Posted: December 12th, 2016

The risk-factor perspective

The theoretical perspective that I find to be the most helpful and effective would be the risk-factor perspective. Family risk factors are those that come from lifestyle, biological factors, environmental factors, social, psychological, culture and spiritual dimensions and the health care system (Edelman, Kudzma & Mandle, 2014). Nurses need to explore work pressures, peer pressure, stress, anxieties, tensions, and air, noise or water pollution. There are also cultural and spiritual aspects that include certain traditions that help prevent illness, such as daily prayer and meditation (Edelman, Kudzma & Mandle, 2014).

To reduce risk factors, nurses must help families focus on influencing on health behaviors of the members of the family. Awareness of certain risk factors can help families reduce risk factors that are modifiable. Being healthy and having healthy behaviors are very important to the family and are a big responsibility. The probability of a risk could change depending on the activities of health promotion and disease prevention that the family follows (Edelman, Kudzma & Mandle, 2014).

This theory appeals to me more than others because there are so many risk factors out there that can affect a family. Once nurses explore certain areas of family members that could cause an issue within the family, they can help try to fix the issue and in turn make the family healthier. There are certain habits that one family may take on and another member, such a child, could take it on as well and it may not be a healthy one, such as eating fatty foods. It is best if the family eats healthy and it starts with figuring out the areas of the family that are considered a risk to other members and each individual.

Reference

Edelman, C., Kudzma, E., & Mandle, C. (2014). Health Promotion and the Family. In Health Promotion Throughout the Lifespan (8th ed., Ch. 7). Retrieved from https://pageburstls.elsevier.com/#/books/978-0-323-09141-1/cfi/6/8!/4/2/36/8/8@0:88.9