Written Assignment 1: Response 2
Learning Outcomes
This assessment will allow the student to demonstrate competence in the following unit learning outcomes
Task
Betty has recently been diagnosed with Colorectal cancer and undergone a series of treatments for her disease. Following surgery and chemotherapy, Betty experiences severe nausea and vomiting. Throughout Betty's diagnosis and treatment for bowel cancer, she will have a number of health professionals involved in her care. Betty is but one of many people each year diagnosed with bowel cancer, and these statistics are expected to increase with cancer diagnoses on the increase worldwide. Considering these issues answer the following questions:
1) Discuss the assessments including associated assessment tools for assessing Betty's nausea and vomiting. Your discussion should include information from the Betty case study (approx 250 words).
2) Identify two health care team members (other than nurses and doctors) involved in Betty's care in the community and discuss their primary role in the management of Betty's condition. Your discussion should include information from the Betty case study (approx 250 words).
3) Briefly outline key health promotion and prevention strategies that are in place in Australia to address cancer as a public health issue. Your discussion should focus on Cancers in general and consider the most prevalent strategies to address modifiable risk factors for the development of cancer (approx 250 words).
Written Assignment 1: Response 2
Introduction
Cancer is considered to be a dangerous disease where some of the body cells usually multiply abnormally or be out of the control limits. Cancer has been marked as the biggest contributor to the list of diseases of Australia that accounts for nearly one-fifth of the entire disease burden.
Task
Vomiting and nausea induced by chemotherapy have been quite unpleasant in causing side effects for patients like Betty who receive chemotherapy for cancer. Anticancer drugs which are emetic can moderately show a broad range of the emetic frequencies (Hesketh, Palmas & Nicolas, 2017). Nurses have a crucial role to play in managing and identifying vomiting and nausea induced by chemotherapy of Betty together with the symptoms of retching (Jordan, Jahn & Aapro., 2015).
In case of colorectal cancer patients, the assessment tools which are highly used include emetic anticancer drugs utilising MASCC antiemetic tool which is an evaluation tool for vomiting and nausea. This is founded by the MASCC (Multi Association of supportive care in Cancer) (Schwartzberg et al. 2015). Also, the recent regimens shall be reviewed because almost every patient exhibits nausea for regimens are present. This tool used for measuring the vomiting and nausea in patients is also addressed as CINVR tool.
This assessment tool accurately measures interesting symptoms in Betty and can apparently examine vomiting and nausea. The tool has 8 items in total that include frequency of occurrence as well as a variety of both delayed and acute vomiting and nausea. Concurrent validity of the tool implies r= 0.86 and the internal consistency of Cronbach's Alpha lies between 0.77- 0.82 (Phillips et al., 2016). It does not merely state the duration and amount of vomiting and nausea occurred in patients however can diagnose the post-chemotherapy situation.
Psychological needs of patients like Betty are mostly influenced by the social atmosphere and family. Daily assessment of these needs definitely ensures faster recovery of patients. Experiences of Betty related to cancer and her situation of health can be understood by a counsellor or psychiatrist. Betty has been diagnosed with bowel cancer which is quite frequent in today's world. As per the clinical Studies and Research cancer usually occurs in the individuals ageing 55 years or even more(Lombard et al., 2016).
Apart from doctor and nurses, Betty needs a psychologist and an effective physical therapist. Psychologists are the health professionals who can easily examine the emotional and mental statuses of the patients, here Betty. It can provide appropriate counselling and testing services as well. This will help Betty to fight with her daily fears and mental issues due to the incapability of leading a normal life.
Due to cancer and its impacts on the patient the physical ongoing activities often get stopped or hampered (Olsen et al.,2015). This is because body responds quite less and it is difficult for the patient to absorb medicines of high dosage. The patient is unable to walk or sit straight and eat or perform any other activities which normally a person can do. Physical therapist is highly needed for Betty in dealing with these circumstances. This is because the therapist can treat the physical issues by using cold or heat exercises and several other methods for restoring and maintaining the mobility, function and strength of the body.
Community Healthcare describes the services of Health Care provided to people who cannot avail the appropriate services of Healthcare or a proper health check-up. Community Healthcare guarantees a minimum cost with proper care services which also include the support services such as palliative care. Health Promotion strategies in Australia for dealing with cancer patients include social marketing, education, regulation and legislation on the use of tobacco products and other services that may lead to cancer. This has successfully helped to build the physical and social environment which would support the healthy behaviour.
In the year 2013-14, approximately 1.4% of the entire health expenditure of Australia was spent on establishing Public Health activities that include Health Promotion and prevention (Lombard et al., 2016). Risk factors that can cause cancer include poor diet, tobacco consumption, obesity or overweight, misuse of alcohol, inadequate physical activity, exposure to the ultraviolet radiation and infectious diseases. In order to reduce the effects of these risks, Australia has introduced some preventive health programs such as national alcohol strategy, National tobacco campaign of 2011 and national human papillomavirus vaccination program (Olsen et al., 2015).
The Australian government has funded a wide range of immunizations or vaccinations for cancer patients under the Immunise Australia program. Healthy lifestyle can be achieved by small changes in lifestyle such as brisk walking for an extra time of 15 minutes, maintaining the weight for avoiding obesity, avoiding extreme junk food consumption, avoiding the sunlight or exposure to heat and others.
Conclusion
The tools for assessing vomiting and nausea caused by chemotherapy have been described in the essay. The second question answers about the role of two Community Health Care professionals who have probably contributed to a faster recovery of Betty. The third answer is all about the Australian Health Promotion and prevention strategies for cancer-prone patients.
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Pages: 4
Words: 890