Introduction
An elaborate family health assessment provides a strong foundation for identifying health weaknesses and strengths as they relate to a family and place the care giver at a vantage point in terms of taking a proactive approach. The Gordon’s 11-functional health patterns provides an effective tool of undertaking this endeavor since it provides a holistic approach of assessing family health (Edelman, Mandle & Kudzma, 2013). Through its 11 functional health areas, this tool provides a panoramic and an in-depth look at the health status of a family, capturing all the pertinent health areas. Believably, identifying health weaknesses at the family level goes a long way as a health promotion strategy and arresting family health problems early enough before they progress to advanced levels (Kaakinen et al., 2014). Nurses and the larger fraternity of healthcare providers are mandated to undertake health promotion at different levels; individual, family and community, as part of their advocacy role (Edelman, Mandle & Kudzma, 2013). This family health assessment tool comes in handy in terms of achieving this aspect.
In this connection, this paper represents a summary of the health assessment of MN’s family (Hispanic family from Columbia), and subsequently make a diagnosis of the health issues facing this family.
Values, Health Perception
MN’s family is a Hispanic family from Columbia. MN has a positive self-health perception, except for an alleged heart problem. While the family believes in conventional medicine, it is apparent that the family prefers traditional remedies and folk medicine and MN admits using traditional remedies and visiting the “curandero” before visiting the doctor. The family is inclined towards traditional therapy due to fears of getting used to modern-day medicine. On the other hand, as described by MN, he believes that illness is punishment from God for a sin or deviance from Godly ways. From an analytical perspective, MN’s family can be termed as partly inclined towards biomedical health approaches and partly towards the traditional methods. MN admits eating healthy as a way of maintaining health and only visits the doctor when sick.
Nutrition
As a result of his tight schedule, MN grabs fast foods 2 to 3 times a week. He admits taking vegetables 3 times a week but his child does not like eating vegetables. He prefers plenty of water over sweetened drinks.
Sleep/rest
MN sleeps 5 hours per night and snores. As he describes it, his wife complains about his snoring. Additionally, MN admits feeling sleepy during the day most of the time when at work. This is a sign of deprived or insufficient sleep.
Elimination
MN describes his elimination has normal or within parameters that can be termed as normal. He visits the bathroom every other day and the longest he experiences before having bowel movements is 3 days. He admittedly experiences problems with bowel movements and have to occasionally use laxatives.
Activity/exercise
MN does not undertake physical exercise or physically straining activity. He suggests that he is too busy to get time to do physical exercise. If at all MN does exercise, he does it 3 to 4 times a year with each session taking about an hour. He shows willingness to be actively involved in physical exercise, about, three times a week to improve his health but suggests that he needs to have a plan so as to comply with the exercise program. This shows an internal locus of control and willingness to undertake self-agency or health promotion. Nonetheless, it is convincing that MN would require a plan that takes care of his busy schedule so that the exercise program does not interfere with his daily routines and schedules.
Self-perception
MN believes that he is a sociable person who easily makes friends. He also believes that he is good looking and satisfied with his life, except for a few discouragements, especially for marrying at a very young age and failing to finish school. However, MN believes that one he would finish his career. MN believes that one of his strengths is being punctual and time-conscious, although he has a weakness of being very sensitive and emotional.
Sensory perception
He has a vision problem and use glasses to see far. He also wear glasses most of the day but does not have any hearing problem and neither does he use hearing aids. He does not recall the last time he had an eye check-up but believes it was about 2 to 3 years ago.
Cognitive
NM has no serious cognitive problems and has good memory. However, he sometimes have to think twice before remembering things.
Role relationship
MN’s family, as he suggests, is a blended family. He has a wife and a child and one son form her wife’s ex-husband. He admits that his family is very supportive and important in his life.
Sexuality
MN is sexually active and does not use protection. He admits having only one sexual partner (his wife) and has never been tested for a sexually transmitted disease since he believes that he does not need any examination or test.
Coping
The interviewee utilizes different ways of managing or coping with stress. He suggests that he deals with stress by taking a deep breath and thinking carefully about what to do. On the other hand, he seeks support from family members especially his mother and brother. Additionally, he listens to music and seeks something to occupy his mind whenever stressed.
Wellness and family diagnosis
MN shows enhanced for self-care, especially undertaking physical exercise in order to improve his health status. He apparently complains of a heart problem and this could go a long way in improving his overall health including bowel movement and cardiac problems. His willingness to be actively involved in physical exercise promises to enhance his stress management and coping skills.
Another wellness diagnosis of this family is their willingness to take charge of their health and as MN suggests, he believes eating healthy meals in order to enhance his health. Nonetheless, the family lifestyle presents the risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and other comorbidities (Booth, Roberts & Laye, 2012). MN has a taste for fast foods due to his busy schedule and this is a health weakness.
In the overall, MN’s family presents both health weaknesses and strengths. There is an accentuation to optimize the benefits from these strengths and work to subdue or improve on the weaknesses (Kaakinen et al., 2014). This involves undertaking family health promotion, through provision of health education and tailor-making health interventions that specifically meet the health needs of this family.
References
Booth, F. W., Roberts, C. K., & Laye, M. J. (2012). Lack of exercise is a major cause of chronic diseases. Comprehensive Physiology.
Edelman, C. L., Mandle, C. L., & Kudzma, E. C. (2013). Health promotion throughout the life span. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Kaakinen, J. R., Coehlo, D. P., Steele, R., Tabacco, A., & Hanson, S. M. H. (2014). Family health care nursing: Theory, practice, and research. FA Davis.
