Osteoporosis and low bone density affect approximately 54 million Americans making it a growing health issue in the United States. Osteoporosis affects a significant proportion of the aged American population, according to statistics. The implication is that a sizable proportion of the population is predisposed to increased rate of bone fractures and breakage that might not be easy to heal. Osteoporosis prevention and reduction programs have been implemented in the United States (Lieberman et al., n.d.). This paper aims at looking in nursing role in osteoporosis reduction program implemented in my practice.
The Osteoporosis Prevention Program is a program that has been implemented in my practice to address high incidences of post knee and hip bone surgeries. The Texas government created the OPP program with the goal of preventing and reducing osteoporosis rates in the state. Implementation of the OPP program was necessitated by the fact that close to one-third of the population in Texas was suffering from recurrent bone fractures in 2015. This program is guided by a number of principles. They include addressing the social determinants of health that contribute to osteoporosis, increasing resource availability, and transforming environments to promote physical activity and healthy eating.
They include expanding possibilities for healthy eating, encouraging active living through the construction of healthy settings, and providing community and clinical preventive interventions for people who are at risk of becoming bone fractures. The initiative also improves the chances of children and elderly populations at risk having a healthy lifestyle, as well as public health efforts aimed at preventing osteoporosis (Osteoporosis Treatment & Prevention in Houston, Texas, n.d.). The program’s implementation costs are paid for with public funds. Projected outcomes include a decrease in the state’s bone fracture rate, a decrease in morbidity and mortality rates, and increased access to healthy foods and environments for the population (des Bordes et al., 2020). It is also expected to improve Texans’ health and well-being, as evidenced by increased awareness, lifestyle, and behavioral changes on health-related issues.
According to the research, the program targets all of the populations in Texas that are at risk of or affected by osteoporosis and low bone density associated with post knee and hip bone surgeries. The state’s population includes children, adults, and the elderly. The program addresses the social inequalities that contribute to the state’s osteoporosis problem. It also broadens the population’s access to healthy living options, regardless of background.
My experience and research have taught me that nurses play a variety of roles in providing input for the design of the OPP program. The first role they play is to ensure that the program’s strategies align with the expected goals and objectives. They ensure, for example, that the strategies adopted are relevant to the needs of the populations affected and at risk of bone fractures and osteoporosis. The nurses’ other role in contributing to the design of OPP is to ensure that the needs of the target population are incorporated into the program.
For example, they conduct needs assessments to identify health-related aspects that should be prioritized in the project, thereby increasing the project’s relevance to the population (Curry et al., 2018). Another way nurses influence the design process is by assisting in determining the program’s resource requirements. Adequate resources, such as financial and human resources, are required for the program’s successful implementation. As a result of their experience with public health programs, nurses can contribute insights into the resources that are required.
My responsibilities as an advocate for populations at risk of or affected by the OPP program are diverse. One of them is to ensure that adequate public awareness of the program’s importance and use of its strategies is generated. Health education is required to ensure that those at risk of or affected by osteoporosis understand the lifestyle and behavioral interventions required for their health and well-being. My other role as an advocate is to
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