AWM2 TASK 1: ADVOCATING FOR POLICY CHANGE TO IMPROVE HEALTH OUTCOMES IN THE COMMUNITY Advanced Professional Nurse as Advocate

3 changed, that being the prevalence of diabetes within the family history, as a blood relative with diabetes puts you at an increased risk of diagnosis. Social Determinant of Health The prevalence of obesity in the adult community of WV is concerning, with 41% of adults 18 and older reported being obese in the year 2022 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.). This high rate of obesity can directly be related to the state's lack of physical activity, self- reported more than 30 percent of the adult population as being inactive (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022). Current Policy The most current policy plan is the West Virginia Diabetes Action Plan 2020. Within the policy, the state devised a Task Force to combat obesity and diabetes within the state. Through their studies and research, the recommendations for combating diabetes included taxing sugary drinks, increasing insulin availability, expanding broadband, advertising to increase awareness of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, and required coverage for DPP beneficiaries West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resource, 2021). I feel that the policy recommendations are on the right track, yet feel they are not doing enough to fight the increased rate of diabetes in the state of West Virginia. Making the population pay more taxes for sugar drinks will not stop them from consuming sugar-filled drinks, as Kurz and König (2021) noted a small decrease after the implantation of the sugar tax then returns to normal consumption shortly after. Nor will merely advertise a program to get them interested in changing their habits for the good of their health. To address the concern of obesity as it relates to diabetes, the policy is insufficient in getting the population involved in making this change. We need to make more of an effort to get the population more aware of their habits and risks as it pertains to the risk of developing diabetes. As well as we need to get the people of West Virginia actively involved in this change of lifestyle, through encouragement and goal-setting. Policy Proposal A policy to further address the social determinant of health in West Virginia's lack of physical activity is to get the population more involved in increasing their activity for better health. To get the population more interested in their health, it will take robust motivational and volitional elements (Schwarz & Reddy, 2013, p.166). The new policy will be aimed at increasing the knowledge about diabetes and to recommend volitional elements that make their motivation into action. In terms of educating the population, we will have media posts with the risk factors, signs, and symptoms of diabetes. In addition, we must educate them on the effects diabetes has on their health and mortality. In a clinic setting with the help of health professionals, we will welcome all at-risk patients as we form a plan for when, where, and how to complete the activity and accomplish the self-made goals. As Schwarz and Reddy (2013, p. 167) mentioned, the benefits of a pedometer, a step counter, and a little device we often look over as it is all so common in the smartwatch world. In the new policy, we will provide at-risk patients with pedometers. The positive effect of using a pedometer is that the patient gains a sense of objective self-awareness, as they can see the lack of physical activity on their typical day.