NURS FPX 4055 Assessment 1 Health Promotion Research

Student name

Capella University

NURS-FPX-4055 A1

Professor name

Submission Date

Health Promotion Research

Health promotion is a potent solution that enables individuals and communities to have greater amount of power on their health and can enhance well-being. In older adults, a recent review indicated that adverse drug events frequently occurring because of polypharmacy and complicated medication regimes present a significant health hazard and are the primary causes of avoidable hospital visits and severe health-related issues (McGettigan et al., 2024). The target population in the assessment is older adults because they are considered one of the priority populations since they are more susceptible to medication-related harms, and thus they are prime targets of preventative interventions.

Adverse drug events (ADEs) can be avoided by evaluating medication safety and encouraging good medication practices, as well as enhancing health literacy levels, which results in improved quality of life for these people. The strategy emphasizes the significance of community-based health promotion that is proactive in the protection of the aging population and the minimization of the burden of drug-related harm among the population.

Analysis of a Population with a Specific Health Concern: Climate-Related Health Risks

The phenomenon of adverse drug events (ADEs) is a major problem in the healthcare industry, particularly when used with older patients, and adverse outcomes are more likely to harm the patient due to the impact of polypharmacy and worsening of organ functions. The aged individuals are accustomed to taking many drugs to manage chronic illnesses, and consequently, there is an expectation of drug interaction and adverse reactions. A study by Cosgrave et al. (2025) revealed that ADEs, in which avoidable ADEs cause morbidity and mortality, are associated with a high number of hospitalizations in aged persons.

Furthermore, medication errors and ineffective medication reconciliation are likely to be the causes of ADEs in this group. According to one of the studies by Murthi et al. (2024), a significant reduction of the probability of ADEs can be achieved through the implementation of electronic health record (EHR) systems that include pharmaceutical reconciliation tools, since the healthcare providers will be able to access the appropriate and updated information about a patient’s medication regimen. The prevention programs that are useful in preventing such incidents and improving patient safety are medication review programs, pharmacist-led consultation, and patient education on how to take the medications correctly.

Underlying Assumptions and Points of Uncertainty

A significant supposition of the intervention of reducing the incidences of ADEs is that the combination of technology, such as EHRs and pharmacy software, will favorably deal with the dangers of medication errors and ADEs. Despite the fact that the research has delivered positive outcomes on the use of these technologies, one would question the uniformity of the use and application of the technologies in various healthcare facilities. A study by Murthi et al. (2024) has noted that the necessary infrastructure or resources needed to realize the EHR systems do not exist in every healthcare facility, particularly in low-resource environments, which can limit the potential positive effects.

The other assumption is that ADEs can be prevented only with the help of patient education, yet the success of patient education programs and the adherence to medication instructions cannot be regarded as equally effective. Although patient education may lead to the short-term improvement of medication adherence, it remains unclear whether the improvements will be maintained over time, regarding patients with the restriction of cognitive abilities or lack of health literacy.

Characteristics of the Chosen Community

The chosen community to implement the health promotion agenda is the aged within a senior housing facility, as it is also a group of people that is most vulnerable to health-related chronic diseases and drug-related issues. These institutions have older individuals, who are more likely to develop polypharmacy and cognitive impairment, among other chronic diseases, which increase the risk of adverse drug events. The medication regimen older adults are required to deal with is complicated and may become complicated due to the factors of poor memory or poor health literacy; the elderly population may fail to adhere to the instructions on how to take the drugs correctly (Ferraro et al., 2022). This feature is enhanced by their susceptibility to medication error, hence hospitalization or even death.

The characteristics and nature of this segment of the elderly can be very relevant to the overall elderly population of a nursing home, assisted living, or independent living. The problems of these groups are similar, such as a lack of mobility, a necessity to be supported by the people, and a lack of access to the appropriate health care services. To illustrate this point, one of the studies made by Christopher et al. (2023) found that medication errors in the elder housing facility were not an exception, as it was a contributing factor to poor communication between the residents and healthcare providers, and inadequate medication management.

Besides, this issue is not an isolated case in other environments; old people are generally disturbed by the inability to cope with medications that cause an increase in health risks, including ADEs. The interventions of health promotion that can be used to address this population, such as the medication reconciliation initiatives, personalized health education, and using technology to track drug adherence, may be transferred to a larger target population regarding the number of older adults in various settings (Gualtieri et al., 2023). There is an opportunity to solve these needs in older housing homes, and the same solutions can be applied in other communities of the aged to minimize ADEs.

Addressing Climate Change Impacts as a Health Promotion Priority

ADAs and medication safety in the elderly are a major healthcare issue of concern. Most people are prone to developing numerous chronic illnesses, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc., which require multiple drugs as a result of aging (Guo et al., 2022). This will lead to polypharmacy, which increases the chances of drug interactions, adverse drug effects, and side effects. The elderly multimorbid and polypharmacized patients have been proven to have the highest rate of hospitalization, morbidity, and unnecessary mortality compared with the patients on a less complex regimen.

Discussing a recent systematic review of older outpatients across the world, it has been found that 36.7 percent of them will be exposed to potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) medication the risks of which are likely to exceed their benefits, in the aging population (Tian et al., 2023). Such prevalence suggests the scourge of the older population from drug-related injuries. Hospitalization, falls, adverse drug reactions, and an increase in health-care costs due to polypharmacy and inappropriate prescriptions in older adults are also high.

Besides the risk to the individual, such issues of drugs may impact the community and the health system in general. ADEs lead to emergency department visits and hospitalization, during which they serve as a significant burden on the resources and general morbidity of the elderly population (Bankes et al., 2020). Moreover, as many ADEs are treatable (through proper medication reconciliation, enhanced prescribing, patient education, and monitoring), health promotion interventions about medication safety can help prevent unnecessary harm and improve the quality of life of older individuals to a greater extent. There is a need to ensure that older people in society are encouraged to practice safe medication.

A health promotion plan that involves polypharmacy, prescription optimization, and patient education will reduce ADEs, improve health, reduce pressure on health services, and encourage healthy aging, which will benefit the individuals and community ( Cosgrave et al., 2025). Determines health goals that are appropriate to a chosen individual or group of subjects that are realistic, measurable, and attainable, and anticipates that the audience would play a role in goal development, which would presumably become more embraced.

SMART Health Goals for the Target Population

It is essential to develop concrete, effective, and spectacular health promotion goals within the vulnerable adult population that is susceptible to ADEs (related to the polypharmacy use, comorbidities, and reduced physiologic reserve). These are the goals that can be employed in order to facilitate systematic interventions that can aid in improving patient safety, reducing drug-related injuries, and improving the standard of living generally. The health promotion plan will be realistic and assessable using SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) objectives, and it will help monitor the progress, in addition to holding individuals accountable and achieving positive outcomes in individuals and the masses.

SMART Goal 1: Improve Medication Safety Through Annual Medication Review

The entire elderly population in the community will get an extensive medication check and reconciliation event every year. This will detect and eliminate drug interactions, inappropriate prescriptions, and redundant drugs, hence limiting the risk of ADEs.

Specific: Conduct a comprehensive, documented medication review and reconciliation of all adults in the communities who are 65 years or older.

Measurable: The proportion of older adults with a medication review record in their health file will be 100 percent among those who are eligible and have participated in the program in twelve months of program implementation.

Practical: Reviews can be scheduled and provided with the help of a pharmacist or a nurse informaticist cooperating with primary care providers, and such interventions have already shown their effectiveness (Jost et al., 2024).

Relevant: Polypharmacy, inappropriate prescribing, and drug-drug interaction are examples of medication-related issues that are prevalent in older adults and play a significant role in ADEs, hospitalization, and morbidity.

Time-bound: The medication review of all the eligible older adults should be carried out within 12 months after the commencement of the program.

SMART Goal 2: Increase Medication Adherence through Education Sessions

Present specific training to the elderly (and/or their carers) on safe medication use, the significance of adherence, and how to prevent the most frequent mistakes. This is to enhance knowledge, self-control, and compliance to minimize missed doses, duplication, or abuse.

Specific: Hold a structured medication safety education program for each elderly person and/or his/her caregiver, by emphasizing safe medication and adherence strategies and side effects awareness.

Measurable: At least 90 percent of the older adult population who will enroll will have at least one medication safety education session in 6 months.

Realistically attainable: Community outreach, straightforward group, or individual, facilitated by a pharmacist or a nurse, it is feasible that most older adults can be approached via housing facilities, senior centers, or community health programs. It has been proven that medication adherence can be enhanced by educational and behavioral interventions.

Relevant: Non-adherence, misconception, and inadequate medication practices are among the key contributors to ADEs in elderly people (Christopher et al., 2023).

Time-bound: Finish all scheduled education sessions in 6 months since the beginning of the program.

SMART Goal 3: Introduce Medication Management Tools for High-risk Individuals

Introduce a medication management device (e.g., pill dispenser with an alarm or an electronic medication monitoring device) to older adults who have five or more medications, to help them remember how and when to take medications, thereby reducing medication errors.

Specific: Purchase a smart medication management device (pill dispenser with reminders or electronic reminder system) for older adults with polypharmacy ([?] 5 medications).

Measurable: The proportion of high-risk older adults who will start to use the medication aid will be at least 70 percent in 9 months.

Achievable: As the availability and access of such tools continue to rise, and when there is appropriate training and support, this is an achievable adoption rate. There is evidence that an intervention of technological support can facilitate adherence and decrease risk (Nguyen et al., 2024).

Relevant: Polypharmacy is a risk factor for ADEs, and elderly people frequently fail in adhering to complicated diets. Gadgets that make it easy to take medicine are also directly related to harm reduction.

Time-bound: 70 percent of uptake of the medication aids among high-risk older adults by 9 months of program initiation.

Conclusion

Health promotion would also play a vital role in assisting the health needs of the vulnerable patients, particularly the elderly, who are at risk of developing adverse drug events (ADEs). Speaking about the medication safety, its education, and use of technological devices, we would be able to significantly reduce the ADE rates and improve the health outcomes. Such interventions have the potential to transform medication adherence when implemented in communities, and they can empower individuals and make them more empowered to handle their health. Such strategies have to be conducted with periodic evaluations and modifications in order to succeed and work out in the long term. Lastly, making people healthier is not merely more economical than making them sick, but it also reduces health care spending and medical debt in the nation.