It is important for healthcare providers to be able to understand the many factors or health determinants that affect or contribute to the health status of an individual to be able to identify quickly and implement solutions to solve these challenges (Qaseem et al., 2012). From the case study presented, the 23-year-old patient comes from a family with a good socioeconomic status. This is because the patient can afford alcohol and “pot” as he is faced with a substance abuse problem. The patient lives an unhealthy lifestyle and is even afraid of his behavior. The body mass index is 32.6 illustrating that the patient suffers from obesity, thus, significant problems that the patient is faced with include substance abuse, alcoholism, and obesity. From the cultural background, the patient is a Native American with strong spiritual beliefs because the patient is able to recognize that he is not doing the right thing and is even worried if he will go to heaven.
Issues that I will be very sensitive to when interacting with the patient are in regards to his lifestyle behaviors. As a 23-year-old teenager patient, it is important for me as a nurse to understand the expected behaviors and challenges teenagers face as well as on the best way of handing them to help the patient in adopting healthy lifestyle choices depending on the patient's particular culture (Shaw, Huebner, Armin, Orzech, & Vivian, 2009). Among the targeted questions that I would ask the patient to help me build a comprehensive health history while assessing the patients’ health risks, include:
1) When did the patient start smoking pot?
2) When and for how long has the patient been using alcohol?
3) The amount and frequency of marijuana and alcohol used by the patient?
4) What types of food that the patient consumes?
5) The patient’s level of education and whom he lives with?
These questions will guide me to determine the severity of the problem the patient is faced with that will greatly help me in the treatment process. From the answers, provide it will be easy for me to identify feasible solutions that will assist the patient accordingly (Sue & Keith, 2005).
References
Qaseem, A., Alguire, P., Dallas, P., Feinberg, L. E., Fitzgerald, F. T., Horwitch, C., Weinberger, S. (2012). Appropriate use of screening and diagnostic tests to foster high-value, cost-conscious care. Annals of Internal Medicine, 156(2), 147–149.
Shaw, S. J., Huebner, C., Armin, J., Orzech, K., & Vivian, J. (2009). The role of culture in health literacy and chronic disease screening and management. J Immigr Minor Health, 11(6), 460–467.
Sue, C., & Keith, C. (2005). Suummary: Health needs assessment at a glance. Health need assessement : a pratical guide.
