities, such as African Americans and Hispanics, in healthcare settings leads to unequal treatment and uneven access to preventive services, contributing to poor health outcomes. These groups, often exposed to poverty, face additional socioeconomic challenges that further exacerbate health issues. For instance, African Americans have higher mortality rates from chronic illnesses and infant mortality due to these intertwined factors .

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