Session 7: Identifying Contributing Factors

Objectives for Session 7:

  • Students will interview two community leaders/members to obtain qualitative information.
  • Students will identify at least two contributing factors to the community health problem.
  • Students will assess the changeability of the contributing factors.
  • Students will assess the social-environmental, political, and economic issues that influence the ability of the agency to address the community health problem.
  • Students will identify the existing gaps in programs and services which address the community health problem.

Community Experience
December 4/6 or November 6 to December 6, 2007 

Student Assignment (before Session 7 Community Experience):

  • Read Chapters 4 and 5 of PATCH.
  • Identify at least two contributing factors to the community health problem based on the data collected which relate to the home-based agency’s mission.

Community Experience Activities (Dec 4/6 or Nov 6 to Dec 6):

Students will:

  • Interview (using the Community Leader Opinion Survey) at least two home-base and partner agency staff, opinion leaders and/or population as appropriate regarding the community health problem.
  • Review available data from the agency and agency partners relevant to the community health issues.
  • Compare local data to national and state data on the community health problem.
  • Identify the populations at risk within the community for the health problem.
  • Discuss with community faculty and others as appropriate: 
    • Other community agencies addressing the problem 
    • Gaps in services related to the health problem 
    • The social environment and support system of the at risk population that could influence their behavior or lifestyle changes,  
    • Cultural considerations,  
    • Potential motivators to change behaviors, 
    • Political and policy considerations,  
    • Economic issues that might influence the ability to address the problem, 
    • Past experiences/ approaches to the problem by the home base agency. 

Community faculty will:

  • Review the qualitative and quantitative data and community leader opinion surveys regarding the health problem.
  • Link students with individuals/agency partners who can provide informed information on the community health problem.
  • Discuss the relevance of the community problem to the medical community.
  • Assist students in developing realistic goals and objectives to reduce or eliminate the community health problem.

Rootstown Session - December 7, 2007 

Rootstown Session Activities (Dec 7, 2-3:00pm):

  • Discuss data, sources and rationale for selection of data gathered by the students.
  • Describe the strengths & weaknesses of data collected.
  • Identify gaps in local data and identify other potential sources.
  • Discuss the interviews with community leaders/informants.
  • Discuss relevance of data to community health problem.
  • Discuss the ability of the home-base agency to address the community health problem.
    • What are the modifiable and non-modifiable factors (behavioral, social, environmental) that contribute to the health problem?
    • How widespread are the factors that contribute to the problem?
    • How serious are the health consequences of the problem?
    • How close is the connection between the risk factors and the health problem?
    • Explore the concept of Attributable Risk.
  • Discuss the changeability (evidence that the risk factor is amenable to change) of the community health problems.
    • Is the risk factor still in the developmental stage?
    • What are the linkages between the risk factors and individual behaviors or lifestyle issues?
    • What are some techniques that might modify at-risk behaviors?
  • What are the social, economic, environmental, and political barriers/concerns to addressing the problem?
  • What changes are needed in order to modify risk factors?
  • What family and community supports will be needed to address the problem?
  • Identify groups of people at risk for the community health problems.
  • Introduce session 8 objectives and assignments.

Student Assignment for Session 7 (Due Jan 4, Noon)

  • Complete a Community Leader Opinion Survey (attached) on two individuals.
  • Complete Contributing Factor Summary Form (attached) for at least two contributing factors
  • Complete chart of the Existing Community Programs and Policies Matrix to identify gaps in services relevant to the selected community health problem.
  • Prepare tables or figures that are appropriate for data and include notes interpreting the data, pointing out the important observation or conclusion which can be taken from the figure or table.

Student Assignment (before Session 8 Community Experience):

  • Review PATCH Chapter 5 and read PATCH Chapter 6.
  • Watch the mini-lecture on AIMS demonstrating how to conduct a literature search to find model interventions/programs.
  • Read Self Instructional Package on Program Evaluation which is posted on AIMS.
  • Go to the library and research different interventions that address the identified community health problem by impacting the identified contributing factors.
  • Begin completing Form 8.1 Intervention Summary.

Resources for Session 7:

National Center for Health Statistics   http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hphome.htm

Census Bureau  http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/index.html

                  

                        http://www.census.gov/

 

                      http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en

Ohio Department of Health, http://dwhouse.odh.ohio.gov/

National Center for Health Statistics, http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/hphome.htm

Centers for Disease Control, http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/states/ohio.htm

R. W. Fletcher & S. W. Fletcher: Chapter 2. Abnormality

                                                    Chapter 4. Frequency

Epi Super Course Lecture “ Standardization Rates”

http://www.pitt.edu/~super1/lecture/lec0491/index.htm

 

Session 7:  Form 1
Community Leader Opinion Survey

Student interviewer(s):__________________________________________________­­­__

Name of person interviewed: ________________________________________

Position/title: _____________________________________________________

Agency: _________________________________________________________

Phone number: ___________________________________________________

Address of agency: ________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Member of the Community:

   ___ less than 3 years; ____3-9 years; ___ 10 plus years  

Interview questions:

 

  1. How serious is this health problem in this community?

 

 

  1. What do you think are the causes of this health problem?

 

 

  1. How can this problem be reduced or eliminated in the community?

 

 

4.  What are the major barriers to reducing this problem?

 

 

5.  What role would you/your agency play in helping to reduce or eliminate this   health problem?

 

 

  1. Can you suggest other people with whom I might talk about the health problems in our community?

 

 

  1. Does your agency have any data regarding the seriousness of this health problem or do you know where I could find some data?

 

Session 7:  Form 2
Contributing Factor Summary

Health Problem:______________________________

Contributing factor:

 

 

Subgroups at risk:

 

 

Attributable risk:

 

 

Is the contributing factor changeable?

 

 

Is the contributing factor measurable? How?

 

 

Barriers to changes:

 


Session 7:  Form 3
Existing Community Programs and Policies Matrix

 

 

School (Students)

Worksite (Employees)

Health Care (Groups)

Community (Others)

 

 

 

 

Communication/Public Awareness

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Training/Education

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legislative/Regulatory Policies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Environmental Measures