Question

As a nurse in a local homeless shelter, you see clients from all walks of life and health status. While much of your time is spent in assessing and referring clients to needed medical and mental health services, a significant portion of your time is spent engaged with clients in the various levels of disease and injury prevention. Your latest activities include residential groups focused on the prevention of alcoholism and its secondary conditions. Members of one of the groups include Dusty Phillips, a 57-year-old man with a 22-year history of alcoholism who has had type 1 diabetes mellitus for 52 years; Lily Tompkins, a 32-year-old woman who is a recovering alcoholic and who has AIDS; and 21-year-old Riley Dunston, a young man who is currently walking across the United States and enjoys a few beers per day. a. In relation to alcohol addiction prevention, what is the prevention level of each of the group members? b. What levels of prevention would address their secondary conditions? c. Which primary prevention strategy is vital to the wellness of the group members? Why?

Answer 1

a. In relation to alcohol addiction prevention, what is the prevention level of each of the group members?

Dusty Phillips - Tertiary prevention. It includes measures taken to overcome the alcohol addiction and to manage the medical condition of diabetes and to improve the quality of life.

Lily Tompkins - Tertiary prevention. It includes measures taken to completely stop the alcohol and to minimize the disease associated with AIDS and to improve the lifespan of the person.

Riley Dunston - Primary Prevention. It relates to the health promotion and improves his knowledge regarding the risk of alcohol consumption and provide a positive environment.

b. What levels of prevention would address their secondary conditions?

Dusty Phillips (type 1 diabetes mellitus) - If diabetes is not controlled properly, it leads to life-threatening complications such as neuropathy, nephropathy, blindness, paralysis, and heart disease. If the person has further increases the intake of alcohol worsens the condition and lead to organ damage. Measures were taken to alcohol withdrawal to obtain the optimum effectiveness from the diabetic medication and to control the blood sugar level.

Lily Tompkins (AIDS):

Measures were taken to avoid needle sharing and proper disposal of needles. Make awareness of unprotected sexual practices. Measures have taken to avoid discrimination in the society and to participate in the society. Efforts were taken to avoid alcohol intake and recurrence.

Riley Dunston - Measures were taken to educate about the risk of alcohol and complications. Provide counseling for health promotion and early detection of diseases.

c. Which primary prevention strategy is vital to the wellness of the group members? Why?

Primary prevention strategy is the Identification of the underlying cause and to protect the people. Prevention is better rather than cure. Identify the factors which promote the people for alcohol consumption. This is the first thing which develops a risks factor and problem in the community. Promote the protective factors for early prevention. Change the community norms and behaviors of people. Avoid misuse of alcohol by the youth.