Introduction
In the context of the contemporary evidence-based healthcare system, adherence to a healthy lifestyle has become one of the pivotal factors contributing to well-being and longevity. The shift from treatment-based to preventative care allows for minimizing health care costs, losses of human lives, and contributing to the well-being of the population. In this regard, the prevention of the most commonly observed severe disease is rational and obligatory due to the long-term benefits for individuals and healthcare systems. Indeed, one of such prevalent healthcare crises is kidney failure which impacts the lives of multiple people across the globe. The patients suffering from kidney disease include both adults and children, which validates the implementation of specific preventative measures for both these age groups. This proposal emphasizes the problem of kidney failure risks deriving from unhealthy lifestyles to justify the urgent need for healthcare workers and educators to implement educational interventions to tackle the identified problem.
Problem Identification
Kidney failure is one of the most acute and dangerous diseases faced by humanity today. Its prevalence in all countries of the world is characterized by a wide range of populations of different ages, gender, and background. Such a scope of disease prevalence implies its frequent diagnosis and the lack of adequate preventative measures in place. Indeed, the statistical data on kidney failure demonstrates that “kidney disease is a public health crisis affecting 37 million people in the U.S., 10,000 of whom are children” (“National Kidney Foundation launches online educational program for children,” 2021, para. 2). Moreover, the disturbing statistics of this disease prevalence apply not only to the United States of America but also to the overall global community. Indeed, “there were 2.618 million people that received renal replacement therapy in 2010, 2.050 million received dialyzes, and the remaining patients received renal transplant” (Lv & Zhang, 2019, p. 5). Thus, the scope of the negative outcomes and prevalence of kidney failure demonstrates the urgency of the problem of limited preventative measures.
The burden of the complicated and costly treatment and the threatening outcomes of the disease signifies its severe nature due to the impairment of the renal system, which is one of the vital body systems for survival. Indeed, the epidemiology of kidney failure is characterized by high disability, comorbidity, and mortality rates (Luyckx et al., 2018). Furthermore, due to the diagnosis of kidney failure in both children and adults, it is essential to ensure that the disease is not only treated but also prevented in a timely and efficient manner. In addition, research demonstrates that mere alteration of lifestyle choices and the development of healthy lifestyle habits can minimize the risks of kidney failure (Luyckx et al., 2018; “National Kidney Foundation launches online educational program for children,” 2021). Therefore, the problem of the lack of preventative measures should be tackled immediately.
The Necessity to Solve the Identified Problem
The identified problem of diminished effectiveness and insufficiency of prevention of kidney failure in children demonstrates the necessity for finding a solution capable of bridging the gap in kidney prevention. Several considerations inform the necessity for the proposed solution’s implementation. In particular, the high costs of kidney disease treatment and the scarcity of resources for kidney transplantation due to kidney failure impose a significant burden on healthcare systems. Furthermore, the high mortality rate from kidney failure urges healthcare practitioners, decision-makers, and educators to act proactively. Indeed, statistical research demonstrates that “in 2015, 1.2 million people died from kidney failure, an increase of 32% since 2005” (Luyckx et al., 2018, p. 416). Thus, the severe nature of the disease and its tragic outcomes for a large proportion of the population necessitate the implementation of problem-solving practices.
Moreover, the scope of disease spread and impact should be a motivating factor for the decision-makers to implement preventative strategies to tackle the issue of the burden of kidney failure. Indeed, since a large proportion of kidney disease patients are children, it is particularly important to introduce effective preventative measures to minimize the exposure of people to the risks leading to kidney failure (“National Kidney Foundation launches online educational program for children,” 2021). Furthermore, the effectiveness of educational efforts as a means of disease prevention implies the availability of resources for the extensive implementation of an educational program for children (Azadi et al., 2021). Similarly, evidence based on recent research studies suggests that the alteration of lifestyle minimizes the risks for kidney disease development (Huang et al., 2019; “National Kidney Foundation launches online educational program for Children,” 2021). In such a manner, these validations serve as a solid basis for implementing educational lifestyle habits for children as an effective and cost-efficient preventative measure.
Proposed Actions to Alleviate the Problem
The actions proposed for the implementation within the educational program launching will be based on the combination of conventional and digitalized teaching methods. The actions will tackle the development of simple lifestyle habits for children, as well as cultivate their mindful perception of their healthy choices as a contribution to their well-being and longevity. Overall, the lifestyle habits that impact the reduction of risks for kidney failure informed by research will be developed in the participants of the program. The following actions will be initiated:
- Engagement of non-profit organizations, health care units, and volunteers for enrolment of participants in the program;
- Dissemination of the program goals among schools;
- Training of professionals on adequate teaching methods;
- Development of children’s habits of regular drinking of quality water (“National Kidney Foundation launches online educational program for children,” 2021);
- Launching of lectures and discussions about the harms of cigarette smoking in the context of kidney failure (Peng et al., 2019);
- Training for a healthy choice of food and maintenance of healthy dieting;
- Physical training through in-person classes, media popularization of physical activity, and dissemination of mobile applications for physical activity tracking (Huang et al., 2019);
- Lectures and discussions on kidney functions, their healthy state, the development of kidney disease, and the importance of healthy lifestyles for disease prevention.
Justification of the Proposed Solutions and Rationale
Adherence to educational programs as a means of disease prevention has been deemed to be an effective tool in a healthcare setting. Indeed, according to the findings of the research study conducted by Azadi et al. (2021), the implementation of educational practices with individuals through training and information helps minimize the risks of disease development. Indeed, the scholars claim that “a person’s decision and motivation to adopt a healthy behavior depends on three categories: personal perception, moderating behaviors, and the likelihood of doing that behavior” (Azadi et al., 2021, p. 1), since educational programs in general and those introduced early in the life of an individual help shape personal perception and behavioral patterns concerning health and healthy lifestyles. Moreover, educational practices allow for improving the chances for life-long well-being, timely detection, and effective management of diseases. Such evidence on the effectiveness and sustainable application of educational programs for health promotion and disease prevention justify the introduced program for children to minimize their exposure to risks for developing kidney failure.
Moreover, since multiple modifying lifestyle factors might be altered to avoid the development of the disease, it is essential to disseminate the practices for eliminating such factors. According to research, they include cigarette smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, and an unhealthy diet (Peng et al., 2019). Indeed, since “modifiable lifestyle risk factors account for 24% of the excess risk of” kidney disease, their addressing might help reduce the risks and prevent the disease (Peng et al., 2019, para. 1). Thus, lifestyle alteration is an accessible, simple, and sustainable measure capable of preventing such a severe disease as kidney failure.
Conclusion
In summation, the proposal for the educational program for children aimed at teaching them habits for a healthy lifestyle to prevent kidney failure has been introduced and supported by evidence. The outlined rationale for the proposed solution in the form of a preventative educational program and the urgency of the issue justifies the proposed actions. Overall, the implementation of the suggested program has its benefits due to the cost-efficiency, sustainability, long-term positive outcomes, and accessibility for a large population of prospective participants. Thus, the implementation of the proposed solution is highly recommended for the decision-makers due to its effective impact on the solution to the burden of kidney failure in both adults and children.
References
Azadi, N. A., Ziapour, A., Lebni, J. Y., Irandoost, S. F., Abbas, J., & Chaboksavar, F. (2021). The effect of education based on the health belief model on promoting preventive behaviors of hypertensive disease in staff of the Iran University of Medical Sciences. Archives of Public Health, 79(1), 1-8.
Huang, P. P., Shu, D. H., Su, Z., Luo, S. N., Xu, F. F., & Lin, F. (2019). Association between lifestyle, gender and risk for developing end-stage renal failure in IgA nephropathy: A case-control study within 10 years. Renal Failure, 41(1), 914-920.
Luyckx, V. A., Tonelli, M., & Stanifer, J. W. (2018). The global burden of kidney disease and the sustainable development goals. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 96(6), 414-422.
Lv, J. C., & Zhang, L. X. (2019). Prevalence and Disease Burden of Chronic Kidney Disease.Advances in experimental medicine and biology, 1165, 3–15. Web.
National Kidney Foundation launches online educational program for children. (2021). National Kidney Foundation. Web.
Peng, S., Shen, F., Wen, A., Wang, L., Fan, Y., Liu, X., & Liu, H. (2019). Detecting lifestyle risk factors for chronic kidney disease with comorbidities: Association rule mining analysis of web-based survey data. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(12), e14204.