Friday, 22 February 2019
Poverty impacts every aspect of life; those interacting with the poor often do not have an understanding of the daily difficulties that are experienced, perpetuating the poverty cycle. Poverty in America is one of the greatest social and public health issues of the 21st century; it has a major impact on every aspect of life and has major implications for those interacting with people who are struggling. Health disparities, are extremely prevalent; they are disproportionately likely to suffer from overall poor health and chronic health problems, including cardiovascular disease, obesity, metabolic syndrome and mental health issues. Those living in poverty may not have the means to improve their health status; many low-income families are uninsured or are unable to afford doctors’ visits and prescriptions even with government aid. Additionally, those living in poverty are less likely to engage in healthy lifestyles, including adequate nutrition and physical activity. Professionals across disciplines often work with an uninformed/unexperienced mind; there is very limited understanding of life in poverty, often filled with misconceptions and stereotypes. However, through greater awareness and understanding of these hardships, professionals across many disciplines can work towards reducing these barriers and helping poor Americans improve their health status. The secondary education sector is an optimal place to reach the upcoming generation of professionals as they are being molded to better serve their population through their chosen field. Simulation as an educational tool is a valuable tool, staged social interaction can be used to improve conceptual clarity about real-life situations and circumstances. Simulation based learning is used across the medical field and has broad applications including improving knowledge, confidence, competence, and critical thinking in any discipline. Introducing poverty to nursing students through a simulation experience has the ability to improve knowledge and attitudes, and influence the way they perform in the future.