Chapter 19: Screening And Referral

The nurse should be sure to invite men older than 50 years in the community because prostate cancer screening is typically recommended for men in this age group. Prostate cancer is more common in older men, and early detection through screening can lead to better outcomes. Therefore, inviting men older than 50 years in the community would be the most appropriate and relevant group to target for the screening event.

The instructor would reply by stating that a sigmoidoscopy is expensive to perform and invasive. This suggests that the cost and invasiveness of the procedure may be prohibitive factors in setting up a sigmoidoscopy for the health screening.

The instructor's first action should be to check the reliability of the blood pressure findings. It is important to ensure that the measurement was taken correctly and accurately before taking any further action. This can be done by rechecking the blood pressure using proper technique and equipment or by consulting with another healthcare professional to confirm the readings. It is essential to rule out any errors or inaccuracies in the measurement before making any decisions regarding treatment or calling for emergency assistance.

Screening tests are referred to as presumptive because they are not definitive in diagnosing a disease. These tests have less than 100% accuracy, meaning there is a possibility of false-positive or false-negative results. Therefore, if the test result is positive, it cannot be assumed with certainty that the disease is present. Referral for further tests is necessary to confirm the diagnosis and rule out any potential errors or uncertainties in the screening test results.

The correct answer is to explain the blood glucose reading to the woman and ask whether she has a primary care provider. This is the most appropriate action for the nurse to take because a blood glucose reading of 320 mg/dL is significantly high and indicates hyperglycemia. The nurse should inform the woman about the reading and its implications, as well as inquire about her primary care provider to ensure she receives appropriate follow-up care and treatment.

The nurse is attempting to perform a case finding by taking the blood pressure readings of all the adults and children in the apartment. Case finding involves identifying individuals who may have a particular health condition or risk factor, in this case, high blood pressure. By assessing the blood pressure of all family members, the nurse can identify any potential cases and provide appropriate care or referral for further evaluation or treatment. This approach allows for early detection and intervention, promoting better health outcomes for the family.

The given answer, "Inexpensive and easy to perform," is the most appropriate choice because it addresses the criteria for a screening test. The test should be affordable and not require excessive resources or equipment, making it accessible to a larger population. Additionally, it should be easy to perform, ensuring that it can be administered quickly and efficiently. While accuracy, administration in a quiet area, and effectiveness with different age groups are important considerations, they are not explicitly mentioned as requirements for a screening test in the given question.

The nurse would call the health fair a "Multiphasic screening" because it involves several screenings being given simultaneously. Multiphasic screening refers to a comprehensive health screening that includes various tests and assessments to identify potential health issues in a population. This term accurately describes the nature of the health fair in the inner-city church, where multiple screenings are being offered to a large number of attendees.

The most likely response by the nurse would be that the church was chosen as the site for the health fair because it is accessible to most residents of the community, it is large and has several restrooms, and it is centrally located.

The relationship between sensitivity and specificity is inverse. Sensitivity refers to the ability of a test to correctly identify individuals with a particular condition, while specificity refers to the ability of a test to correctly identify individuals without the condition. When sensitivity increases, it means that the test is better at correctly identifying true positives, but this may also lead to an increase in false positives, which lowers the specificity. Therefore, as sensitivity increases, specificity tends to decrease.

Smoking is known to be the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. It is responsible for numerous health issues such as lung cancer, heart disease, and respiratory diseases. The harmful chemicals present in cigarettes can cause severe damage to the body over time. Quitting smoking is essential to reduce the risk of these health problems and improve overall well-being.

Sensitivity is the ability of a screening test to accurately identify persons who have the disease. It measures the proportion of individuals with the disease who are correctly identified as positive by the test. A high sensitivity indicates that the test has a low rate of false negatives, meaning it correctly detects most individuals who have the disease. Therefore, sensitivity is crucial in identifying individuals who need further diagnostic testing or treatment for the disease.

Specificity is the ability of a screening test to accurately identify persons who do not have the disease. In other words, a screening test with high specificity will correctly identify individuals who are disease-free and exclude them from further follow-up or unnecessary interventions. This is important to minimize false-positive results and ensure that only individuals who truly have the disease receive further diagnostic tests or treatments.

The positive results on a screening test indicate that there is a possibility of the client having the disease. However, further testing and follow-up are required to confirm the diagnosis and determine the appropriate course of treatment.

Validity refers to the extent to which a test measures what it is intended to measure. In this context, the question is asking about administering a test for screening purposes. The validity of the test would determine whether it accurately identifies individuals who possess the desired qualities or characteristics being screened for. Therefore, the answer "Validity" is appropriate as it relates directly to the accuracy and effectiveness of the test in achieving its intended purpose.

A rise in the incidence and prevalence of hypertension would help document the importance of a health screening to the neighborhood because it suggests that there is a high number of individuals in the community who have developed hypertension. This indicates a need for health screenings to identify and address the condition early on, potentially preventing further complications and improving overall community health.

The best response from the community/public health nurse would be to inform the community member that the health department would offer hypertension screenings at the community center when the community hospital stops offering them. This response indicates that the screenings are currently being provided by the hospital and suggests that the health department will step in once the hospital ceases to offer the service.

Health screening is considered a secondary level of prevention because it identifies patients who may need intervention. This means that through screening, individuals who are at risk for certain diseases or conditions can be identified early on, allowing for timely interventions to prevent or manage the progression of the disease. By identifying patients who may need intervention, health screening plays a crucial role in preventing the development of more serious health issues and promoting overall well-being.

Participants attending a health fair need to understand that a screening program should not replace regular health care supervision from a healthcare provider. This means that even if they receive negative test results at the health fair, they may still have a disease or condition that was not detected. It is important for participants to continue seeking ongoing medical care and attend future health fairs to ensure their overall health and well-being. Additionally, there may be other diseases or conditions that the health fair did not screen for, so participants should remain vigilant and proactive about their health.

In the process evaluation of a mental health screening program, it is important to determine the number of people who attended and were screened. This information is crucial in assessing the reach and effectiveness of the program. By knowing the number of individuals who participated in the screening, the nurse can evaluate the program's success in terms of engagement and accessibility. This data can also help identify any barriers or gaps in reaching the target population.