Throughout the course of this discussion board a brief summary of each example, including the influence of psychosocial factors on health and disease as discussed in the research literature will be reviewed. Next what strategies are currently being used to address these factors will be discussed. Knowing that there are psychosocial factors that influence acute and chronic diseases, what is the role of the nurse in probing for that information or in larger initiatives will be reviewed.
An example of a psychosocial factor that has had an influence on health and disease is smoking and health. With respect to the behavioral aspects of smoking, the 1979 Surgeon General’s report concluded that the reason that the smoking habit is so widespread and difficult is largely unknown: “It is no exaggeration to say that smoking is the prototypical substance abuse dependency and that improved knowledge of this process holds great promise for the prevention risk (Friis, R. H., & Sellers, T. A., 2021, p. 573). Smoking among adolescents is on the rise especially with peer pressure as well as advertising that promotes flavors that are appealing to them with regards to vaping. Smoking causes the most preventable diseases. Educating patients and encouraging smoking cessation has been shown to reduce their risks associated with smoking. The current qualitative study partly support use of the ASE model and support previous studies in that friends ’smoking and pressure and parental smoking play roles in smoking initiation (Bidstrup, et al, 2011, p. 96). Starting young to educate patients on the risks associated with smoking along with abilities to resist peer pressure has been proven to be successful in smoking prevention within adolescents. Some of the leading health indicators are adults who currently smoke and adolescents who have smoked within the last 30 days. Those smokers need educated on the risks which include and not limited to coronary artery disease, cancers, lung disease, sexual reproductive complications for both men and women, and oral tooth decay. Women who smoke during pregnancy expose their unborn child to secondhand smoke and contributes to low birth weight and even fetal mortality. Smoking within the workplace can lead to certain cancers especially when exposed to workplace chemicals such as asbestos and other carcinogenic material. Strategies currently used include distributing material educating on smoking cessation along with resources available for free regarding smoking cessation. Lawmakers have also implemented new more strict laws for those who are purchasing tobacco as well as price increases. As nurse practitioner providers, the role of education as well as to continue to screen for tobacco abuse needs to continue. Health care providers also need to continue to offer smoking cessation tools for those who continue to smoke.
The second psychosocial factor is alcohol abuse. Excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for specific diseases (e.g., various cancers, liver cirrhosis, and gastric disorders); increases the likelihood of involvement in motor vehicle crashes and other unintentional injuries; and is associated with the deterioration of the social environment (e.g., interpersonal violence, family strife, and lessoned job performance) (Friis, R. H., & Sellers, T. A., 2021). Alcohol is a high-risk substance due to the glorifying that is seen on television and in movies. Many scenes in each of these portray using alcohol especially in excess is fun and makes the user the “life of the party”. This makes viewers see it as a necessity in order to have fun and be able to socialize with others. Many times this is seen with young adults and adolescents. In the United States, alcohol is the 3rd leading preventable cause of death. For those who are drinking to be able to drink in moderation and to limit their use to legal blood limits can reduce their risk of death and other comorbidities dramatically. The US Army is particularly concerned about soldier health and deployability and has multiple surveillance systems to track the health status of the force (Kegal, et al, 2021, p. 2064). This example of observation is imperative in order to maintain a strong military and to encourage healthy choices. In 2017, approximately 60,000 US Army soldiers were unfit for combat, with up to 80% of those unable to deploy because of injuries and illness (Kegal, et al, 2021, p. 2064). In order for the military to keep their numbers up they must ensure their troops are healthy. One of the largest health behavior surveillance systems for the Army is the Global Assessment Tool (GAT), a self-report survey that assesses emotional, social, family, spiritual, and physical health (on October 2019, was renamed Azimuth Check [Army Regulation 350–53]) (Kegal, et al, 2021, p. 2065). The purpose of the study was to monitor the health and psychosocial well-being of the soldiers. This included observing the amount of alcohol being consumed that had resulted in hazardous drinking. The GAT did reveal that the amount of consumption had reduced over the years. This may have been attributed to increase in education along with more emotional support. As Nurse Practitioners it is imperative to be able to screen patients for alcohol abuse as well as to be able to utilize mental health providers for counseling services as needed for those who are in need. Utilizing screening tools will enable those in need as well as to provide an opportunity to educate about limiting and even teaching to eliminate alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Bidstrup, P., Tjørnhøj-Thomsen, T., Mortensen, E., Vinther-Larsen, M., & Johansen, C. (2011). Critical discussion of social-cognitive factors in smoking initiation among adolescents. ActaOncologica, 50(1), 88-98.
Friis, R. H., & Sellers, T. A. (2021). Epidemiology for public health practice (6th ed.). Jones & Bartlett.
Kegel, J., Kazman, J., Clifton, D., Deuster, P., & de la Motte, S. (2021). Self-Reported Health Indicators in the US Army: Longitudinal Analysis From a Population Surveillance System, 2014‒2018. American Journal of Public Health, 111(11), 2064-2074. doi:10.2105/ajph.2021.306456