Health Disparities In The Workplace

Many people in our country have the challenge of not only accessing, but also having the actual availability of seeking proper heath care and services. Disparity is created when one group’s outcome is seen to be greater or lessor than another’s and factors such as race, ethnicity, sex, sexual identity, disability, socioeconomic status, or geographical location affect this outcome (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2015). This discussion post will describe how health disparities affect one group, particularly those living with the Appalachia area, and how it affects their education, employment, and health.

There are many health disparities with the Appalachians that need recognized and considered by health providers whenever

A diet consisting of pork, rich meats, fatty foods, and salt contributes to higher incidences of hypertension and diabetes (Giger, 2013, p. 269). Most jobs constitute working in mining, lumber, and textiles. Lower heath statuses are reflected by such jobs that for the most part are scarce, low-paying, lack health insurance and expose workers to many environmental toxins, noise, and numerous occupational health hazards (Giger, 2013, p. 267). Education and learning are paramount to understanding, preventing, and treating disease and illness. Many Appalachians forfeit education opportunities and feel that going to school places a burden on limited resources and finances of their family (Giger, 2013, p. 262-263). It is the responsibility of the health professional to recognize health disparities within communities and devise care plans and education that will promote the health and wellness of these

Cultural awareness allows a nurse to develop interventions that will decrease the health disparities with this cultural group. A nurse that strives in building a nurse/patient relationship that focuses on facts, spending time to understand their true illness, and seeks the opinions and advice of the family will overcome a history of mistrust with outsiders (Giger, 2013, p. 264). A second nursing intervention would be to provide dietary education and changes to their diet to decrease and treat problems associated with high blood pressure and diabetes. The biggest challenge to implementing these goals is the limited time to educate and teach these health illiterate individuals of the factors contributing to disease and health problems. This cultural group has limited knowledge and understanding of medical explanations of how illness occurs or how to prevent cardiovascular illness or diabetes (Giger, 2013, p.