NURS-FPX6011 Assessment 2: Evidence-Based Population Health Improvement Plan

Formatted Assessment Content

NURS-FPX 6011: Assessment 2

Community Data Evaluation

Diabetes is a major health issue in the community. According to the CDC (2026), 40.1 million people are estimated to have diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes in the United States as per 2023 reports. This data amounts to 12% of the U.S. population (CDC, 2026). Out of this population, 2.1 million people have type 1 diabetes, which includes 1.8 million adults, aged 20 years and above, while children and adolescents aged below 20 years account for 314, 000 persons with type 1 diabetes (CDC, 2026). However, type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent, affecting 1 in every 8 Americans in the country, accounting for over 90% of diabetic cases (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024).

Environmental factors like the presence and high intake of processed foods, unhealthy fats, and sugary beverages due to the absence or limited nutritious food contribute to type diabetes (Dendup et al., 2018). The other environmental factor is a lack of safe and accessible places for physical activities, like parks, sidewalks, or recreational facilities, which encourages inactivity (Dendup et al., 2018). The sources of the data are reliable and valid since they have been published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is responsible for maintaining, recording, and analyzing disease trends of all types of diseases, including communicable diseases and diseases resulting from lifestyle, occupational, and environmental causes.

Meeting Community Needs

Lack of places for physical activities, presence of fast food joints, and availability of processed food, as well as limited access to nutritious foods, are some of the challenges existing in the community that have contributed to the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes.

Hence, the interventions that will meet the community's needs include dietary changes, such as reducing the consumption of sugary drinks, processed foods, and high-calorie foods. In addition, the community should be encouraged to increase their physical activities by taking advantage of the walkways to engage in moderate-intensity aerobic exercises like jogging, walking, cycling, and running. In addition, the populations should manage their weight through fasting and reducing the intake of carbohydrates.

Some cultures believe that diabetes is linked to witchcraft or punishment, making them rely on traditional or spiritual interventions, which makes it difficult to adapt to the plan. In addition, other communities believe that diabetes can be cured through herbal remedies, leading to resistance against the proposed plan. Additionally, some cultures value certain diets like white rice and cassava that have high carbohydrates, hence they may be reluctant to change their diet to reduce the intake of carbohydrates. Thus, there is a need to address these barriers, addressing the beliefs and misconceptions surrounding diabetes and dieting, for effective implementation of the plan. Reduced weight, increased physical activity, and reduced intake of fast and processed foods will be used as criteria to evaluate the achievement of the plan's outcomes for the population.

Measuring Outcomes

The proposed criteria for measuring the success of the plan include reduced weight, increased physical activity, and reduced intake of fast and processed foods. These proposed criteria are appropriate and useful measures of success because type 2 diabetes is linked to these issues. Thus, progress in these criteria is evidence of lifestyle change, which is critical in the management of the disease. As Chacko & Signore (2020) indicate, different evidence-based lifestyle habits that focus on composition, timing, and sequence of meals on pre-and post-meal exercises are critical in improving diabetes management. For example, this study notes that eating less carbohydrates and balanced meals are essential in the management of diabetes (Chacko & Signore, 2020).

Communication Plan

Some of the community stakeholders that are relevant to the type 2 diabetes improvement plan include caregivers to help in the management of the disease, adjustments to diet, and emotional support. In addition, dietitians would be helpful in advising on matters of diet, while coaches would guide the population in the exercises to ensure they are engaging in the right activities and in the appropriate approach (Short et al., 2025). Moreover, community leaders would help in allocating a field or place where the population can engage in physical activities. The communication strategy would entail the use of a WhatsApp group where all the members or relatives will be added. This approach would ensure that any information shared gets to the right audience without any room for distortion. However, in case of personal information pertaining to an individual person, the information will be directed to their individual WhatsApp group or directly engage the person in case they cannot access the message. Zoom meetings can be organized with the target audience or physical engagements. Moreover, interpreters will be used in case of a language barrier to ensure the target audience gets the intended message clearly.

Evidence

Evidence and technology resources are valuable in the diabetic improvement plan, as they expose the population to the best practices they should engage in for effective management of type 2 diabetes (ElSayed et al., 2023). In addition, the evidence encourages the population to adhere to the plan, as the available evidence shows them that there is hope of managing their condition if they follow the measures that have already been found to be effective. Also, the technology resources are critical in a health improvement plan, as they can be used to demonstrate to the populations how to carry out the interventions included, such as the physical activities. As such, each piece of evidence is appropriate and informs the goals of improving the health of the community, by enlightening them on why they should engage in interventions pointed out and the benefits they will get, encouraging them to follow the plan.

References

CDC. (Jan. 21, 2026). National diabetes statistics report. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/php/data-research/index.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024, May 15). Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/about/about-type-2-diabetes.html

Chacko, E., & Signore, C. (2020). Five Evidence-Based Lifestyle Habits People with Diabetes Can Use. Clinical diabetes: a publication of the American Diabetes Association, 38(3), 273–284. https://doi.org/10.2337/cd19-0078

Dendup, T., Feng, X., Clingan, S., & Astell-Burt, T. (2018). Environmental Risk Factors for Developing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review. International journal of environmental research and public health, 15(1), 78. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15010078

ElSayed, N. A., Aleppo, G., Aroda, V. R., Bannuru, R. R., Brown, F. M., Bruemmer, D., ... & American Diabetes Association. (2023). 8. Obesity and weight management for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes: standards of care in diabetes—2023. Diabetes care, 46(Supplement_1), S128-S139.https://doi.org/10.2337/dc23-S008

Short, E., Akers, L., Callahan, E. A., Allen, C. C., Crespo-Bellido, M., Deuman, K., ... & Steeves, E. A. (2025). The role of registered dietitian nutritionists within Food Is Medicine: Current and future opportunities. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 125(8), 1075-1084. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jand.2025.03.004