Posted: June 22nd, 2015

Topic: policy review

Name :

 

PaP 02

PRE-QUALIFYING / POST-QUALIFYING / POST GRADUATE ASSIGNMENT ASSESSMENT REPORT

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please read the statement of Original Authorship and Confidentiality before completing this form (see below).

Statement of Original Authorship and Confidentiality

Please check the following statements are true, and write yes in each box to confirm:

 

The material contained in this assignment is my own work. Where the work of others has been drawn upon (e.g. books, articles, unpublished papers, videos, audio recordings electronic publications on disk or the internet) it has been properly acknowledged according to appropriate academic conventions.	yes
I have read and understood the University’s statement on Plagiarism, Syndication and Cheating as contained in my Course Handbook,	yes
I have read and understood the School’s statement on confidentiality in my Course Handbook and this assignment has been amended where necessary to comply with the School‘s requirements.	yes

 

 

STUDENT NUMBER	14041816
PERSONAL TUTOR	Sally Markwell
MODULE NAME	Public Health Policy
MODULE NUMBER	P44600
MODULE LEADER	Sally Markwell
COURSE NAME	MSc Public Health
YEAR OF STUDY	2015
ASSIGNMENT TITLE	The British Dental Association Oral Health Inequalities policy

 

                                                                                                                                                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Executive Summary

The United Kingdom and Europe are experiencing a dental health crisis amongst the deprived populations. Poor socioeconomic statuses of some citizens act as a hindrance in the management of their oral and general health. The classical methods to solve the situation were not sufficient, as they relied on curative approaches that did not achieve much. The level of stakeholder engagement was low and the poor were not taken care of. Consequently, the British Dental Association Oral Health Inequalities Policy was invented to offer a multi-dimensional perspective to the dental health crisis and introduce a capacity building program, inform of health education, to empower the masses. According to Milio’s framework, there is a need to enhance the level of stakeholder engagement for long-term achievements.

 

 

 

Review of The British Dental Association Oral Health Inequalities Policy

Background of the Issue

There is a positive correlation between oral health and the general well-being of a person. In the case of a poor oral health <<refrence??. A patient suffering from poor oral health is exposed to other diseases of the body because of a low immune system (Moyse, 2009). A person has trouble in performing routine tasks, for instance, eating, socializing, smiling, speaking, and sundry. It is because of the social embarrassment and pain associated with the condition. Some of the notable roral health complications in the current century include periodontal (gum) disease, tooth loss, oral cancers, and tooth loss (Scott et al 2005). According to past surveys, economically deprived people show the highest degree of oral unhygienic conditions due to their social, economic, and environmental factors that increase their chances of attracting a poor oral health<not right word (Targat & Cousins, 2013). In Ireland, the most affected population is the old population, where <<does the policy affect irland? Be clear only 25% of people from 65 years and above had access to dental care (Detels, 2015). In this light, this policy review document is prepared for social and health care boards, oral health commissioners, consultants, frontline practitioners, and other major stakeholders. The members of the public are also required to understand how the strategic action policy affects their wellbeing. For instance, it will expand dental services to counter the limited access of the deprived members of the society in Britain (Great Britain, 2008).<<incorrect refrence

There are significant differences in oral health in the United Kingdom and Scotland. Despite the improvements realized in the field of oral healthcare over the past 30 years, there are still inequalities (Great Britain, 2008). Please mention what does the policy say? What include?

 

Description of the Public Health Dilemma

There is a growing dental crisis in Europe and the United Kingdom region. An urgent diagnostic formula is required from social and health care professionals to put up a collaborative and strategic input (Alexander et al 2012). The concerned governments should assume the responsibility of improving the public health system of their countries. It is because the main elements that are responsible for a poor oral health have the potential of causing other diseases. They include oral hygiene, tobacco smoking, nutrition and diet, exposure to fluoride, injuries, and routine consumption of alcohol.<<evidence need (refrence)if it taken from the policy please put the refrence of policy

Children at the age of 5 years are most vulnerable (Great Britain, 2007)<<not correct refrence!! Please put the right refrence and relative to topic. They experience complications, such as missing teeth, tooth decay, and others. According to statistics in the United Kingdom, more than 75% of the children are affected because of not receiving proper oral healthcare. In Wales, about 50% of the children suffer from tooth decay (Taggart & Cousins, 2013). Northern Ireland portrays a slightly different phenomenon, where 66% of the adult population suffers from gum diseases (Scott et al 2005). European children emerge at the top of the list of people with the highest level of tooth decay. The most affected people include low-income earners who cannot afford medical insurance. Consequently, the deprivation gives rise to tooth dental diseases and tooth decay (Ward & Brooks, 2014).<<what is difference between Europe and the UK ? dental care is free in the UK for children (clearfy this point)

Outcome of Past Efforts

Alexander et al (2012) reveal that past approaches focused more on curative rather than preventive initiatives in the past. The Scottish dental healthcare model provided antibiotic care for the dental patients who did not have medical cover. In general, there has been an impressive improvement of oral health in Scotland. Currently, it is estimated only 18% of Scottish adults have oral health problems. This is an improvement given that the percentage was 44% in 1972. However, a research that was carried out in 2003 found out 55% Scottish children suffer from oral health problems, meaning that more needs to be done to improve the dental health of minors in the country (The Scottish Government, 2005). Since the year 2000, the Scottish government has invested heavily in establishing more dental schools to train more dentists.<<do you mean northern irland? Irland is not coverd by british policy In Ireland, the elderly received dental (advanced) implants and there were no measures to prevent complex dental diseases (Great Britain, 2007). The Irish government has also made an impressive investment to improve oral health stands in the country. In the past, there were no special considerations, such as the capacity of the marginalized to access dental services. The Irish government has established specialized dental hospitals in several parts<<you are confusing two issues here_only Northern Irland is affected by British policy-Are you using Irland as an example of good practice? Be clear of the country. Further, it has also set up two medical schemes; the PRSI Dental Scheme and the Medical Card Dental Scheme to increase the capacity of Irish Citizens to access dental health services (Irish Dental Association, 2015). In the past decade, the only people who enjoyed dental care include those bestowed with financial resources (members of a certain class) (Anderson et al 2011). In this effect, there was the need for a paradigm shift to emphasize curative measures over preventive procedures. They help to explain the sharp reduction in the prevalence of dental disease in both the developing and the developed world, but have not sufficiently tackled the high number of dental cases amongst low-income earners (Asthana & Halliday, 2006). A look at classical health cover programs also indicate poor government support leading to social and healthcare inclusion.

 

 

Scope and Severity

 

Assessment of Past Policy Issues

As indicated earlier, past policy measures assumed a curative dental health promotion design to manage current and emerging diseases and complications (Ward & Brooks, 2014). The main limitation of the oral dental policy in the low level of flexibility while handling new demands (Detel, 2015). Further, the policy did not identify the oral issues and needs of the general population prior beforehand, leading to more severe outcomes. Further, the curative approaches were financially extensive because of the costs of securing medical equipment and human resource (Bullock, Clark, & Rycroft-Matone, 2012). In comparison to modern methods, the majority of past policy measures resulted in a higher percentage of untreatable dental situations (Detel, 2015). There is a need to develop a closer engagement with the members of the public to foster conditions that will shift the focus from curative methods to preventive ones.

 

Significance of the Issue

Need for Policy

The publi (The Scottish Government, 2005) (Irish Dental Association, 2015)c health issue is critical because it is birthed out of modern approaches to promote preventive dental strategies that focus on the reduction of diseases<<the reference in the wrong place here and as aresult this doesn’t make sence.proof read your work (Ward & As-Brooks, 2014). The policy is supported by both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the populations as a sign of an in<<need evidence (refrence to support) depth understanding of the situation. There is an increased government participation, not just in offering technical expertise, but in providing resources to the disadvantaged. The wholesome strategy aims at eradicating the overall cases of dental issues across all classes. Further, the policy also sets the exact target for immunization<<how does this link to dental health?? and treatment, as well as the promotion of healthy conditions over the short, medium, and long-term.

The major issues to be considered include the socioeconomic factors related to the increased dental diseases amongst the poor citizens. These include people who do not enjoy a consistent pattern of income to finance their healthcare needs. For this reason, there is a need for policy to that will close the gap to ensure that the most effective interventions<<how does this link to he situation in UK where dental care is provided by the NHS? that offer the best value for the investment of resources (Detels, 2015).

Issue Statement

Definition of the Issue

The British Dental Association Oral Health Inequalities Policy evaluates the association between socioeconomic indicators and dental caries (Caltabiano & Ricciardelli, 2012). The overall goal is to carry out a methodical assessment that evaluates the qualitative correlation between the socioeconomic indicators and the degree of dental carries amongst children and adults. The British Dental Association (BDA) prepared action plans and initiatives that could solve the inequality issue when implemented. The program is extended to cover all of the four United Kingdom countries, as the majority of the main tenets that cause a deprived dental health condition are a predisposing factor for other diseases (Moyse, 2009).<< your words or a qute?

 

Stakeholders

The policy sufficiently considers all stakeholders in achieving a successful implementation process. In fact, the initiative (stakeholder engagement) forms the underlying principle of the policy under discussion. All the major players are identified and their roles spelt out. They include the deprived masses, dental institutions, research and development experts, medical training centers, strategic programs, such as the Brush for Life, well wishers, the World Health Organization, and the government ,British Dental Association (BDA). What is unique is the level of engagement and nature of collaborative effort displaced by the stakeholder analysis matrix.

Goals and Objectives

The goals of the policy are clearly spelt out and command a significant level of confidence as far as the success rate is concerned. The first goal is to offer preventive alternative to dental diseases as opposed to curative treatments. The second one is to provide educational and promotional messages and campaigns to the masses to foster behavior change. Lastly, the policy seeks to improve the oral health of the deprived and reduce inequality.

Using Milio’s framework is a new approach in dental healthcare because of its increased focus on the main subject. It also encourages an increased participation<<explain how these two link of the major stakeholders (Scott at el 2005). Using the role of community health practitioners in combating the dental issue for the underprivileged goes a long way in not only curing their<make sure all your points clearly suppoted current diseases, but altering a set of behavior patterns that are viewed as risk factors. Community nursing<which community nursing framework? framework acts as a bridge between the government health department and the British Dental Association on one hand, and the deprived community members and social organizations on the other (implementing both social and health care policies, values, and principles).<make sure all your points are clearly supported

Measurement

The World Health Organization (WHO) plays an oversight role for charity and strategic healthcare socioeconomic programs aimed at improving the general welfare of the masses. It provides a series of policy guidelines and regulations that help local organizations identify strategic purposes and achieve their goals. The British Dental Association Oral Health Inequalities Policy provides room for future expansion of the program. It strictly adheres to the evaluative policy guideline set by the World Health Organization, which recommends that at least 10% of the total expenditure should be set aside for financing systematic evaluation and review processes. Such a move presents an assured way<how does it do this? Provide evidence of driving the oral health strategic activity (Asthana & Haliday, 2006).

Potential Solution

The level of dental health insurance cover amongst the deprived populations is expected to rise. The capacity building programs will initiate a series of behavior changes that will promote a better oral hygiene. New legislations will reduce the percentage of people smoking because of decreased tobacco advertisements. Lastly, school going children’s sugar level at any stage is likely to decrease because of improved nutrition standards.< you need evidence to support all of these points

 

 

Policy Alternatives

Description of Alternatives

The policy adopts<date Milio’s Prevention Framework to approach the research problem. The main elements of the theoretical framework include population oriented and community focused care. It is under this basis that the policy relies on a series of alternatives to reinforce its impact.

The first alternative action includes the passage of possible legislations, such as school feeding laws that set the minimum level of nutrients and sugar in foods. Such as move assumed the provision of Milio’s theory that states that the population reflects some behavioral patterns that result from limited choices. Legislation also aims to ban the open and <how does this link to oral health?unrestricted tobacco and alcohol advertisements that promote the vices’ development.

Another alternative action plan includes the use of charity to enhance<what is evidence? the policy’s agenda. The British Dental Association supports programs such as the SmileChile and Brush for Life that extend socioeconomic support to the poor communities.

Nancy Milio, who is a leader and a nurse in public health education and public policy, developed the framework. She argues that the population does not suffer poor health conditions because of the lack of knowledge (Asthana & Haloday, 2006). She blames the government and institutional policies because of their failure to set the required threshold for individual decision-making. The examination of the determinants of for community health and influencing them through policy action is not sufficient when not supported by the role of community based on nursing healthcare.<this theory should have been explained earlier and applied_you also think how it links to this context

 

Significance of Future Outcomes

            The policy is expected to change, among other things, the unhealthy conditions that expose the vulnerable members of the society to (oral) diseases. There are anti-tobacco abuse and anti-alcohol consumption campaigns to spread awareness about their dangers to the members of the public. They will help to discourage them from indulging in drug abuse. A sharp emphasis is placed on personal care and preventive measures, and these will go a long way in reducing the percentage of low-income earners exposed to dental diseases.what program evidence to support?

 

Externalities

            Externalities are indirect socioeconomic benefits that the society stands to enjoy from the policy’s implementation. In addition to improving the oral health of the population, their general health is also likely to improve. New legislations, such as the anti-tobacco campaigns and nutrition standards will enhance the general welfare of school going children and adults. The most significant externality arises from the nationwide education program for social, health, and economic empowerment. The lessons learnt will go a long way in influencing other spheres of life, such as general discipline and a change of perspective from curative to preventive focus in managing one’s health. It is estimated that the dental health of future generations is secured. The program will promote social unity because of its promotion of equality among different socioeconomic classes.

 

 

Constraints/ Political Feasibility

The political environment is friendly as revealed by the tobacco and nutrition proposed legislations. There is a high probability that the two pieces of legislation will sail through<what two pieces of legislation? Try not to make sweeping statements without supporting them swiftly to become law. Tackling socioeconomic inequality is a political issue, and that is why the British Dental Association proposed a healthcare policy that considers the financial misfortunes of those who cannot access dental care.

 

 

Policy Recommendations

This policy review document seeks to make recommendations on the need to undertake an assessment on the need for oral healthcare amongst different quarters of the population.

The aims of the recommendations include the protection and promotion of oral health through an improved diet and reduction of sugar intake, tobacco, and alcohol. Secondly, there is a need to improve oral sanitation conditions, increase the level of fluoride in water (it is imperative to note that the fluoride content in water is not sufficient). The medical practitioner should also establish campaigns to trigger dentistry visits, and lastly, there is a need to bring dentist services closer to the people, and subsidize the associated costs.<what are these recommendations based on? You must link to evidence

A new legislation that targets nutrition patterns in education institutions is also important. The governments should also limit product promotion campaigns on food with high sugary content.

 

 

Criteria

            The criteria defined the mode of approach to the issue at hand. The British Dental Association Oral Health Inequalities Policy sought to solve the problem of inequality in dental care services in the United Kingdom and<Scotland is part of the united kingdom Scotland. A lot has been achieved in the quality of dental care in the general population, but much needs to be done in solving the dental needs of financially deprived masses. Consequently, the policy adopted a contemporary approach,supported with evidence (refrence) seeing to bring together as many stakeholders as possible in dealing with the issue. Much emphasis was placed on information and research (a scientific approach) because knowledge of the degree of inequality determined the mode or resource allocation in various affected regions.

The policy makers also focused on personal and community empowerment to equip people with far-reaching remedies that will help them handle their own health issues. The education and capacity building programs are a sure way of altering the predisposing behaviors that promote oral diseases.

Preferred Alternatives

There is a need to pursue a series of alternatives that offer support to the policy to increase the rate of success. Various approaches to the problem exist; the policy makers strove to offer a set of alternative initiatives that reinforce the impact of the overall policy. In solving the dental crisis of the deprived masses, their behavioral patterns and degree of tooth cavity decay are the main variables under consideration.

The policy offered health education and health promotion programs to help the people shift their focus from curative treatment to prevention of dental diseases. The dental team considered the links to general health, such as diabetes, obesity, and others to construct a holistic and consistent approach.

Another alternative action plan includes the campaign against the widespread use of tobacco. The British Dental Association supports the ban on tobacco smoking; it proposes open and public promotion<,make sure all your points are supported with refrences and education programs to combat the vice. The behavior is associated with high tooth decay amongst the adult population. A study undertaken by a British medical survey firm concluded that members in the lower economic class reflected a high level of lower awareness of the harms that come with smoking. There was also a significant misunderstanding of the element in tobacco called nicotine. A lot can be achieved through improving knowledge about the dangers of smoking amongst the underprivileged segments of the society (Detel, 2015).<issues of inequalities are identified here but how do they relate to the issue of nicotine?

Implementation Strategy

The British Dental Association is the main player in the implementation process, and it will work with the World Health Organization to bring all the players together.

Step 1

The implementation begins when a close engagement is established among stakeholders regardless of whether they have been provided with a clear description of the role each should play.

 

 

 

Step 2

A high intensity of research is employed in understanding the nature of the problem, for instance, the income level of beneficiaries, their dietary patterns, the achievement of similar initiatives in the past, and sundry, are the main drivers of the implementation strategy.

Step 3

The information gathering is carried out to understand the most vulnerable areas in order to recommend efficient solutions.

Step 4<<evidence support

During an intervention program, the policy will focus on providing the community members with an education that commands a voluntary change, empowerment to manage risk, and the enforcement directed at an oversight regulation so that a better health can be achieved for the underprivileged.

 

Limitations

The most latent challenge that is likely to emerge in a multi-collaborative project includes the conflict of interests. A multi-agency approach is effective, but troublesome because of the hierarchical and logistical requirements required on a day-to-day basis. In instances where the public and private sector have come together, the issue of organizational culture undermines their united efforts. In some cases, vices in government bureaucracy, such as corruption that stand in the way of service delivery (Moyse, 2009).

Another significant issue includes financial constraints. Many resources are required to implement The British Dental Association Oral Health Inequalities Policy to the latter. For instance, the Brushing for Life campaigns is required to provide free teeth cleaning equipment for thousands of people without charge. The staff also requires compensation, especially during the dental education programs. The British Dental Association is tasked with a huge workload of securing enough funding for each activity (Moyse, 2009).

 

Some of these references are not relelvant to the topic

 

https://www.bda.org/dentists/policy-campaigns/public-health-science/public-health/Documents/oral_health_inequalities_policy.pdf

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Alexander, M. F., Brooker, C., & Nicol, M. (2012). Alexander’s Nursing Practice.

Andersson, L., Kahnberg, K.-E., & Pogrel, M. A. (2011). Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery. New York, Ny, John Wiley & Sons.

Asthana, S., & Halliday, J. (2006). What Works In Tackling Health Inequalities? Pathways, Policies, And Practice Through The Lifecourse. Bristol, Uk, Policy Press.

Bullock, I., Clark, J. M., & Rycroft-Malone, J. (2012). Adult Nursing Practice: Using Evidence In Care. Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Caltabiano, M. L., & Ricciardelli, L. (2012). Applied Topics In Health Psychology. New York, Ny, John Wiley & Sons.

Detels, R. (2015). Oxford Textbook Of Global Public Health. [Place Of Publication Not Identified], Oxford University Press.

Great Britain. (2007). Poverty In Scotland. London, Tso.

Great Britain. (2008). Health Inequalities: Written Evidence. London, Tso.

Irish Dental Association. (2015). Dentistry in Ireland. Retrieved from Irish Dental Association: http://www.dentist.ie/your-oral-health/dentistry-in-ireland.137.html

Moyse, K. (2009). Promoting Health In Children And Young People The Role Of The Nurse. Chichester, John Wiley & Sons.

Scott, A., Maynard, A., & Elliott, R. (2005). Advances In Health Economics. Chichester, John Wiley & Sons.

Taggart, L., & Cousins, W. (2013). Health Promotion For People With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities.

The Scottish Government. (2005). An Action Plan for Improving Oral Health and Modernising NHS Dental Services in Scotland. Retrieved from The Scottish Government: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2005/03/20871/54815

Ward, E. C., & As-Brooks, C. J. V. (2014). Head And Neck Cancer Treatment, Rehabilitation, And Outcomes.