The concepts of health and wellbeing encompasses a state of complete physical, mental and
social wellbeing and includes aspects such as disease prevention that have allowed
individuals and communities’ health to be maintained and advocated. The nurse’s role is to
improve upon the health and wellbeing of clients through evidence-based practice, while
encouraging individuals to receive more preventative services such as counselling so they do
not develop any risk of diseases or other morbidities (Witmer, & Sweeney, 1992). Health and
wellbeing are related to disease prevention because it aims to reduce any risk of health
problems and encourages individuals to choose healthier lifestyles. This is particularly
relevant to nursing practice because it promotes healthier life choices and provides early
treatment to those who need it, especially in a primary healthcare setting. The aim of this
assignment is to relate a health concept, disease prevention, to miss. G’s wellness check and
incorporate a model of health, Te Whare Tapa Wha. Further in the assignment, the role of a
nurse and the importance of disease prevention in nursing practice will be described and
backed up with references. All of which will relate back to the wellness check.
Nurses utilize a holistic approach in healthcare when providing information to clients
(Clendon & Munns, 2018). A holistic approach encompasses physical, mental, emotional and
spiritual aspects of health and wellbeing, and encourages self-care. Because of this and due
to Isobel’s current health, and because she is half Maori, I have included the Te Whare Tapa
Wha, a holistic Maori model of health. The model compares health to the four walls of a
marae (house), each representing an aspect of health that must be cared for and
maintained in order to maintain good health and wellbeing (Ministry of health, 2017). Each
wall represents an aspect that includes physical (Taha Tinana), spiritual (Taha Wairua),
social/family (Taha Whanau) and mental/emotional (Taha hinengaro) wellbeing (Ministry of
health, 2017). Physical, mental and spiritual aspects of wellbeing are likely to improve upon
Isobel’s current health, given the right information is provided. Despite the fact that spiritual
wellbeing is not included in the wellness check, it still plays a crucial role in health and
wellbeing. In Maori health, physical (Taha Tinana) and mental (Taha Hinengaro) wellbeing
encourages physical growth and development, and the capacity to communicate thoughts,
feeling and emotions, as these are integral components of the body and mind (Ministry of
health, 2017). In the wellness check, certain components of physical and mental wellbeing,
such as poor eating habits, weight gain and injuries, have been detrimental to Miss.G’s
health, putting her at potential risk of future health problems, which will likely affect her
ability to dance in the future, as well as maintain her occupation. These issues affect health
promotion and disease prevention and the ability to educate individuals to choose healthier
behaviors. From this, a nurse’s ability to deliver preventative methods and education maybe
compromised by the individual’s willingness to undertake a healthier lifestyle and reduce
further risk, especially when they are used to a certain lifestyle. Therefore, it is important
for nurses to utilize a holistic approach in order to provide and maintain a client’s health and
wellbeing.
The concept of disease prevention is a key component of health promotion and health
literacy as the concepts aim to educate and focus on keeping people healthy. The aim of
disease prevention is to engage and empower the individuals within the community to
choose healthier and preventative lifestyles to reduce any risk of developing diseases such
as heart problems, diabetes, obesity or other morbidities (Rural health and information,
, 2009). Wellness relates to disease prevention as it is addresses certain attitudes and active
decisions of particular individuals, which is a significant component affecting health and
wellbeing. Wellness is also affected by social determinants of health such as economic,
social, cultural and political conditions in which people are born, grow and live, which can
influence modifiable risk factors such as poor eating habits and lack and physical activity
(Rural health and information, 2009). Disease prevention has three different levels, primary,
secondary and tertiary. Secondary prevention links to the wellness check because it aims to
detect health problems early by identifying any risks or prevent diseases from developing. A
health practitioner will perform sets of assessments such as blood pressure, cholesterol
levels, body mass index and fitness assessments to identify whether a client is at risk or they
will modify the individuals’ lifestyle and encourage personal strategies to prevent further
damage (Lazarou & Koutu, 2010). This definition Is used in the assessment. Obesity
prevention is a very critical component of health as it contributes to many other health
problems, especially in New Zealand because New Zealand has the third highest obesity rate
in the world and continues to grow and becomes significantly more difficult to treat as an
individual gets older (Ministry of health, 2019). Obesity rates have proven to be very
common In Maori and Pacifica than other ethnicities in New Zealand, and can immensely
reduce their life expectancy rate, especially in Maori (Theodore, McLeon, & TeMorenga,
2015). Relating to the wellness check, this puts Miss.G’s health at a considerable
disadvantage, as she is half Maori with poor eating habits and poor amounts of physical
activity, and she has a family history of obesity. There have been studies showing that
individuals with a family history of obesity increases their chance of being obese by 25%
(Theodore, McLeon, & TeMorenga, 2015). Obesity is a common factor in many long-term
conditions such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, reproductive abilities and can
also cause potential problems in mental health (Theodore, McLean, & TeMorenga. 2015).
Due to this, it is clear that obesity is a current benefactor contributing to poor individual and
whanau health and affects their ability to care for family. Therefore, preventing obesity,
especially in Maori and Pacifica, would achieve much more in the way of advancing health
aspirations (Phillips, Wood, & Kinnersley, 2013).
Nurses play a crucial role in supporting and preventing health problems in individuals such
as Miss.G and potentially other extended family members, who could be risk at of health
problems such as obesity and other morbidities. A significant aspect contributing to the high
rates of obesity is the barrier to physical activity and nutrition, especially in younger
generations, who are more at risk (Lazarou & Koutu, 2010). Other potential barriers can
include ignorance of potential health problems that can occur in the future, which would
affect a nurse, or other healthcare professional’s ability to provide appropriate and
beneficial care to an individual (Phillips, Wood, & Kinnersley, 2013). Nurses are able
contribute to increasing healthier outcomes when they take into account doing further
research when treating clients, such as a wellness check. Nurses who treat clients that are at
risk of morbidities such as obesity, can use a person-centered approach and immense
encouragement and education to motivate the individual to choose healthier lifestyle
choices. Nurses are able to take more approaches in supporting clients further by using
specific health strategies such as He Korowai Oranga pathway to Maori health and wellbeing
(Ministry of health, 2016). Examples can include nurses recommending regular checkups
and perform assessments such as nutritional assessments or physical assessments, as they
are a significant measure in early detection and prevention of health problems. A study has
social wellbeing and includes aspects such as disease prevention that have allowed
individuals and communities’ health to be maintained and advocated. The nurse’s role is to
improve upon the health and wellbeing of clients through evidence-based practice, while
encouraging individuals to receive more preventative services such as counselling so they do
not develop any risk of diseases or other morbidities (Witmer, & Sweeney, 1992). Health and
wellbeing are related to disease prevention because it aims to reduce any risk of health
problems and encourages individuals to choose healthier lifestyles. This is particularly
relevant to nursing practice because it promotes healthier life choices and provides early
treatment to those who need it, especially in a primary healthcare setting. The aim of this
assignment is to relate a health concept, disease prevention, to miss. G’s wellness check and
incorporate a model of health, Te Whare Tapa Wha. Further in the assignment, the role of a
nurse and the importance of disease prevention in nursing practice will be described and
backed up with references. All of which will relate back to the wellness check.
Nurses utilize a holistic approach in healthcare when providing information to clients
(Clendon & Munns, 2018). A holistic approach encompasses physical, mental, emotional and
spiritual aspects of health and wellbeing, and encourages self-care. Because of this and due
to Isobel’s current health, and because she is half Maori, I have included the Te Whare Tapa
Wha, a holistic Maori model of health. The model compares health to the four walls of a
marae (house), each representing an aspect of health that must be cared for and
maintained in order to maintain good health and wellbeing (Ministry of health, 2017). Each
wall represents an aspect that includes physical (Taha Tinana), spiritual (Taha Wairua),
social/family (Taha Whanau) and mental/emotional (Taha hinengaro) wellbeing (Ministry of
health, 2017). Physical, mental and spiritual aspects of wellbeing are likely to improve upon
Isobel’s current health, given the right information is provided. Despite the fact that spiritual
wellbeing is not included in the wellness check, it still plays a crucial role in health and
wellbeing. In Maori health, physical (Taha Tinana) and mental (Taha Hinengaro) wellbeing
encourages physical growth and development, and the capacity to communicate thoughts,
feeling and emotions, as these are integral components of the body and mind (Ministry of
health, 2017). In the wellness check, certain components of physical and mental wellbeing,
such as poor eating habits, weight gain and injuries, have been detrimental to Miss.G’s
health, putting her at potential risk of future health problems, which will likely affect her
ability to dance in the future, as well as maintain her occupation. These issues affect health
promotion and disease prevention and the ability to educate individuals to choose healthier
behaviors. From this, a nurse’s ability to deliver preventative methods and education maybe
compromised by the individual’s willingness to undertake a healthier lifestyle and reduce
further risk, especially when they are used to a certain lifestyle. Therefore, it is important
for nurses to utilize a holistic approach in order to provide and maintain a client’s health and
wellbeing.
The concept of disease prevention is a key component of health promotion and health
literacy as the concepts aim to educate and focus on keeping people healthy. The aim of
disease prevention is to engage and empower the individuals within the community to
choose healthier and preventative lifestyles to reduce any risk of developing diseases such
as heart problems, diabetes, obesity or other morbidities (Rural health and information,
, 2009). Wellness relates to disease prevention as it is addresses certain attitudes and active
decisions of particular individuals, which is a significant component affecting health and
wellbeing. Wellness is also affected by social determinants of health such as economic,
social, cultural and political conditions in which people are born, grow and live, which can
influence modifiable risk factors such as poor eating habits and lack and physical activity
(Rural health and information, 2009). Disease prevention has three different levels, primary,
secondary and tertiary. Secondary prevention links to the wellness check because it aims to
detect health problems early by identifying any risks or prevent diseases from developing. A
health practitioner will perform sets of assessments such as blood pressure, cholesterol
levels, body mass index and fitness assessments to identify whether a client is at risk or they
will modify the individuals’ lifestyle and encourage personal strategies to prevent further
damage (Lazarou & Koutu, 2010). This definition Is used in the assessment. Obesity
prevention is a very critical component of health as it contributes to many other health
problems, especially in New Zealand because New Zealand has the third highest obesity rate
in the world and continues to grow and becomes significantly more difficult to treat as an
individual gets older (Ministry of health, 2019). Obesity rates have proven to be very
common In Maori and Pacifica than other ethnicities in New Zealand, and can immensely
reduce their life expectancy rate, especially in Maori (Theodore, McLeon, & TeMorenga,
2015). Relating to the wellness check, this puts Miss.G’s health at a considerable
disadvantage, as she is half Maori with poor eating habits and poor amounts of physical
activity, and she has a family history of obesity. There have been studies showing that
individuals with a family history of obesity increases their chance of being obese by 25%
(Theodore, McLeon, & TeMorenga, 2015). Obesity is a common factor in many long-term
conditions such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular disease, reproductive abilities and can
also cause potential problems in mental health (Theodore, McLean, & TeMorenga. 2015).
Due to this, it is clear that obesity is a current benefactor contributing to poor individual and
whanau health and affects their ability to care for family. Therefore, preventing obesity,
especially in Maori and Pacifica, would achieve much more in the way of advancing health
aspirations (Phillips, Wood, & Kinnersley, 2013).
Nurses play a crucial role in supporting and preventing health problems in individuals such
as Miss.G and potentially other extended family members, who could be risk at of health
problems such as obesity and other morbidities. A significant aspect contributing to the high
rates of obesity is the barrier to physical activity and nutrition, especially in younger
generations, who are more at risk (Lazarou & Koutu, 2010). Other potential barriers can
include ignorance of potential health problems that can occur in the future, which would
affect a nurse, or other healthcare professional’s ability to provide appropriate and
beneficial care to an individual (Phillips, Wood, & Kinnersley, 2013). Nurses are able
contribute to increasing healthier outcomes when they take into account doing further
research when treating clients, such as a wellness check. Nurses who treat clients that are at
risk of morbidities such as obesity, can use a person-centered approach and immense
encouragement and education to motivate the individual to choose healthier lifestyle
choices. Nurses are able to take more approaches in supporting clients further by using
specific health strategies such as He Korowai Oranga pathway to Maori health and wellbeing
(Ministry of health, 2016). Examples can include nurses recommending regular checkups
and perform assessments such as nutritional assessments or physical assessments, as they
are a significant measure in early detection and prevention of health problems. A study has
