Unit VI Scholarly Activity
Instructions
Blog Post
The purpose of this assignment is to provide the opportunity to review an area of interest within an epidemic in health care. This assignment entails the review of one peer-reviewed or scholarly article of your choosing in a blog format. The completed assignment should include the following components.
- Provide a summary of the article, and explain the epidemic and why this is an important issue.
- Discuss which health care providers are involved in the issue and what each provider’s role is in treating the epidemic.
- Develop three questions about which this article makes your think or that would provoke discussion.
- Include the reference for your chosen article, which must be peer-reviewed or scholarly, and include a link to the article within the reference.
Your blog post must be at least 500 words in length. Remember that the blog should be in a conversational format. Be sure to explain any technical terms, as this would be for the whole community to view, including those unfamiliar with your chosen topic.Resources
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
For the Unit VI Scholarly Activity assignment, students are required to review a peer-reviewed or scholarly article related to an epidemic in healthcare and write a blog post summarizing the article and discussing the issue. Here are the answers to the provided assignment components.
1. Provide a summary of the article, and explain the epidemic and why this is an important issue.
The chosen article ‘The Opioid Epidemic: A Comprehensive Review’ by Shah et al. discusses the current opioid epidemic, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of people due to opioid overdoses. The article highlights the increasing morbidity and mortality associated with opioid abuse and its devastating impact on public health. The authors emphasize the need for urgent action to address the epidemic through a comprehensive approach that involves healthcare providers, policymakers, and the community. They argue that efforts must be made to regulate prescribing patterns, increase access to treatment, and raise public awareness of the crisis.
2. Discuss which healthcare providers are involved in the issue and what each provider’s role is in treating the epidemic.
Healthcare providers that are involved in treating the opioid epidemic include physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and addiction specialists. Each provider’s role is a critical component in addressing the epidemic. Physicians must adhere to evidence-based prescribing practice standards, which involve a thorough evaluation of the patient’s risk for addiction, the use of non-opioid alternatives, and adequate monitoring during treatment. Nurses and pharmacists are responsible for screening for opioid abuse, educating patients about their medication, and providing support to those seeking treatment for addiction. Addiction specialists play a significant role in treating those who are struggling with opioid addiction by providing psychotherapy, medication-assisted treatment, and follow-up care.
3. Develop three questions about which this article makes your think or that would provoke discussion.
1) How can healthcare providers balance the need for pain management with the risk of opioid abuse?
2) What role do pharmaceutical companies play in the opioid epidemic, and what steps can be taken to address their involvement?
3) How can policymakers and community leaders collaborate with healthcare providers to reduce opioid-related morbidity and mortality?
4. Include the reference for your chosen article, which must be peer-reviewed or scholarly, and include a link to the article within the reference.
Shah, A., Hayes, C. J., Martin, B. C., & Howard, R. (2017). The opioid epidemic: a comprehensive review. Anesthesiology, 127(5), 37-51. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28806243/
