Theoretical Frameworks for Health Promotion
The theory of reasoned action and planned behavior (TRA and TPB) is used to justify the choice of the target audience and the information provided in the leaflet. The well-being promotion model most suitable for this health promotion plan is the health belief model. Theories and models of health promotion help formulate the aims of health promotion activities and allow for crafting a plan that is best suited for a concrete population’s needs.
Health promotion is the improvement of people’s health and raising their health status (Scriven, 2017). The selected health issue and population group are crucial for consideration, as gestational diabetes (GD) is the most prevalent health issue among pregnant women (Choudhury & Rajeswari, 2021). GD affects or is able to affect twice as many individuals since it impacts not only the pregnant woman’s health but also her future baby’s well-being.
Health promotion is an important step in enhancing the population’s health as it aims to spread information on eliminating negative practices and engaging in positive behaviors. A crucial aspect of promotion work is individuals’ beliefs regarding health and illness. With pregnant women, it is easy to explain how their health status influences their future baby’s well-being. Using this as a strategy when developing the GD promotion plan is crucial.
The theory of reasoned action is perfectly tailored for gaining health promotion aims when working with women with GD. This theory implies that one’s health behavior is driven by the intention to perform that behavior. A patient’s willingness to perform a behavior is related to their attitude toward it, and subjective norms relate to that behavior.
People with diabetes, including pregnant women, have been reported not to adhere to their diabetes management plans (St Quinton, 2022). Therefore, the reasoned action approach will be highly suitable when patients must be reminded of their responsibility for their own health and the health of their unborn baby. A positive attitude will likely increase the chances of adhering to the management plan.
Policy, Collaboration, and Equity Considerations
In health promotion, it is necessary to be aware of the current global policy context. Without this knowledge, one may be unable to evaluate the situation effectively and develop suggested solutions. The concept of public policy is rooted in state agencies’ endeavors focused on creating a plan of action that solves public issues (Knill & Tosun, 2020). In the context of gestational diabetes, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF, 2021) recommends GD screening in asymptomatic women at 24 weeks of gestation or later, since it is impossible to screen for it earlier. The health belief model is helpful in this case since pregnant women perceive the severity of danger if GD is found and the benefits they will gain by timely management.
In preparing the GD health promotion plan, it is crucial to consider the value of inter-professional collaboration. While it is possible to undertake all the health promotion work independently, working with others is more likely to bring positive results sooner (Scriven, 2017). One must collaborate with colleagues and the target population when managing a health promotion project. The principles of interprofessional communication and positive collaboration with the target population are fundamental in this process. The major aspect of success in the health promotion endeavor is how well the health care manager can cooperate with others.
In terms of inequalities in health and well-being, it is relevant to notice that gestational diabetes affects only pregnant women, making the target population group rather limited. However, out of the whole GD population, individuals suffer from unequal access to care and prevention. As Daneshmand et al. (2019) mention, women with psychosocial, cultural, or financial challenges are less likely to be able to engage in a health promotion plan than those without these difficulties. Therefore, it is necessary to consider these challenges when developing the GD health promotion plan.
When creating a health promotion plan, it is also crucial to remember the influence of political and ethical issues on health and well-being. Even countries with universal approaches to healthcare access cannot guarantee equal opportunities for all individuals (Bradley, 2021). Hence, it is necessary to ensure that the suggested health promotion plan will be equally available to all individuals in the target population group.
Community Engagement and Evaluation Strategies
The community organization model is the most suitable community and organizational development model for the suggested plan. Implementing this approach will allow for the engagement of people besides those targeted for the health promotion plan (Scriven, 2017). That way, pregnant women diagnosed with gestational diabetes will feel supported and encouraged by their loved ones and other people belonging to their community.
Finally, the GD health promotion plan should be well-thought-out and include SMART goals and evaluation measures. The suggested program aims to prevent the emergence of GD or eliminate its impact on the individual (specific). The evaluation will compare GD cases at the baseline and within six and 12 months (measurable, time-bound). Evidence indicates that positive results can be gained with optimal glycaemic control (achievable) (Martis et al., 2018). Finally, the program aims to care for one of the most vulnerable population groups (relevant).
To ensure proper planning principles are utilized, the plan manager will set deadlines for distributing educational materials and evaluating the results (baseline, six months, 12 months). The rate of women taking their GD screening and the rate of GD prevalence will be evaluated within six and 12 months to check how effectively the plan influences the population’s health beliefs and attitudes. It is expected that with the use of the health belief model and TRA and TPB, the target population will become more inclined to prevent the development of gestational diabetes.
References
Bradley, S. H. (2021). The ethics and politics of addressing health inequalities. Clinical Medicine, 21(2), 147–149. Web.
Choudhury, A. A., & Rajeswari, V. D. (2021). Gestational diabetes mellitus – A metabolic and reproductive disorder. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 143. Web.
Daneshmand, S. S., Stortz, S., Morrisey, R., & Faksh, A. (2019). Bridging gaps and understanding disparities in gestational diabetes mellitus to improve perinatal outcomes. Diabetes Spectrum, 32(4), 317–323. Web.
Knill, C., & Tosun, J. (2020). Public policy: A new introduction (2nd ed.). Bloomsbury Academic.
Martis, R., Brown, J., McAra-Couper, J., & Crowther, C. A. (2018). Enablers and barriers for women with gestational diabetes mellitus to achieve optimal glycaemic control – A qualitative study using the theoretical domains framework. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 18. Web.
Scriven, A. (2017). Promoting health: A practical guide (7th ed.). Elsevier.
St Quinton, T. (2022). Applying the reasoned action approach and planning to understand diabetes self-management behaviors. Behavioral Sciences, 12(10), 375. Web.
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. (2021). Gestational diabetes: Screening. Web.