Running Head: NURSING 1

Health Maintenance and Screening Plans

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In the recent years, the life expectancy has increased globally as people are becoming

more health conscious and proactive towards their daily lifestyles. The influence of healthcare

system is significant in contributing to life expectancy, mortality rates and healthy aging of the

population. However, half of the world’s population still lacks access to basic healthcare services

according to the World Bank and WHO. Clinical services are essential to build a healthy and

sustainable population while also reducing disability and death rates by targeting issues related to

cardiovascular health, cancer, drug abuse, diabetes, mental and sexual health. Some of these

include family planning, immunizations, and disease screening.

Health screenings are examinations and tests performed to identify possible diseases a

patient may develop before any symptoms occur. This is an important preventive service because

it can assess the health status of an individual regarding their blood pressure,

cholesterol/HDL/LDL levels, cancer risk, and lifestyle changes which can determine early

diagnosis and treatment for potential problems. The screening involves medical history to reveal

high-risk genetic disorders as well as lifestyle choices like alcohol, smoking, and physical

activity. It also includes physical examinations and laboratory tests such as ECG, breast/lung

screening, and cervical smears. In 2010, a study by the National Lung Screening Trial showed

that current or former smokers out of 53,454 participants who received a low dose helical CT

scans had 20% lower risk of dying from lung cancer as compared to participants who received

chest X-rays only. In addition, the researchers assessed that CT screening was also cost-effective

and provided better health outcomes. Furthermore, WHO states that 80% of premature ischemic

diseases and stroke are preventable so screenings and regular check-ups can prevent these

chronic diseases and improve quality of life. Many chronic diseases are asymptomatic until they

show life-threatening complications and health screenings can help save lives through early
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detection and proper interventions. In a way, early prevention help prevent future expenditures

on tertiary care because of early treatment and overcome barriers of potential health problems.

On the other hand, family planning is a significant preventive service to address global

development challenges. It is recommended to prevent unwanted pregnancies, decrease infant

mortality, improve maternal health, as well as sustainable population growth. Studies have found

that 99% of maternal deaths occur in less developed countries without proper family planning.

This method offers many benefits for children like higher chance of survival at birth, prevents

birth defects, and promote better health and development while mothers benefit by reducing

unmet need for contraception and unintended pregnancies and improve overall health. Evidences

have suggested that women who have more than four children have a higher chance of maternal

mortality. Family planning helps eliminate barriers through patient education and support,

delivering methods and supplies, improvement of sociocultural and gender attitudes which

benefits the community as well as boost the economic growth.

Lastly, immunization protects oneself and the population from many preventable

diseases. It is proven to save lives, safe and effective, low-cost, and boosts the economy.

Scheduled immunization is considered as one of the greatest public health achievements as it

prevented over two million deaths in 2002. The CDC states that almost 90-100% of vaccines are

effective in the 18 serious diseases. According to WHO, every $1 spent on childhood

immunization in Africa returns $44 to the economy while $6.2 billion can be saved in future

treatment costs. It is also attributed to long-term positive health outcomes by reducing infant

mortality, lowered health care expenditures, better productivity of the population. Clinical

preventive services have a variety of significant health impacts so it is important to promote

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these services and overcome barriers in the clinical practice in order to reduce death and diseases

and improve the population’s health.

REFERENCES

Bhandari, S. (n.d.). Immunizations and Vaccines: Benefits, Risks, Effectiveness. Retrieved from

https://www.webmd.com/children/vaccines/immunizations-vaccines-power-of-

preparation#1

Clinical Preventive Services. (n.d.). Retrieved from

https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/leading-health-indicators/2020-lhi-topics/Clinical-

Preventive-Services

Gatsonis, C. (n.d.). Bringing evidence to health screening debates. Retrieved from

https://www.brown.edu/news/2017-02-19/screening

Infographics on immunization. (2017, February 01). Retrieved from

https://www.who.int/mediacentre/infographic/immunization/en/

Publicly Funded Family Planning Services in the United States. (2016, October 10). Retrieved

from https://www.guttmacher.org/fact-sheet/publicly-funded-family-planning-services-

united-states

US Preventive Services Task Force Guides to Clinical Preventive Services. Rockville (MD):

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 1996-. Available from:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK61778/