Reflection Essay on Health Promotion and Cultural Influences

This reflection essay explores the role of culture in health promotion and the importance of targeting health promotion at the societal level. It discusses the influence of culture on behavior and daily practices, the impact of food choices on health, and the value of traditional medicines in certain communities. The essay also emphasizes the need for health professionals to recognize the strengths of the community and collaborate with other professionals for holistic patient care.

Reflection essay 1
Reflection
Students name
Institutional affiliation
Activity 1

Reflection essay 2
Culture is central in heath and health promotion as it plays a critical role in influencing
the behavior and daily practices of individuals (Hubley & Copeman, 2018). The type of food, the
type of activities and practices they engage in; have a bearing on quality of life and overall
health. The types of food consumed will explains why some nutrition deficiency diseases are
prevalent in some areas. Strict vegetarians are likely to suffer from protein energy malnutrition
than those who consume protein foods. In my community the use of traditional medicines is
highly valued. Some patients have refused treatment from hospital owing to this belief. When
Collins says that 'no man should ever enter his house through another man's gate' he means that
health promotion should be in line with the culture of the affected community.
Activity2
It is important to target health promotion at societal level since the process entails
empowering the people to be in control of their health in order to influence their health
outcomes. The key players are the target population. Their cooperation will determine the
success of the health promotion strategy (Fertman & Allensworth, 2016). Owing to my
experience, non-communicable diseases, has become my first priority among the global health
issues. They are affecting a large population while they can be prevented. Most people fail to do
the right things with regards to their health because they lack the motivation to do so.
Activity 3
Based on the literacy level of some of my clients, I have assumed that they might be well
equipped with knowledge I perceive as basic. This is dangerous because I might ignore some
important knowledge which would be the basis of educating the individuals. I will need to treat
explain everything without making assumptions. Focusing on what the community does well

Reflection essay 3
enables us to understand the perspective of the community towards various issues (Edelman,
Mandle & Kudzma, 2017). It enables us formulate a way to approach them. A health
professional will become part of the problem if they do not recognize the positives in the
community. They won’t have a grasp of the extent of the issue at hand. Assessing the strengths
will help professionals formulate strategies that tap into their strengths. There is a higher chance
of success.
Activity 4
In the two videos, there is inter-professional practice and collaboration where the
different professionals meet to chat a way forward in formulating a patient care plan.
Collaboration among the different professionals has offered a holistic approach in care. All
aspects of patient care are handled. Diagnosis and management are carried in an organized
manner after considering every professional’s input. In both there is inter-professional
collaboration. In the second project, the social care is carried out by different organizations
making it difficult to coordinate the different professions. in the first project, they have a
provision to continue with social care beyond the facility. The projects are addressing personal
and social determinants of health.
Activity 5
There are two model frameworks in inter-professional collaboration, that is, didactic
program and a community based experience (Hou & Roberson, 2015). Didactic focusses on
professional team building on basis of knowledge with the center focus being the patient. A
community based experience collaboration provides services to the patient while also assessing
the environmental and availability of resources affect the outcome. They are similar since they

Reflection essay 4
provide professional identity and emphasize on collaboration. Lack of proper communication can
lead to challenges in healthcare delivery.
References.

Reflection essay 5
Hubley, J., & Copeman, J. (2018). Practical health promotion. John Wiley & Sons.
Fertman, C. I., & Allensworth, D. D. (Eds.). (2016). Health promotion programs: from theory to
practice. John Wiley & Sons.
Edelman, C. L., Mandle, C. L., & Kudzma, E. C. (2017). Health Promotion Throughout the Life
Span-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Hou, S. I., & Roberson, K. (2015). A systematic review on US-based community health
navigator (CHN) interventions for cancer screening promotion—comparing community-
versus clinic-based navigator models. Journal of Cancer Education, 30(1), 173-186.