Health Promotion a study of alcohol abuse in mental health nursing

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X01106 NM2507 HEALTH PROMOTION

One of the fundamental roles of the nurse is the promotion and maintenance of health as declared by the Vienna Declaration on nursing (1988) and cited in Salvage (1993).  This reflective account, will discuss the presentation of a health promotion initiative by a third year mental health nursing student.

The paper will highlight the effectiveness efficiency and economy of the health promotion and be critical in its evaluation. It follows a reflective model as described in the Gibbs model (1988), cited in Burns and Bulman (2000), .

The National Service Frame Work for Mental Health Department of Health standard one, (1999) declares that the health and social services should promote mental health for all, working with individuals and communities. It also declares that people with Drug and Alcohol problems have greater adverse factors associated with social exclusion. The policy is a working document with a view to promoting the health of the subject group.

Much research and objectives have been identified into many issues involving alcohol abuse. Almost 1 in 3 men and 1 in 5 women drink above safe levels, 8 million people drink at risky levels and 3 million of those are dependant on alcohol. Statistics verified by the British Beer and Pub Association (2004) Saitz, (2005), supports these finding in his recent articles. This risky behaviour is identified in the high level of alcohol related deaths on the road. Dramatically reported, by the Department of Transport (2000) casualty reports.

The Prime Ministers Strategy Unit,(2004) commissioned research into the interventions of effective health intervention in the health service. And a specific need for further education in the context of health promotion has been identified. Further more, the Assessment of need for alcohol treatment in England. National Treatment Agency (2005) Established that the area of the North West of England, as being the highest regions in United Kingdom with people in England with an Alcohol use disorder at almost 28 %

The health promotion initiative reflected here met all these identified issues and was conducted in a specialist Alcohol Clinic based in the North West of England and used service users already committed to an intensive programme of education and support, based around their drinking experiences.

A clearer education of the effects of dissipation rates and the calculation used to determine alcoholic units will provide the service user with a better informed choice regarding their drinking habits, and potential further harm to their health.

Identifying needs and priorities

The needs and priorities were clearly established by dedicated systematic reading regarding the effects of alcohol in many articles such as Rumph.Harke Meyer and John (2002) and a detailed evaluation of the current program for the service users attending a 3 week inpatient course based on challenging the behaviour of excessive alcohol abuse. Whilst the course was accredited and covered a wide range of issues around problem drinking, there was little emphasis on the area of alcohol dissipation rates. It was felt that an extra incentive of possibly loosing the independence of a driving licence may influence the behaviour of the group’s previous risky drinking behaviour. This change of behaviour would also contribute to the continued better health of the individuals concerned.

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It was an important message to bring to the group as it further offered a contribution to the vast media coverage around drink driving at this time of year and would utilise the exposure given to this subject. It was anticipated therefore that the information being passed would remain identifiable and prevalent, after the presentation had taken place.

Setting Aims and Objectives.

The aims and objectives set by the initiative were clear for the subject group to focus on. They were made clear to the group before starting the presentation, but by doing so an atmosphere of ...

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