Rheumatic Heart Disease Samples for Students †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Rheumatic Heart Disease. Answer: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the condition in which the individual suffers damage to the heart valves after an episode of acute rhematic fever (ARF). The condition is caused by episode or recurrent episode of ARF due to which inflammation occurs in the heart, impairing normal blood flow through the damaged valves. If left untreated, RHD leads to heart failure, stroke and endocarditis (Stewart, 2016). Two important social determinants of health that might have been responsibe for making Shakira more vulnerable to RHD are social exclusion and a lower rate of education. Being socially excluded and living in the remote rural community has been the cause of insufficient access to healthcare for Shakira. In addition, a lower rate of education restricts the care giving approach of parents from the indigenous community. The decision making around care for Shakira demonstrated by her family had been guided by low education is a negative manner (Watkins et al., 2017). Standard treatment fo r RHD is antibiotics for infection and blood thinning medicines. Chances of aboriginal population to suffer rheumatic heart disease is 64 times more than non-Aboriginal population (rhdaustralia.org.au, 2017). Cultural awareness involves the ability of the nurse to become aware of the cultural perceptions, beliefs and values of the patient that is different from his own. Cultural awareness is central to interaction carried out with people from other cultures. A nurse is to respect the patients cultural values and beliefs of Shakira whilecommunciating with her. Cultural sensitivity is the understanding of a nurse about the cultural similarities and differences between people without conferring them a value- right or wrong, positive or negative. When Shakira puts forward her perceptions in relation to cultural beliefs, the nurse must not undermine it (Black, 2016). The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 concerns self-reliance and self-government of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population. The aim of the Act it focused on developing the cultural and economic condition of this population. The Act institutes the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA), the Indigenous Land Corporation and a corporation called Indigenous Business Australia that formulate and implement programs for the betterment of the population. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are known to suffer from shortened life expectancy and significant health concerns as compared to their counterparts. The underlying cause of this is the historical disturbance and suffering associated with the bequest of colonisation that have led to many unresolved issues from different domains such as poor economic development, self-determination and identity and land rights. As a result of the trauma of colonisation, these people suffer loss, powerlessness, grief and sense of hopelessness and disconnection (Andersen et al., 2017). Community participation in decision making for indigenous population is a key approach to be taken by a nurse for improving communication and building rapport with the patient. Delivery of care to this population with advanced healthcare models undermines the indigenous individuals preferences for their treatment. Their own values and health beliefs are a reflection of their care practices that might not be aligned with those of non-indigenous population. Giving a chance to the patients to put forward their ideas and preferences for care plan fosters a trusting and credulous relationship between the patient and the care giver (Cherry Jacob, 2016). For communicating with Shakira and her family, it is imperative to acknowledge the cultural beliefs and perceptions about treatment for a chronic disease such as RHD. Being sensitive to the cultural differences holds much importance. Any differences between the traditional treatment options and modernised concepts are to be explained to them that there are chances of conflicts. In addition, the language barrier between the nurse and patient and her family is to be addressed. In case they are not conversant with English, an interpreter would be helpful in two-way exchange of information (Giger, 2016). Ensuring culturally and linguistically diverse staff is maintained in the healthcare organisation would be beneficial for Shakira and her family as they would feel secure accessing care services. The diverse staff would be better able to establish an effective strong relationship with the patient as they might be upholding the same social and cultural beliefs influencing healthcare (Truong et al., 2014). I understand that the indigenous Australian history and culture shapes their interaction with non-indigenous society. The culture places them in a position that isolates and excluded them from the mainstream population. The orthodox beliefs and staunch traditions are often not accepted by the non-indigenous population, leading to discrimination and prejudice exhibited towards this group. While the non-indigenous lives mostly in urban areas, the indigenous population live in remote rural areas. As a result of locational isolation, the interaction between the two population is restricted (Duckett Willcox, 2015). Denial of suggestions that there is a problem- A healthcare professional might be denying that the indigenous patient is faced with health complications and other challenges, compelling the patient to think that the denial is due to cultural differences Low utilization of available services-An indigenous patient might not be presented with comprehensive services, and the utilisation might not be optimal (Douglas et al., 2014). References Andersen, C., Edwards, A., Wolfe, B. (2017). Finding Space and Place: Using Narrative and Imagery to Support Successful Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People in Enabling Programs.The Australian Journal of Indigenous Education,46(1), 1-11. Black, B. (2016).Professional Nursing-E-Book: Concepts Challenges. Elsevier Health Sciences. Burden of Disease. (2017).Rheumatic Heart Disease Australia. Retrieved 19 October 2017, from https://www.rhdaustralia.org.au/burden-disease Cherry, B., Jacob, S. R. (2016). Contemporary nursing: Issues, trends, management. Elsevier Health Sciences. Douglas, M. K., Rosenkoetter, M., Pacquiao, D. F., Callister, L. C., Hattar-Pollara, M., Lauderdale, J., ... Purnell, L. (2014). Guidelines for implementing culturally competent nursing care.Journal of Transcultural Nursing,25(2), 109-121. Duckett, S., Willcox, S. (2015).The Australian health care system(No. Ed. 5). Oxford University Press. Giger, J. N. (2016).Transcultural Nursing-E-Book: Assessment and Intervention. Elsevier Health Sciences. Stewart, S., Carrington, M. J., Sliwa, K. (2016). Rheumatic heart disease.The Heart of Africa: Clinical Profile of an Evolving Burden of Heart Disease in Africa, 121-135. Truong, M., Paradies, Y., Priest, N. (2014). Interventions to improve cultural competency in healthcare: a systematic review of reviews.BMC health services research,14(1), 99. Watkins, D. A., Johnson, C. O., Colquhoun, S. M., Karthikeyan, G., Beaton, A., Bukhman, G., ... Nascimento, B. R. (2017). Global, regional, and national burden of rheumatic heart disease, 19902015.New England Journal of Medicine,377(8), 713-722.