Introduction
Promoting change to overcome a medical issue can be a significant challenge for clinical professionals. To adequately address pertinent complications and suggest potential resolutions, it is imperative to consider available strategies and their possible application in the medical field. The difficulties related to overcoming obesity in aged individuals have always been a crucial topic of discussion for numerous scholars, and various solutions were suggested to instill necessary alterations.
Background
The onset of obesity associated with senior age is a widely recognized phenomenon threatening the welfare of different populations. Scholars have established a threatening prevalence of excessive weight in older generations, more susceptible to developing overweight symptoms and conditions. Considering that obesity is closely correlated with the risks of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and stroke, the demand to find efficient prevention and treatment strategies is exceptionally high. The most productive approaches appear to be behavior modification techniques that allow individuals to hinder the development of obesity (Teixeira & Marques, 2018). In this regard, academic attention has focused on instilling novel attitudes regarding dieting, exercise, and education.
Issue Statement and Research question
Older populations are suffering from the onset of obesity and experience numerous negative consequences connected to extreme weight. A sedentary way of life, lack of physical activity, and decreased physiological capability often further the development of obesity (Pearce et al., 2019). Although such precautionary measures as dieting and exercise have proven beneficial, the social attitudes towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle and gaining supplementary education on this issue remain unsatisfactory. Given that individuals from numerous societies primarily overlook the necessity to uphold healthy living, it is imperative to change these predispositions.
Prior to evaluating available theoretical knowledge, a clinical research question should be formulated. A prospective method of establishing a clinical research question is the Patient Intervention Comparison Outcome and Time (PICOT) strategy, which allows one to assess a specific scenario and create a viable question. In the current proposal, the PICOT question is outlined as follows: could senior individuals suffering from obesity benefit from the utilization of the ADKAR change management model? The purpose of the project is to examine the current scholarly literature on the prevention of excessive weight conditions in aged patients, ascertain the ADKAR approach, and establish an implementation plan to address the issue.
Adaptation of Evidence-Based Practice: Literature Search and Evaluation
To address the postulated question, a literature search on the topic has been conducted. The investigations used for analysis were chosen according to their relevance, date of publication, and the publishing journal. Only peer-reviewed studies from well-recognized academic sources and healthcare institutions were included in the examination. Furthermore, only the evidence published in the last five years was incorporated. After necessary data was gathered, it was explored following the requirements of performing evidence-based practice.
According to contemporary publications, the connection between senior age and overweight has been thoroughly explored in recent years. Numerous studies report preventing the onset of obesity appears to be a more prominent strategy in comparison with treating a developed condition, especially in high-risk populations (Pearce et al., 2019). The majority of articles support the proposition that modifying behavioral patterns can positively affect the development of various medical conditions in different populations (Batras et al., 2016). Furthermore, several effective frameworks were identified and implemented in multiple health care environments, establishing that behavioral modification may be an advantageous approach for instilling preventative measures.
Several reliable studies provide evidence of successful change in older patients with the use of alteration techniques. For instance, the Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, Reinforcement – ADKAR change model was proved to be especially useful for interventions focused on reshaping the attitudes towards healthy living (Slaughter, 2021). This framework attempts to launch the process of change using five elements that allow the participants to understand the procedure and explain the necessary actions.
Such interventions as psychotherapy and inpatient consultations utilizing the ADKAR framework were found to be useful, achieving the desired outcomes in individual change (Davidsen, 2015; Thomas, 2021). Furthermore, this method was successfully used involving other age groups, suggesting that it is possible to accomplish behavioral changes through the utilization of the ADKAR model.
ADKAR Change Theory Description and Implementation
The chosen approach is based on five crucial elements designed to promote the acceptance of change and novel behaviors in individuals. According to the framework, the first action is to establish the need for change among the participants, promoting awareness regarding the alterations. The second part encompasses the individuals’ desire to engage in the intervention and perform the required practices (Balluck et al., 2020). After that, a knowledge attribute focuses on the information regarding the necessary actions and their availability to the target group (Iyer et al., 2018). The ability to implement the skills and behaviors acquired after the knowledge phase is the fourth element of the model. Finally, to ensure that the new practices will be followed in the future, a reinforcement stage is performed.
Based on the theoretical information and empirical data gathered from the evidence-based practice, an intervention plan incorporating the ADKAR change framework was devised. Following the order of elements, the first step should promote the individuals’ awareness of obesity prevention measures and be executed as posters, leaflets, advertisements, and community lectures. These activities could highlight the primary dangers behind an inactive lifestyle and unhealthy dieting, informing the older citizens that a transfer from the sedentary way of life to physical involvement is necessary for their well-being (Greenwood-Hickman et al., 2016).
After that, the desire to participate in healthy behavior could be instilled through medical services’ consultations, doctors’ suggestions, and community-based practices. The outcome measure for these stages would be the number of obese individuals interested in the third-stage activities.
During the third stage, knowledge-enhancing activities would be performed in the form of public lectures, reading materials in healthcare offices, and educational campaigns. Considering that more senior citizens are familiar with the concept of the Internet and social networks, it is possible to utilize these services for further promotion (Steijvers et al., 2021). The expected results are increasing numbers of participants during lectures and campaigns. Subsequently, the ability to execute the demanded actions should be provided by medical facilities and governmental bodies, establishing exercise and learning locations for the older generation.
Dieting possibilities could be arranged as cafes and restaurants in clinical centers or communities. It is expected that more older citizens will use these facilities, which would constitute a successful outcome. Finally, to reinforce the acquired behavioral patterns, monthly evaluations by medical professionals and feedback on patient improvement would be offered to the participants. Improved patient obesity statistics are the desired result of these interventions.
The outlined suggestion hinges on the findings derived from recent research. First of all, the ADKAR Change Model and its implementation were chosen considering the body of research supporting this approach in various fields, from management to healthcare. After that, to properly evaluate the framework’s usefulness, studies involving older patients and obesity were evaluated. In addition, it is suggested that senior individuals often respond positively to the step-by-step methods involving a gradual transition and flow of information, which is possible through the utilization of ADKAR (Greenwood-Hickman et al., 2016). Furthermore, the practical solutions were outlined according to the data on successful interventions and reported findings regarding older generations’ behavioral change patterns.
Plan Evaluation and Potential Obstacles
To assess the efficacy of the intervention, several measures are required. An essential action includes medical examinations of older individuals, especially those at risk of obesity. Improved welfare of these populations, enhanced knowledgeability, and manifestations of an active lifestyle could be used to evaluate the outcomes achieved. Such assessments could be performed in the clinical centers and medical facilities, gathering the statistics and ascertaining the patients’ condition.
Nevertheless, there are still crucial barriers to the implementation of the plan. A prominent complication is related to neglect and lack of motivation among older citizens (Greenwood-Hickman et al., 2016). Establishing a motive is a challenging issue, which could be overcome by involving communities and notable individuals in the promotion campaigns. After that, providing regular medical evaluations is a significantly burdensome task for medical institutions. To avoid such limitations, it might be beneficial to involve private medical facilities or individual practice nurses.
Conclusion
To conclude, the necessity to battle the onset of obesity in senior citizens through the implementation of the ADKAR change model was discussed in detail in this essay. Initiating change towards leading a healthy way of life can substantially influence the emergence of excessive weight, acting as a prevention strategy for such conditions. Taking into account the alarming consequences of obesity and the demand to confront the onset of this problem, several nursing and change theories have been utilized in recent literature. ADKAR has been shown to be a prominent method to promote alterations in senior populations’ lifestyles and could tremendously benefit the promotion of a healthy lifestyle in numerous communities. Nevertheless, there are still considerable advancements to be achieved, proposing that further research in this area is required.
References
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