Policy Brief

Policy Brief

A health policy brief is an approach employed by medical professionals to address a particular issue by developing and evaluating alternative policies to the problem. (Schober, 2017). Health policy briefs also provide nurses with practical recommendations to determine the best options to address specific health issues. Health policy briefs support evidence-based policy formulation, which helps improve the lives and health of individuals in a particular state. Robert Wood Johnson has been a critical advocate in America’s health sector; he works with organizations to address critical health issues. Some health policy briefs realized with support from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have been transformational.

For this assignment, the precarious work schedules and population health policy brief strikes my attention.  The health policy briefs seek to address the underlying issues that affect the American citizens to access improved medical care, not only for their children but for themselves as well. Statistics show that most individuals have fluctuating and inconsistent working hours that substantially limit their ability to seek medical care. Securing work has become a significant challenge prompting the workers to assume their medical health due to irregular working hours.

Employees in the service industries in America are victims of precarious work schedules due to the shift of the U.S economy. Moreover, workers are paid hourly, thereby contributing further irregular work schedules and unpredictable wages. As a result, workers are not able to prioritize their families or themselves as their main goal is to earn a decent income. Moreover, some of the workers work at odd hours, especially on weekends and late hours hence predisposing them to health problems such as insomnia and stress. The health sector has conducted a case study to determine the effects of precarious work schedules on workers and families.

The research findings showed that a good number of the sampled workers reported that their working hours fluctuated hence affecting schedule stability. The researchers have gone ahead and developed research questions to address the gaps resulting from workers not being able to give concise answers, especially in regards to unpredictable work schedules. According to the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY) conducted in 2014, a significant number of workers reported receiving their work schedules at a much later date or last minute. Moreover, the survey revealed that retail and fast food employees topped the list in precarious works schedules.

Furthermore, irregular work schedules affect workers with low socioeconomic status, especially women and people of color (Blacks and Hispanics) compared to the European workers. Schedule instability, therefore, contributes further to health differences in regards to sex, social status, and race. The health policy brief, therefore, strives to address the health disparities that motivate precarious work schedules by employers. The policy brief also provides facts collected primarily from the workers and secondary data sources hence proving reliable for future research (Lavis & Fretheim, 2009).

The precarious work schedule and population policy brief analyzed mental health as a health outcome following unstable work schedules. From the research findings, workers with unpredictable working hours were more susceptible to psychological problems like anxiety compared to those with solid plans. Moreover, workers balancing two or more jobs reported that if their employers provided steady work schedules, the likelihood of mental illness would remain a non-issue. From the brief, mental health outcomes would eventually affect the employee’s physical health resulting in severe medical consequences if unaddressed.

The policy brief also addresses the negative consequences of precarious work schedules on the immediate members of the family. The workers fend not only for themselves but for their children who depend on them. The 2016/2017 American Community Survey asserts that a significant number of children have guardians working in the service industry (retail and food). The precarious schedules, therefore, affect the relationship between the parent and child. When the parents (mothers) work for longer hours or at odd hours, they are not able to bond regularly with their children, which further affects their growth and development. The inconsistent work schedules moreover, result in parents opting for informal child-care arrangements affecting parental child-care.

Lastly, the policy brief provides several policies and recommendations to address the issue of unpredictable job schedules. One particular system suggested is the employer’s accountability and transparency in communicating with the employees’ accommodative work schedules. Several American states have taken up the challenge to regulate job schedules by ensuring workers receive advance notice of their programs at least two weeks before. The issue of last-minute changes to work schedules requires employers to offer extra pay to the workers for the inconvenience caused. As a recommendation, policymakers and researcher should further their studies on other vital variables related to precarious work schedules such as race and socioeconomic status.

To advocate for policy formulation and implementation, nurses should critically evaluate the health issues by looking at the facts presented. Evidence-based policymaking is useful as it not only relies on facts but also recommends the appropriate action to take (Lavis et al., 2009). The best way to advocate for the implementation of the precarious work schedule policy brief would be to gather enough support from fellow nurses and other medical professionals. Secondly, educating other nurses on the significance of the policy brief and its implications.

Lastly, nurses can support organizations advocating for policy formulation and support the implementation of the policy brief. These organizations can either be community-based non-governmental organizations, international organizations such as WHO or institutional-based organizations (World Health Organization, 2006). To advocate against a particular policy implementation, nurses can carry out in-depth research on the proposed policy and identify the negative implications it will present. Moreover, nurses can gather support from medical stakeholders and fellow workmates to vote against the plan; in the event of low relief, nurses can educate and inform the members on the disadvantages of passing the policy.

In conclusion, health policies play a critical role in improving the health and well-being of patients and citizens. Nursing policy briefs can either be objective or advocating in nature; advocacy policy briefs allow nurses to support policy formulation and implementation.  Nursing professionals, advocating for policy changes is essential as it gives nurses a platform to call for improved health standards such as access to quality and affordable medical care.

References

Lavis, J. N., Permanand, G., Oxman, A. D., Lewin, S., & Fretheim, A. (2009). Support Tools for evidence-informed health Policymaking (STP) 13: Preparing and using policy briefs to support evidence-informed policymaking. Health Research Policy and Systems, 7(S1), S13.

Schober, M. (2017). Theories of Social and Healthcare Policy. In Strategic Planning for Advanced Nursing Practice (pp. 35-47). Springer, Cham.

World Health Organization. (2006). Working together for health: the World health report 2006: policy briefs.