Developing a Plan of Care for Chronic back Conditions
The patient assessment incorporates both the present and past physical, social, and psychological conditions that interplay to cause a particular health condition. For a complete evaluation, the patient’s progress over time since the onset of the disease is of significance. Chronic back conditions (CBCs) comprise one of the pertinent areas of concern, which Healthy People 2020 organization has focused on. In the formulation of the organization’s overarching goals, CBC requires attention because it affects, and is affected by the four goals. Chronic back conditions is a significant illness that affects people’s daily life and can be assessed using a questionnaire that comprises of both the present and past aspects, and for which frequently occurs in a diverse population in the US, posing significant effects to the country’s overall health, hence, relevance to Healthy people 2020 objectives.
Chronic Back Conditions
Chronic Back Conditions (CBC) is the selected chronic illness of interest in this paper. CBC is identified by Healthy People 2020 to have significant effects on the general quality of life. Furthermore, the disease affects peoples’ self-care skills that are essential in daily living, and their ability to work (Healthy People.gov, 2020). Thus, the illness does not just affect the physiological wellbeing of individuals but impacts on their economic, social, and psychological stability. In effect, the creation of public awareness regarding CBC contributes to the actualization of the Healthy People 2020 overarching goals.
Patient Questionnaire to Acquire the Relevant Information about Chronic Back Conditions
Patient Back Assessment form Date…………………………………….
File No. …………………………………….
Patient’s Name……………………………………. Occupation…………………………………….
Most work activities are undertaken while: Sitting……… Standing……… Walking……… Bending ……… Lifting…… Varied……… Other (please specify) ………………………………………………
Please rate your work in terms of strain: Physically straining………….. Moderate………….Light…….Other…..
Have you had back pain before? Yes ……… No ………
If yes, indicate the number of times you have experienced back pain in the past ………………………
What was its immediate cause? Lifting……… Fell ……… Just started from no specific cause ………….. Other (please specify)…………………………..
Has your current back pain led to your off duty from your work? Yes ……… No ……..
If currently off duty, for how long have you been off duty? ………………………
Have you experienced any form of back pain in the last three years? Yes …………… No …………
If yes, how many attacks have you experienced before? One attack ……… Several attacks ……… Frequent attacks ……… Unable to remember ………….
Have you been forced to shift your job because of back attacks in the recent past? Yes …………. No …………. No, but I wish I could ………….
Are you having any form of treatment for your problem currently? Yes…………. No ………….
If yes, how are you treating? Physio …………. Bed rest …………. Pain pills ………….Surgery …………. Chiropractic …………. Other (please specify) ………….
What treatment have you tried to relieve the past back pains? Physio …………. Bed rest …………. Pain pills ………….Surgery …………. Chiropractic …………. No treatment …………. Not applicable …………. Other (please specify) ………….
How did you suspect that you may be having a problem with your back? Back pain only …………. Leg pain only …………. Back pain and leg pain …………. Numb feeling and numbness …………. Pins and needles ………….Other symptoms (please describe) ………….
What is the nature of your pain? Constant and never changes …………. Constant with varying amount …………. Comes and goes ………….
Are you taking any medication currently? Yes …………. No ………….
If yes, please specify the kind of medication you are taking ………….
If yes, how many times a day? ………….………….
Do you undertake exercises or sporting activities? Yes …………. No ………….
If yes, what specifically? ………….………….………….………….………….………….………….………….………….
How often do you undertake physical activities? ………….………….………….
Which type of bed do you use? Soft …………. Firm …………. Waterbed …………. Other (Please specify) ………….
Morbidity and Comorbidity of Chronic Back Conditions
Generally, individuals suffering from chronic back conditions have other medical conditions. According to a study conducted by Whitson et al. (2016), all the respondents who reported cases of chronic back pain had an average of 2.4 other diseases. Healthy People.gov (2020), reports that eight out of ten Americans suffer from lower back pain (LBP) in their lifetime. Additionally, an average of 15 to 20 percent of the American population develops back-related complications, most of which occur in a protracted way. 2 to 8 percent of the American population experience chronic back pain, which lasts for not less than three months. Healthy People further reports that 3 to 4 percent of the population experience temporary disabilities caused by back pain. Lastly, one in every a hundred individuals of working age is either permanently or completely disabled due to lower back pain or(and) the related cause.
The Impact of Chronic Back Conditions and Patient Morbidity on Overall Health of the Nation
Chronic back conditions affect a large population in the US. As a result, many people lose the capacity to work; hence, their production potential reduces. Therefore, CBCs adversely affects both individual and industrial productivity which are core contributors to the national economy. In turn, the reduced nationwide productivity potential deteriorates many other spheres of national wellbeing since it leads to increased crime prevalence and other conflicts such as dependency rates among households.
Aside from the hampered productivity rate, chronic back conditions, and patient morbidity increases national spending on the health sector. The increase in the average number of individuals seeking medical attention to treat such conditions prompts the country to spend more resources on the treatment process. In so doing, the national budgetary allocation should shift away from other essential areas to cater for the health needs of the country’s population. Thus, the current high morbidity rate of CBCs in the US has significantly affected other sectors as well as impacting negatively on the taxation of citizens.
Finally, CBCs reduce the overall quality of people’s lives as their psychological wellbeing is affected. Similarly, the population’s healthy development and wellbeing in other domains such as emotional and social reduce as the problem threatens lifespan reduction. Ultimately, behaviours across all the life stages changes, leading to changes in attitudes and perception about life. The situation makes it difficult for the country to set and attain high goals for its people concerning pertinent health matters.
The Relevance of Chronic Back Conditions on Healthy People 2020 Goals and Objectives
CBCs is an illness identified among the major chronic diseases listed by Healthy People 2020. Its occurrence reduces the success of accomplishing the four overarching Healthy People 2020 goals. Significant aspects of the organization’s goals and objectives affected by the disease include the quality and length of life, health equity, physical and social wellness, and overall quality of life. By addressing the disease at a national level, it will be easier for the country to achieve the objectives of Healthy People 2020.
Conclusion
Chronic back illness is selected as a disease of interest because of various reasons, such as its overwhelming impact on individuals’ and national health in multiple dimensions. The disease requires attention from the policymakers as well as health experts. The patient evaluation questionnaire comprising of both the past and present medical conditions related to the disease is a comprehensive tool that provides the health experts with vital information required to diagnose and develop an effective care plan for the sick individual. CBC’s is a comorbid disease that affects a significant population in the US, hence, considered a severe threat to the national health in many dimensions. Since the illness is addressed by Healthy People 2020 as one of the chronic conditions that need attention, there are viable efforts underway to reduce its underlying effects.
References
Healthy People.gov (2020). Arthritis, Osteoporosis, and Chronic Back Conditions. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-objectives/topic/Arthritis-Osteoporosis-and-Chronic-Back-Conditions
Whitson, H. E., Johnson, K. S., Sloane, R., Cigolle, C. T., Pieper, C. F., Landerman, L., & Hastings, S. N. (2016). Identifying patterns of multimorbidity in older Americans: application of latent class analysis. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 64(8), 1668-1673.