Invented Case In Concept Analysis
Valorie Carlee
Walker and Avant (1995) argue that, selection of a concept should be followed by the identification of the various uses of the concept. It is equally important to recognize and consider the etymological derivations of the term in question.
Putting coping and managing into consideration for instance, they do share some characteristics and associated attributes in their usage but each is distinct from each other in some. The two concepts share the attribute of success and control but differ in the sense that, coping does involve some psychological reality which is significantly absent in managing. On the other hand, manage has the aspect of overseeing and supervising which is also absent in coping. Abstract terms when analyzed, are limited by language usage and culture. Culture has significant implications on concepts; coping for instance as used in modern British society, is viewed as achieving minimal level of success as opposed to managing which is more positive.
At this point, it is important to note that, two issues come along with coping; success or failure. Webb (1996) is categorical though that, success or failure is not major in the concept of coping since all reactions are some form of coping. Each individual copes with life events what is the center of the debate is the effectiveness of the responses they apply. A response to a given situation will always be influenced by several factors. Folkman and Lazarus (1980) identified two approaches when responding to a situation Problem focused and emotion focused approaches. They asserted that, coping was a process that changes with situations and timing. On the contrary others have viewed it in more personality terms.
The defining attributes are the characteristics which describe a concept. The defining attributes present in coping are: Success in dealing with stress, control of the situation, rationality when making decisions in a stressful situation, and calmness.
It is importance to enumerate and discuss antecedes of coping. Antecedents are the events or incidents that must occur prior to the occurrence of the concept (Walker &Avant). Therefore, antecedents are determinants of the concept. In antecedents of coping is therefore stress. Stress is seen as the main factor or a set of conditions requiring coping. Nurses in their day to day professional lives are often faced with stressing situations. Among these are; becoming a nurse, suffering loss and death of the patient they care for and even challenges facing them outside the wok environment. Patients on the other hand get stressed with hospitalization, terminal diagnosis, chronic illness and pain. The above mentioned stressors therefore need coping.
Consequences on the other hand according to Walker and Avant (1995), refer to the events occurring as a result of the concept. These are things that follow the concept. In coping, the consequences are; success, calm, control and failure. The first three are achieved when an individual employs the concept well. The outcome of the concept of coping can however be negative and in our case failure.
Walker and Avant (1995) put forth the importance of case approach to help in creating a conceptual meaning to various phenomenons. The cases constructed are in form of scenarios which aid in the illustration and provide clear examples of what the concept does not entail.
Mr. B was admitted in hospital, he was in the company of his wife and son. Several minutes later his wife and son were told that his diagnosis showed that he only had a few days to live. The nurse gave him morphine for his pain and breathlessness and further rearranged his pillows until he was comfortable. She also explained that his symptoms would soon go away and the other option available for treatment.
A contrary case represents that which is certainly not the case. In this Scenario, the family members upon being given the diagnosis would dispute the results and seek for an alternative doctor. They would be crying and totally worked up. Mr. B on the other hand would want to be told his diagnosis and would not accept it when given. He would want to get another doctor to attend to him. Furthermore, he would be rude to the nurse. The nurse would also be very sad on learning the condition of his patient.
An illegitimate case is a real life example of the case being used inappropriately for the purpose of analysis. When analyzing the concept of coping, an illegitimate case may be; a man saying that he is coping with power failure.
A concept analysis is a process that seeks to explore the structure, function, defining characteristics, and other basic elements of a concept [1]. The product of a concept analysis is never fixed, since knowledge is gained and the effects of culture, context, and societal factors alter what is known to be true over time [1]. The purpose of this concept analysis is to explore and solidify the meaning of health disparity so that the product of the analysis may be applied to my future practice as an adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner. Since I work in an inpatient medicine unit in an urban setting, I interact with many patients who do not have equal access to carein many different contexts. I see firsthand the effects that these inequalities have on overall health, treatment opportunities, experiences, and outcomes of different patients. A more solid foundation of the concept of health disparity can allow for improved identification of the issue within practice, while providing a basis for nurses to promote better advocacy and changes in their workplaces and communities to improve patient outcomes.
The historical and present inequalities in social, political, financial and environmental resources are attributed to the root of differences that exist as well [3]. For example, inequalities in education, such as dropping out of school, is associated with health problems, while completion of higher levels of education is associated with longer life and increased health literacy. LGBTQ young people are at a higher risk for poorer health outcomes surrounding sexual behaviors, violence, substance use, and suicide [3]. Education, healthy food, clean water, safe and affordable housing and transportation, and health insurance are a few examples of factors that determine health which may be less available to certain populations, which therefore contribute to health disparity [4]. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes health disparities as preventable, and recognizes the term as differences in disease burden, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve the best health status possible [3].
Miller et al. [10] compare the United States to the United Kingdom, which has less disparities and more policies to prevent poverty and distribute wealth more equally, highlighting the need for the United States to implement better policies to protect all people. Changes in policies in other topics such as finances, education, housing, and family matters should be advocated for by social workers because they affect health and outcomes [10].
Health disparity is a relevant topic in the field of law. Teitelbaum et al. [12] discusses how the laws and regulations at many different levels prevent equal distribution of social and financial opportunities as well as increased punishments for marginalized groups. The authors discuss how laws are a fundamental determinant of health and need to be updated to protect the oppressed in order to decrease these disparities [12]. Policy implementations at the state and local levels can support approaches to decrease health disparities [13].
Laws that discriminate based on race are associated strongly with the differences in health experiences and outcomes that people of color face. The authors contribute these health disparities to the institutional disadvantages that exist stemming from a long history of genocide, slavery, violence, and oppression [12]. According to Gonzlez et al. [13], children of marginalized populations face a disproportionate amount of discipline, trauma, and adversity, particularly in the school setting. The exclusionary school discipline (ESD) practices that many schools use in these populations contributes to health disparities and further promotes other social, financial, and educational inequalities that already exist [13].
People who are adopted may experience health disparities due to not knowing their family history. In the article written by May and Evans [14], the authors discuss the cost and saving benefits of genetically testing people who are adopted to decrease the health disparities that they may experience. The article addresses the moral obligation to explore targeted screening for potential conditions that are able to be avoided by genetic testing, which could lessen the health disparities that people who are unsure of their family history experience. Organizational standards and policies may be updated to reflect these potential benefits that may improve length and quality of life for adoptees and lessen the health disparities that they may face [14].
In this case, many things may have contributed to his hypertension and diabetes from the time that Brian was a child. For example, the small living conditions in a city with his exposure to secondhand smoke could have played a role in these conditions. Because of his stressful home situation living in poverty and the fact that his school did not support him, he was unable to go to college and frequently missed out on opportunities that could have allowed him to continue his education or succeed in the academic setting. Therefore, he was unable to get a neither adequately paying job nor health insurance. Because he often was forced to work overtime in order to pay the bills, he frequently would eat at fast food restaurants to save time and money. The lack of a healthy diet and high stress both may have contributed to these comorbidities. In multiple ways, society failed Brian and caused him to have higher amounts of stress and less opportunity for personal health promotion. If he had more equitable opportunities, he may have been able to prevent these conditions from occurring.
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