Write a letter to the editor of a scholarly journal. The length and format of the letter is dictated by your choice of journal.

RUBRIC

Competency 1: Design evidence-based advanced nursing care for achieving high-quality population outcomes.
Evaluate the current state of the quality of care and outcomes for a specific issue in a target population.
Justify why a developed policy will be vital in improving the quality of care and outcomes for a specific issue in a target population.
Competency 2: Evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of interprofessional interventions in achieving desired population health outcomes.
Analyze the ways in which interprofessional aspects of a developed policy will support efficient and effective achievement of desired outcomes for the target population.
Competency 3: Analyze population health outcomes in terms of their implications for health policy advocacy.
Analyze how the current state of the quality of care and outcomes for a specific issue in a target population necessitates health policy development and advocacy.
Advocate for policy development in other care settings with regard to a specific issue in a target population.
Competency 4: Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, in an appropriate form and style, consistent with organizational, professional, and scholarly standards.
Communicate in a professional and persuasive manner, writing content clearly and logically with correct use of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
Integrate relevant sources to support assertions, correctly formatting citations and referenc

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Population Health Policy Advocacy

Kyla Hoag

NURS-FPX6026: Biopsychosocial Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice

Capella University

Kathryn Sheppard

December 10, 2022

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Population Health Policy Advocacy

Current State of Quality of Care for the Homeless Population

I am writing to address the negative correlation between chronic pain and drug addiction

among the homeless population. The rates of opioid abuse and addiction among the homeless

population are much higher than the public population. The presence of chronic pain in

combination with the stressors of being homeless is likely to lead to opioid misuse or addiction.

“Chronic pain is thought to be common among homeless people, in part due to frequent injuries

and the high prevalence of concurrent health conditions” (Hwang et. al., 2011, p. 1). The

homeless population often self-medicates with street drugs, and they use substances to numb the

pain and stressors that comes with living on the street. Being homeless also causes a lack of

stability, smaller support networks, and they typically do not have easy access to traditional

recovery programs, detox centers, and rehab programs.

The Necessity of a Systematic Change

It is crucial to look for a solution that will allow the homeless population to effectively

manage their chronic pain and mental health issues, and to get them most importantly into a safe

environment, where they do not have access to substances to continue feeding their addiction.

For some patients dealing with chronic pain, over the counter pain relievers and other methods

are ineffective, therefore, they are prescribed opioid medications. For patients who are prescribed

opioids for chronic pain, there needs to be screening tools and other precautions put in place by

the doctor’s office to prevent possible substance abuse. However, for some patients, prescribing

opioids for their chronic pain may be too unsafe and other options should be considered. By

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incorporating a multidisciplinary approach to pain management, patients might be able to find

adequate pain relief without the harmful risks of opioids.

Improving the Quality of Care in the Homeless Population

The proposed policy I will be discussing is an interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation

program. The interdisciplinary approach to institutional and community problems occurs when

members of different disciplines work inter-dependently (as opposed to the term “multi-

disciplinary,” which describes members of different disciplines who function independently”

(Hamel, 2001, p. 58). An interdisciplinary program is necessary for this population because they

face a variety of issues that make traditional drug rehabilitation programs less efficient. An

interdisciplinary program addresses the contributors to chronic pain which include behavioral,

psychological, and physical aspects. “An individual’s underlying biological, psychological,

cognitive, and social characteristics interact in a complex way and in combination with both the

situation and the environment, producing the individual’s pain experience” (Eucker et. al., 2022,

p. 2).

“To effectively serve the homeless population, rehab programs must do at least three

things: provide services that address the needs for employment, income, and housing; offer

access to affordable interventions; and provide long-term care, treatment, and support” (Smith,

2020). The most effective rehab programs for the homeless population understand that substance

abuse cannot be managed without addressing the needs of the person as a whole. An

interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program can help these patients lessen drug use, increase

psychological functioning, promote healthy behaviors, and have a safe place to call home,

temporarily.

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Interprofessional Aspects of the Policy

Effective rehab programs for the homeless population should provide patient-centered

services that are multidisciplinary, meaning competent enough to treat various conditions and

coordinate further services. Chronic pain is important to get under control, but most importantly,

the homeless population’s primary concern that needs to be addressed is housing. Once basic

needs are met, problems with addicted can be focused on. An interprofessional team should be

established to help develop this type of patient’s plan of care. Offering health care services to the

homeless community requires several health care authorities to meet the unpredictable needs of

the community. This team should include: a primary care provider, a pain specialist, nurses, a

mental health professional such as a therapist or psychiatrist, and social services.

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References

Eucker, Knisely, M. R., & Simon, C. (2022). Nonopioid Treatments for Chronic Pain—

Integrating Multimodal Biopsychosocial Approaches to Pain Management. JAMA

Network Open., 5(6), e2216482–e2216482.

https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.16482

Hwang S., Wilkins E., Chambers C., Estrabillo E., Berends J., MacDonald A. (2011). Chronic

pain among homeless persons: Characteristics, treatment, and barriers to management.

BMC Fam Pract. 12(73), 2-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2296-12-73\

Smith, Johnelle. (2020). Drug And alcohol rehab programs for homeless individuals. Addiction

Resources. Retrieved from

https://www.addictionresource.net/treatment/inpatient/homeless-

individuals/#homelessness-and-addiction

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Journal Guidelines

The journal I chose to use for this assignment is the Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental

Health Services. The letter must be submitted within 12 months of the article’s

publication to be considered for possible publication and letters should be longer than

500 words. References should be kept to a maximum of three.

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Running head: LETTER TO THE EDITOR 1

Letter to the Editor: Population Health Policy Advocacy

Learner’s Name

Capella University

Biopsychosocial Concepts for Advanced Nursing Practice II

Letter to the Editor: Population Health Policy Advocacy

November, 2018

LETTER TO THE EDITOR 2

Letter to the Editor: Population Health Policy Advocacy

Current State of Quality of Care for Veterans Affected by Opioid Addiction

Veterans have been affected by the opioid crisis disproportionately. The rates of opioid

abuse and misuse among veterans are higher than among civilians. Veterans commonly present

with post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse disorder. The presence of these

behavioral issues in combination with chronic pain is likely to lead to misuse. Individuals may

attempt to soothe emotional or psychological pain with opioids, incorrectly associating the

physical relief or euphoria that opioids provide with psychological relief (Sullivan & Howe,

2013).

The Necessity of Health Policy Development for Opioid Addiction

Currently, there are policies that deal with maximum dosages and verifying dosage refills

through state prescription drug monitoring programs. However, the policy currently being

proposed will address the lack of awareness about opioids and opioid addiction. Childers and

Arnold even found that many clinicians do not believe they possess the knowledge or the skills

required to treat patients with addiction (as cited in Snow & Wynn, 2018).

Improving the Quality of Care in Treating Patients with Opioid Addiction

By adopting policy that requires making active efforts toward raising awareness about the

risks associated with opioids, health care organizations would empower individuals with

knowledge that could potentially help them and those close to them. Misconceptions about

opioid use will be clarified if the public is well-informed. Forming a committee composed of

pain management specialists, psychiatrists, and senior nurses to oversee the organization of such

programs would ensure that the programs are organized effectively and regularly. At these

programs, trained physicians would talk about the risks associated with opioid use and misuse

LETTER TO THE EDITOR 3

and nurses would describe the symptoms of an overdose and demonstrate correct procedure in

such situations.

Further, it is important to monitor patients who have been prescribed long-term opioid

treatment to ensure that they are not abusing their medication or allowing for it to be diverted or

misused. To address this, the policy mandates that individuals who have been prescribed long-

term opioids regularly meet with a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist would be required to update the

attending physician if any potential concerns arose.

How the Policy will Support Achievement of Desired Outcomes

The proposed policy would require significant expenditure to effectively implement

programs to raise awareness and educate individuals. Further, it could also be argued that the

expenses incurred on the patients’ side would be significant. These arguments raise important

concerns on the practical application of the policy being suggested; however, these costs could

potentially benefit the patients’ overall well-being as well as result in significant positive social

change. Studies by Rydell and Everingham and the National Institute on Drug Abuse indicate

that every dollar spent toward the prevention of drug abuse and treatment would result in

significant savings at the national level (as cited in Crowley, Kirshner, Dunn, & Bornstein,

2017).

Policy Development Advocacy

This policy would provide individuals with knowledge that can be applied outside of the

hospital setting. At home or among friends, these individuals could save lives because they

recognize potentially harmful patterns of behavior and are aware of how to proceed in such

contexts. Further, such policy would build trust and garner more positive change in time.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR 4

References

Crowley, R., Kirschner, N., Dunn, A. S., & Bornstein, S. S. (2017). Health and public policy to

facilitate effective prevention and treatment of substance use disorders involving illicit

and prescription drugs: An American College of Physicians position paper. Annals of

Internal Medicine, 166(10), 733–736. http://dx.doi.org/10.7326/M16-2953

Snow, R., & Wynn, S. T. (2018). Managing opioid use disorder and co-occurring posttraumatic

stress disorder among veterans. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health

Services, 56(6), 36–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/02793695-20180212-03

Sullivan, M. D., & Howe, C. Q. (2013). Opioid therapy for chronic pain in the US: Promises and

perils. Pain, 154(Suppl 1), S94–100. Retrieved from

https://ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4204477/

LETTER TO THE EDITOR 5

Appendix

Journal Guidelines

Journal Name: Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services

Submission Guidelines for Letters to the Editor: Letters to the Editor are correspondence

regarding articles previously published in the Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental

Health Services or other topics relevant to practicing psychiatric-mental health nurses. If the

letter is regarding a previously published article, it must be submitted within 12 months of the

article’s publication to be considered for possible publication, and the author of that article will

be given the opportunity to respond. Letters should be no longer than 500 words. References are

not necessary, but if included, should be kept to a maximum of three. All letters must contain a

clear message or point for readers. Letters may be edited for clarity or length, and letter authors

must disclose any competing or conflicting interests, if applicable. All letters are published at the

Editor’s discretion. Letters should be submitted by email to the editorial office.

Write a letter to the editor of a scholarly journal. The length and format of the letter is dictated by your choice of journal.

Introduction

Note: Each assessment in this course builds on the work you completed in the previous assessment. Therefore, you must complete the assessments in this course in the order in which they are presented.

Advocating for new policies is an important aspect of the master’s-prepared nurse. For new policies to be compelling they need to be supported by evidence. Supporting data can be used to illustrate why new policies and interventions are needed to help address a specific health issue. Compelling data can help sway the stakeholders and gain support for your policy.

Another aspect of advocacy is disseminating new policies and interventions outside of the immediate care environment. This can be done by reaching out to professional organizations as well as academic and professional journals. A letter to the editor is one strategy for disseminating information to a wider audience and to potentially enlist support throughout the wider professional community.

Professional Context

Nurses have the opportunity to use their skills and develop programs to keep individuals and communities healthy. Health is complex, however, and the nurse needs to possess strong advocacy skills to successfully support a cause or interest. The American Nurses Association’s (2015) code of ethics describes the responsibility of a nurse to include working through and with appropriate stakeholders to advocate for the health of people in and out of the work environment. To be an effective advocate, there are several important abilities a nurse must possess, including problem-solving, communication, and influencing others. One way a nurse can advocate to a broader population is through effective letter writing, both to legislators and through the media, such as with editorials and research articles.

Reference

American Nurses Association. (2015).
Code of ethics for nurses with interpretive statements. http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/EthicsStandards/CodeofEthicsforNurses/Code-of-Ethics-For-Nurses.html

Scenario

Throughout this course, you have focused on a specific health issue occurring within a specific population. You researched position papers regarding this health concern, and you developed a health policy proposal to positively impact the health of the affected individuals. It is now time to reach a greater audience regarding your policy proposal.

You are going to write a letter to the editor of a peer-reviewed nursing journal. Choose from one of the journals in the

Ultimate List of Nursing Journals

and go to the journal’s Web site to find out the requirements for submitting an editorial, such as format requirements, topics, and word counts. Make sure you select a nursing journal that covers the topic about which you are going to write. If you want to use another journal that is not on this list, please make sure the journal does address health care, because this is the purpose of the assessment.

Instructions

For this assessment, you will write a letter to the editor of a scholarly journal. Your goal is to be informative about the policy that you developed for your previous Biopsychosocial Population Health Policy Proposal assessment, while also being persuasive about the need for and benefit of similar policies in other health care settings. The bullet points below correspond to the grading criteria in the scoring guide. Be sure that your assessment submission addresses all of them. You may also want to read the Letter to the Editor: Population Health Policy Advocacy Scoring Guide and

Guiding Questions: Letter to the Editor: Population Health Policy Advocacy [DOC]

to better understand how each grading criterion will be assessed.

· Evaluate the current state of the quality of care and outcomes for a specific issue in a target population.

· Look back to the data or scenario you used in your previous assessment to address this criterion.

· Analyze how the current state of the quality of care and outcomes for a specific issue in a target population necessitates health policy development and advocacy.

· Justify why the developed policy will be vital in improving the quality of care and outcomes for a specific issue in a target population.

· Advocate for policy development in other care settings with regard to a specific issue in a target population.

· Analyze the ways in which interprofessional aspects of the policy will support efficient and effective achievement of desired outcomes for the target population.

· Communicate in a professional and persuasive manner, writing content clearly and logically with correct use of grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

· Integrate relevant sources to support assertions, correctly formatting citations and references using APA style (or the journal’s preferred style).

Example assessment: You may use the

Assessment 3 Example [PDF]

to give you an idea of what a Proficient or higher rating on the scoring guide would look like.

Submission Requirements

The submission requirements for your editorial will depend on the journal you choose. To find out the requirements, go to the journal’s Web site. There should be a section regarding submissions that will address how to format letters to the editor, and whether there is a word count limit (there usually is a limit).

· If the journal does not have submission guidelines for the number of resources required, use 3–5 sources.

· To be sure that your faculty knows the submission and formatting requirements for your letter, include the journal’s guidelines on a separate page at the end of the document you submit for this assessment.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:

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