Health Education Report: A Plan for Warfarin Medication Adherence

This report examines the crucial role of health education in promoting positive health outcomes, specifically focusing on a patient, Nellie Jackson, who is prescribed Warfarin. It highlights the significance of health education in addressing public health problems and improving patient adherence to medication. The report details the responsibilities of nurses as health educators, emphasizing their role in providing information, promoting healthy behaviors, and supporting patients in making informed decisions about their treatment. An action plan is proposed to enhance Nellie's understanding of Warfarin, aiming to increase her knowledge, prevent potential injuries, improve her health status, and enhance her quality of life. The interventions include education through various methods and materials, with the goal of positively influencing her behavior and ensuring the continuation of her medication regimen. The report concludes by underscoring the importance of health education in nursing practice and its impact on improving patient outcomes and overall well-being.

Running Head: HEALTH EDUCATION
Health Education
Student’s Name
University Affiliation
Date

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Introduction
Health promotion is considered as a health process which aims at realizing full physical,
mental, as well as well-being of individuals in the community. It enables individuals to have
total and maximum control of their health consequently improving their lifespan. Health
education or promotion strategies can be applied to all health issues and problems and are not
limited to any particular health problem or group of behaviors (Kanj and Mitic, 2009). According
to World Health Organization health promotion includes processes that make it possible for
individuals to improve their comprehension and control of their health to enhance their health
(Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, 2014). World Health Organization
continues to describe health promotion as a health strategy which aims at incorporating skills
as well as community development to create supporting and favorable environment for health,
attempts to build public policy in health and endeavors to reorient services of health. The
objective of health education is to improve the capabilities and skills of people to take action as
well as communities or groups of people to collectively take control over the health
determinants leading to a positive change (Kumar and Preetha, 2012). The paper discusses the
role of health education in creating a positive change to Nellie Jackson over her decision to her
negative attitude of using Warfarin. The paper will further come up with health education
action plan that can be applied to effectively help Jackson to continue getting her medication
uninterrupted.

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The role of nurses in health education
Nurses as health educators play a significant role in enhancing the health of a society. It
is vital to note that educating a community is an integral part of roles of nurses in ever practice
setting, that is, work sites, homes, health care delivery sites, community and schools. Health
promotes and education entails not only offering pertinent information, but also promoting
health-linked behaviors and lifestyles (Friberg, Granum and Bergh, 2012). As a registered, using
principles of health education, can assist people in realizing their goals in health as a way which
is consistent with their individual beliefs, values and lifestyles. Standards and principles of
nursing defines health education as a key nursing responsibility which entails educating people
in making informed and prudent decisions concerning their treatment and care (Bergh, Friberg,
Persson & Dahlborg-Lyckhage, 2015). The responsibility to teach people is balanced by their
right to diagnosis process, benefits, risks, alternatives and costs. The role of the nurse is to
support the rights of people in acknowledging and knowing their health status as well as to aid
an individual’s spiritual, psychological and physical response to such knowledge. It is key to
note that the nurse also offers health counselling and teaching based on the decision and
interest of the person (Bergh, Friberg, Persson & Dahlborg-Lyckhage, 2015).
Nellie Jackson who has been receiving medication after brief admission to the hospital
for a left leg DVT. Even though she normally walks for twenty minutes to her catch a bus to her
clinic, she has been receiving her anticoagulant medication in the form of Warfarin medication
which has some negative implications to her health. As one of the anticoagulant drugs reducing
blood clotting, Warfarin is the best for Nellie’s condition. Nurses normally functions as health
care coordinators for people in their care. It is key to note that depending on the needs and

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interest of the client as in the case of Nellie, nurses create a partnership to offer guidance to
the individual on use and selection of relevant health services. In the case of Nellie, it is the role
of the nurse to effectively and prudently advise the patient on the benefits of continuing her
Warfarin medication uninterrupted. The principles of health promotion and education will
assist the nurse with tools and strategies for evaluating the side effects of warfarin medication
(Sinha, 2019) on Nellie and come up with effective measures to remedy the identified side
effects.
Significance of health education to Nellie
Health education is more significant and relevant currently than ever in alleviating and
offering solutions to public health problems. Measures of health education are usually targeted
at a number of priority health issues. Health education serves as a key guide in addressing the
main health challenges experienced by developed and developing nations entailing non-
communicable and communicable diseases as well as issues linked with human health and
development allowing people to swing in action either as groups or individuals (Kanj and Mitic,
2009). For instance, health education will be significant to Nellie in allowing and enabling her to
continue with her medication on warfarin. Health education is an avenue to motivate and
encourage people to take preventive and health measures in alleviating worsening of an injury,
disease or illness as well as to adopt healthier and safer lifestyles (Kemppainen, Tossavainen,
and Turunen, 2013).

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Action Plan
Goal; To increase knowledge of the patient on the significance of Warfarin medication
Program objectives
This health education will play a significant role in;
1. Preventing pain and injury to the patient (Nellie)
2. Improving health status of the patient
3. Enhancing quality of life of the patient
Interventions
Even though the ultimate goals of a health promotion or education is to significantly and
positively influence status of health, more proximal success indicators are changes in the
intermediate impact or results (Whitehead, 2018). The interventions will play an important role
in educating and influencing positive behavior and lifestyle in Nellie to continue using warfarin
medication. The program-based intervention strategies are designed to reach out to Nellie not
only in her hospital care setting but also her home setting.
The program will be delivered through planned activities which will increase and
enhance the skills and knowledge of the patient. The execution of the program with holistic
materials and well-planned notes which will be convenient for the patient. Health information
regarding benefits of using Warfarin will be presented with audiovisual as well as computer
based support like slides, pictures, videos and to a more sophisticated form software programs

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as the need will arise. The program will be offered in a simplistic and easy language that is easily
understood and comprehended by the patient to ensure that every information is internalized.
Impact indicators of the program
1. After the end of this health education program, Nellie should continue with her
medication consequently reducing her pain and injury
2. Moreover, her knowledge and skills on Warfarin should increase as indicated in her
change of behavior towards her treatment.
Conclusion
Health education and promotion is an important facet of nursing as it influences positive
behavior in people. In the analyzed case study, I have come up with health education to Nellie
to influence a positive change in her behavior and attitude towards Warfarin which in the end
will improve health and quality of life.

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References
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Bergh, A. L., Friberg, F., Persson, E., & Dahlborg-Lyckhage, E. (2015). Registered Nurses' Patient
Education in Everyday Primary Care Practice: Managers' Discourses. Global qualitative
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Sinha, S. (Jan 23, 2019). Warfarin. Drugs.com. Retrieved from
https://www.drugs.com/warfarin.html
Whitehead, D. (2018). Exploring health promotion and health education in nursing. Nursing
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