HEALTH ADVOCACY

AND PROGRAMS
LEILA C. BONDOC, MD
◦ HEALTH ADVOCACY:
◦ In the medical profession, activities related to ensuring access to
care, navigating the system, mobilizing resources, addressing
health inequities, influencing health policy and creating system
change 
◦ Health advocacy has emerged in recent years to help address the
challenges patients face in managing their healthcare.
◦ Seeing social workers and nurses serving in health advocacy roles is
common.
◦ However, a health advocate can be anyone patients trust who can help
them navigate the healthcare system.
◦ The primary responsibility of health advocacy is to help patients on their healthcare
journey. Typical health advocate activities can include the following:
• Helping patients deal with clinicians and healthcare professionals in diverse settings
• Providing patients with guidance based on their conditions and treatment options
• Supporting patients with health insurance processes, including filing claims and
preparing necessary forms
◦  Health Advocates- empower patients by helping them get access to affordable,
effective, high-quality healthcare.
◦ The types of patients who can benefit from health advocacy include the following:
• Older adults: Health advocates accompany older patients during appointments to talk
with doctors, take notes, and manage medical bills. They can also assist with preventive
medical care, managing daily medications, and promoting activities that can improve a
patient’s quality of life at home. The increasing use of digital technologies in healthcare
can be a barrier to older adults’ engagement with the healthcare system. A health
advocate can help older adults with that burden by logging in to patient portals to
review diagnostic test results, scheduling appointments online, and renewing
prescriptions.
◦ Patients with dementia: Dementia triggers a decline in a patient’s cognitive abilities
and memory. Health advocates can help patients with reminders for bathing, taking
medication, and performing other routines. In healthcare settings, patients with
dementia may not understand their surroundings. For example, they may forget that
they have mobility issues. With declined thinking and perception abilities, patients with
dementia may become anxious and uncooperative, refusing to receive treatment or
pulling out their IVs. Health advocates can help patients with dementia become familiar
with their surroundings or feel comfortable. An advocate can also communicate with
nurses, informing them of a patient’s preferences, capabilities, and potential responses
to care.
◦ Hospitalized patients: Hospitals typically have patient advocates on staff
to help patients and their families deal with a hospital stay. A hospital
advocate ensures that patients are informed of their conditions. If
patients are incapacitated, the hospital advocate communicates their
condition to their families or guardians. Administratively, hospital
advocates help patients secure copies of their medical records,
understand hospital bills, and complete forms. When treatment or
information is delayed, a health advocate can ask the nursing staff for
help. In general, health advocates provide comfort to patients and their
families during their hospital stay.
◦ Public health advocacy
◦ While health and patient advocacy focuses on helping patients on an
individual basis, public health advocacy aims to help entire patient
populations, from local neighborhoods or certain demographic groups to
entire regions.
◦ Public health advocates may also focus on specific groups affected by
issues such as alcohol and drug addiction; mental disorders; chronic
diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes; food safety; and acute
diseases, such as COVID-19.
◦ Public health policy addresses these and other public health concerns
by:
• Increasing awareness of issues that impact people’s ability to access
affordable, effective, high-quality healthcare
• Influencing decisions at the highest levels of government to help shape
public policy
• Raising funds to support public health programs, including research and
information-sharing campaigns
◦ REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH GROUP/SECTION
◦ ONE HEALTH ADVOCACY PROGRAMS
◦ CHOOSE FROM WIDE VARIETIES OF PROGRAMS
◦ DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: ONE WEEK BEFORE THE FINAL
EXAM
◦ Tobacco Free Initiative
◦ The Tobacco Free Initiative in the Western Pacific Region supports strengthening
tobacco control and monitoring tobacco use and control in countries and areas. With
an estimated 377.2 million adult smokers in the Region, or about one-third of the
world’s smokers, TFI aims to achieve the lowest possible level of tobacco use
prevalence and the highest level of protection from second-hand smoke. By
advocating and enabling accelerated implementation of the WHO Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control through sustainable systems for tobacco control, the
Tobacco Free Initiative works towards a world free of tobacco: tobacco-free people,
communities and environments.
◦ WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY
◦ MAY 31 OF EVERY YEAR
◦ Ranked as one of the most effective cessation programs in the
country, Freedom From Smoking® has helped hundreds of thousands
of people quit for good and is now available in a variety of formats.
◦ "The best way to quit smoking is with a combination of medication
and counseling, "They both help. But you double your chances by
using both compared with one of them."
◦ Nicotine replacement.

Using nicotine replacement doubles the quit-rate. It helps with

withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and can be tapered off easily as
withdrawal symptoms improve. There are many forms available over-
the-counter or with prescription: patches, gum, lozenges, nasal spray,
and inhaler.
◦ Healthy Lifestyles
◦ A healthy lifestyle can help you thrive as you move through your life's journey.
Making healthy choices isn't always easy – it can be hard to find the time and
energy to exercise regularly or prepare healthy meals. However, your efforts
will pay off in many ways, and for the rest of your life.
◦ Steps to take:
• Be physically active for 30 minutes most days of the week. Break this up into
three 10-minute sessions when pressed for time. Healthy movement may
include walking, sports, dancing, yoga or running.
• Eat a well-balanced, low-fat diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains. Choose a diet that's low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and moderate
in sugar, salt and total fat.
• Avoid injury by wearing seatbelts and bike helmets, using smoke and carbon
monoxide detectors in the home, and using street smarts when walking alone.
If you own a gun, recognize the dangers of having a gun in your home. Use
safety precautions at all times.

• Don't smoke, and quit if you do.

• If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation. Never drink before or when
driving, or when pregnant.

• Ask someone you trust for help if you think you might be addicted to drugs
or alcohol.
• Help prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS by
using condoms every time you have sexual contact. Keep in mind, condoms
are not 100 percent foolproof, so discuss STI screening with your provider.
Birth control methods other than condoms, such as pills and implants, won't
protect you from STIs or HIV.
• Brush your teeth after meals with a soft or medium bristled toothbrush. Also
brush after drinking, before going to bed. Use dental floss daily.
◦ Stay out of the sun, especially between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. when the sun's
harmful rays are strongest. Don't think you are safe if it is cloudy or if you are
in the water, as harmful rays pass through both.
◦ Use a broad spectrum sunscreen that guards against both UVA and UVB rays,
with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Select sunglasses that block
99 to 100 percent of the sun's rays.
◦ Healthy Outlook
◦ You may feel pulled in different directions and experience stress from dealing
with work, family and other matters, leaving little time for yourself.
◦ Learning to balance your life with some time for yourself will pay off with big
benefits – a healthy outlook and better health.
◦ Steps to take:
• Stay in touch with family and friends.
• Be involved in your community.
• Maintain a positive attitude and do things that make you happy.
• Keep your curiosity alive. Lifelong learning is beneficial to your health.
• Healthy intimacy takes all forms but is always free of coercion.

• Learn to recognize and manage stress in your life. Signs of stress include
trouble sleeping, frequent headaches and stomach problems; being angry a lot;
and turning to food, drugs and alcohol to relieve stress.
• Good ways to deal with stress include regular exercise, healthy eating habits, and relaxation
exercises such as deep breathing or meditation. Talking to trusted family members and friends
can help a lot. Some women find that interacting with their faith community is helpful in times
of stress.
• Get enough sleep and rest – adults need around eight hours of sleep a night.
• Talk to your health care provider if you feel depressed for more than a few days. Depression is
a treatable illness
NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASE
PROGRAM
◦ Purpose of the programs and policies for non-communicable diseases
◦ Reduce the major modifiable risk factors, such as tobacco use, harmful
use of alcohol, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity.
◦ Develop and implement effective legal frameworks.
◦ Orient health systems through people-centered health care and
universal health coverage.
◦ Promote high-quality research and development.
◦ REQUIREMENTS:
◦ FOR EACH SECTION
◦ SECTION A 3 GROUPS – 3 DISEASES OF CARDIOVASCULAR
◦ SECTION B 3 GROUPS - 3 CANCER DISEASES
◦ SECTION C 3 GROUPS - 3 CHRONIC RESPIRATORY DISEASES
◦ SECTION D 3 GROUPS - DM 1, HYPERTENSION,RHEUMATOID
ARTHRITIS
PROFESSIONAL DECORUM
◦ Decorum is behaviour that people consider to be correct, polite,
and respectable.
◦ Social decorum sets down appropriate social behavior and
propriety, and is thus linked to notions of etiquette and manners.
◦ When nurses exhibit professional behaviors, patients receive better
care, team communication is improved, there is increased
accountability among all practitioners, and the overall clinical
environment is more positive.
◦ Professional behaviors in nursing
◦ A professional nurse has values that reflect an understanding of the
type of care needed by and given to patients.
◦ Professional values include characteristics such as compassion and
caring, advocacy and altruism, respect for human dignity, safety, social
justice, honesty and integrity, and accountability.
◦ 5 concepts of professionalism in healthcare
◦ Honesty.
◦ Protecting confidentiality and privacy. 
◦ Maintaining appropriate professional distance in relationships
◦ Respecting boundaries. 
◦ Improving quality of care.
WAYS TO SHOW
PROFESSIONALISM IN NURSING
◦ 1. Put patients first
◦ It’s important not only to uphold patients’ rights—but also to care about how
patients feel. Treat them with kindness, respect, and compassion, and listen to
their particular concerns and preferences.
◦ Be sure to act in the best interests of your patients at all times, and be prepared
to serve as an advocate for them when their health needs diverge from their
family’s expectations.
◦ 2. Communicate effectively
◦ Nursing professionals should communicate clearly and effectively at all times.
◦ When speaking with patients and their caregivers, use terms they can easily understand. Also,
be willing to take reasonable steps to meet an individual’s language and communication needs
(e.g., bring in a translator).
◦ Communicating effectively also means keeping clear and accurate patient records and
practicing good interprofessional teamwork and handoff skills.
◦ 3. Collaborate with and mentor others
◦ Working as a nurse means acting as part of a team, so it’s important to have a collaborative
attitude and value the contributions of others. You should be open to receiving advice and
constructive criticism, and you should also feel comfortable offering your colleagues both
praise and constructive feedback on their work.
◦ Sharing knowledge and insights with your peers creates a more educated and effective team.
Offering to mentor a colleague or student can also deepen the bonds within a team and serve
as a professional growth experience for all.
◦ 4. Maintain a positive attitude
◦ To succeed as a nurse, it’s important to maintain a positive attitude. Patients look to you not
only for excellent care, but also for emotional support.
◦ You will face many challenges on the job, and you won’t do everything perfectly—no one can.
But don’t get weighed down by negative self-talk, as this can take a toll on your mental health
and your ability to best help patients.
◦ 5. Uphold the standard of care
◦ Of course, you must always deliver evidence-based care by keeping your
knowledge and skills up to date. You can help prevent medical errors by
tapping into a wide knowledge base and making sure that any care you deliver
or advice you offer is informed by research.
◦ You can also expand your understanding of your specialty area by 
joining a nursing association or investing in advanced education.
◦ 6. Be accountable and honest
◦ It’s important for those in the nursing profession to maintain their integrity by taking personal
responsibility and holding themselves accountable for any mistakes. Not only should you stay
actively engaged in the care process—you also need to recognize your own limitations and ask
for help when you need it. When you make a mistake, offer solutions for correcting it.
◦ For example, if you realize you’ve made an error on a patient record, it’s important that you
tell the necessary personnel and have it corrected.
◦ To exhibit professionalism in nursing, focus on these skills:
• Conflict resolution. You can help two parties, such as a patient and physician, find a
reasonable and peaceful solution to a disagreement.
• Critical thinking. You make decisions based on evidence and objective analysis. For
example, you offer lifestyle advice to patients—such as changing their diet and exercising
more frequently—based on scientific evidence and not personal opinion.
• Attention to detail. You strictly follow each directive in the nursing care plan
 and keep meticulous, clear notes in the patient record. Double-checking your
work will help you and others avoid mistakes that could affect patient care.
• Adaptability. You are able to alter your approach when the situation calls for
it. For example, when a patient has an infectious disease, you implement
different safety protocols.
• Leadership. You can motivate yourself or a group to work toward achieving a
specific goal. For example, you stay current with the latest research on a
patient health condition, and you share this information with team members.
• Ability to grow. Taking time to work on personal growth can help you better
understand your goals, strengths, and weaknesses. One way to do this is by 
practicing self-discovery.
◦THANK YOU

◦/lcb