Nursing Paper Example on Tooth Decay

/in , , /by

Nursing Paper Example on Tooth Decay

(Nursing Paper Example on Tooth Decay) Tooth decay, also known as dental caries or cavities, is a common oral health issue characterized by the demineralization of tooth enamel due to acids produced by bacterial activity. Affecting both children and adults, tooth decay can lead to pain, infection, and tooth loss if untreated. This disease is largely preventable through proper oral hygiene and dietary habits.

Nursing Paper Example on Tooth Decay

Causes and Risk Factors of Tooth Decay

Tooth decay arises from complex interactions between diet, oral bacteria, and saliva.

  1. Bacterial Activity: The primary bacteria responsible for tooth decay are Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus species. These bacteria ferment dietary sugars, producing acids that weaken and erode the tooth enamel over time (National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research [NIDCR], 2023).
  2. Dietary Sugar Consumption: High-sugar diets contribute significantly to tooth decay. When sugars are consumed frequently, they provide bacteria with a constant source of food, leading to acid production and enamel breakdown.
  3. Poor Oral Hygiene: Inadequate brushing and flossing allow plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, to accumulate on the teeth. Over time, this plaque hardens into tartar, further promoting decay and increasing the risk of gum disease.
  4. Reduced Saliva Production: Saliva plays a crucial role in neutralizing acids and maintaining a healthy pH balance in the mouth. Conditions such as dry mouth, often caused by medications or certain diseases, reduce saliva production, increasing the risk of tooth decay (Mayo Clinic, 2023).
  5. Frequent Snacking: Frequent consumption of sugary snacks and beverages provides oral bacteria with a steady supply of sugars, maintaining acidic conditions that can lead to tooth decay.

Signs and Symptoms of Tooth Decay

Tooth decay develops gradually, with symptoms becoming more noticeable as the disease progresses:

  1. White Spots: Early-stage tooth decay may present as white spots on the enamel, indicating demineralization.
  2. Sensitivity: As decay progresses, the teeth may become sensitive to hot, cold, or sugary foods and beverages due to enamel erosion.
  3. Dark Spots and Visible Holes: Dark spots or holes may appear in the affected tooth if decay is left untreated, indicating advanced damage.
  4. Toothache: Persistent or intermittent pain may occur, especially if decay reaches the tooth’s inner layer (pulp), where nerves and blood vessels are located.
  5. Bad Breath and Unpleasant Taste: As bacterial activity intensifies, it may lead to chronic bad breath or a foul taste in the mouth.

Pathophysiology of Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is a multi-stage process involving the demineralization and breakdown of tooth enamel:

  1. Plaque Formation: Plaque, a biofilm made of bacteria, food particles, and saliva, forms on the tooth surface, especially along the gum line and in crevices. When sugar is consumed, bacteria in the plaque metabolize it, producing lactic acid as a byproduct.
  2. Demineralization of Enamel: The acid produced by bacteria lowers the pH in the mouth, causing the minerals in tooth enamel (calcium and phosphate) to dissolve. This demineralization creates pores in the enamel, leading to the formation of white spots.
  3. Enamel Erosion: If demineralization continues unchecked, the enamel layer erodes, allowing bacteria to penetrate the dentin, a softer layer beneath the enamel. Dentin is more susceptible to acid attacks, so decay progresses rapidly once it reaches this layer.
  4. Pulp Involvement: In advanced stages, bacteria infiltrate the pulp, which contains nerves and blood vessels, leading to inflammation (pulpitis). This stage is often accompanied by severe pain and may require a root canal or tooth extraction to prevent infection spread.

(Nursing Paper Example on Tooth Decay)

Diagnosis of Tooth Decay

Tooth decay is diagnosed through a combination of clinical examination, radiographic imaging, and sometimes additional tests:

  1. Visual Examination: Dentists examine the teeth for visible signs of decay, such as discoloration, pits, and roughness.
  2. Dental Probes: A dental probe may be used to check for soft spots or sticky areas in the enamel that suggest decay.
  3. Dental X-rays: X-rays help detect decay in areas not visible to the naked eye, such as between teeth and below the gum line. This imaging is particularly helpful in diagnosing decay that has reached the dentin.

Treatment and Management of Tooth Decay

Treatment varies based on the stage and severity of decay:

  1. Fluoride Treatments: In early decay, fluoride treatments can help remineralize enamel and prevent further progression. Fluoride strengthens enamel and makes it more resistant to acid attacks (World Health Organization [WHO], 2023).
  2. Fillings: If decay has progressed beyond the enamel but is limited to the dentin, a filling may be used to restore the damaged tooth structure. Dentists remove the decayed material and fill the cavity with composite resin, amalgam, or other materials.
  3. Crowns: For extensive decay that compromises the tooth structure, a crown may be necessary. The decayed portion is removed, and a crown is placed over the tooth to restore its function and appearance.
  4. Root Canal: In cases where decay reaches the pulp, a root canal procedure is performed. This involves removing the infected pulp, cleaning the root canals, and sealing the tooth to prevent reinfection.
  5. Extraction: If the tooth is severely decayed and cannot be saved, extraction may be necessary. This option is generally a last resort.

Prevention of Tooth Decay

Effective preventive strategies can significantly reduce the risk of tooth decay:

  1. Proper Oral Hygiene: Regular brushing with fluoride toothpaste, at least twice daily, and flossing help remove plaque and food particles, reducing the risk of decay.
  2. Dietary Changes: Limiting sugar intake, avoiding frequent snacking, and choosing nutritious foods that support oral health can prevent decay. Foods rich in calcium, such as dairy products, can help strengthen enamel.
  3. Fluoride Use: Fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinses strengthen enamel, making it more resistant to acid attacks. Community water fluoridation also contributes to a reduction in decay rates (American Dental Association [ADA], 2023).
  4. Regular Dental Check-ups: Routine dental exams and professional cleanings help detect early signs of decay and remove tartar buildup, a hardened form of plaque.
  5. Dental Sealants: Sealants are thin coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of back teeth. They prevent food and plaque from accumulating in crevices, offering additional protection against decay, especially in children.

Complications of Tooth Decay

Untreated tooth decay can lead to several complications:

  1. Abscess Formation: If decay reaches the pulp and leads to infection, a dental abscess may form. This abscess can cause severe pain, swelling, and even spread to other areas if left untreated.
  2. Tooth Loss: Extensive decay may weaken the tooth structure to the point where extraction is necessary.
  3. Systemic Infections: In rare cases, bacteria from a dental abscess can enter the bloodstream and cause systemic infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
  4. Malnutrition: Persistent pain from untreated tooth decay may lead to difficulties in chewing and reduced food intake, resulting in malnutrition.

(Nursing Paper Example on Tooth Decay)

Conclusion

Tooth decay is a prevalent yet preventable disease that can affect oral and general health. While it is largely caused by bacterial activity and dietary habits, preventive measures such as good oral hygiene, fluoride use, and regular dental check-ups can effectively reduce the risk of decay. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, from fluoride applications to fillings, can restore tooth health and prevent complications. Recognizing the importance of preventive care is essential in managing and preventing tooth decay for a lifetime.

References

American Dental Association. (2023). Caries prevention and fluoride use. https://www.ada.org

Mayo Clinic. (2023). Tooth decay: Symptoms and causes. https://www.mayoclinic.org

National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. (2023). Dental caries (tooth decay). https://www.nidcr.nih.gov

World Health Organization. (2023). Oral health: Key facts. https://www.who.int

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Network Architecture

/in , , /by

Network Architecture

Network Architecture

Network architecture depicts how network services and devices are integrated to connect the needs of client devices and applications. Organizations have unique network architectures, but in most, the basic model is client-server architectures, especially those providing services like bank systems. Data is shared through the network, prompting organizations to ensure network security to ensure consumer and organizational data’s confidentiality, integrity, and availability, which faces an increasing threat from cyber theft and other illegal accesses. JP Morgan Chase is a financial institution based in the US that collects and maintains personal information, including names, email addresses, mailing addresses, telephone numbers, account numbers, location information, such as zip code, and user name and password for online services, payment card information, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and gender, race, nationality, and biometric data. This information needs protection from unauthorized access, considering that banks are a lucrative target for cyber-attacks.

JP Morgan Chase adopts a client-server architecture that allows clients to access shared files, which are centralized. The client-server architecture ensures high-speed operations, considering the bank serves thousands of customers daily. Centralization with a backup also ensures more control of data and processes. The architecture includes interrelated workstations, servers, and networking devices. JPMorgan Chase & Co has a data mesh architecture aligning its data technology with its data product strategy. To protect the network and data stored and shared through the network, a network security policy determines access to resources and highlights security profiles, passwords, email policy, internet access, antivirus, backup, system patches, remote access, and intrusion detection protocol. The organization also maintains digital evidence for forensic analysis through digital evidence controls and computer forensic tools. To enhance network security, the organization is recommended to adopt network security best practices, including understanding the OSI Model, different types of network devices, network defenses, network segregation, proper placement of security devices, network address translation, avoiding disabling personal firewalls, centralized logging, and immediate log analysis. Corrective measures will help JP Morgan Chase mitigate the risks of threats that could affect the system’s confidentiality, integrity, or availability, security policies, and anti-forensic techniques.

 

Ratings:

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Network Architecture Security Plan 

/in , , /by

Network Architecture Security Plan 

Network Architecture Security Plan 

Network Architecture Security Plan Proposal

Section 1: Introduction

Cyber threat protection for any business and its data is a challenging task requiring expertise and well-managed resources. Businesses need a thorough security plan outlining how to protect their network from online threats. Also, the company’s end users want guidance on effectively using mobile platforms, email, the internet, and other network components. However, this approach should not conflict with the business model and should be relatively easy for the personnel to implement (Xu et al., 2022). The network security plan is a strategy that outlines the techniques and policies that will be used to protect the network from unauthorized users and counteract actions that could jeopardize or compromise a system’s security.

Banks are vulnerable to cyber-attacks and require robust network architecture security plans to protect client data and the valuables entrusted to them. JPMorgan Chase collects personal information when clients or customers visit their premises or use their online services, including names, email addresses, mailing addresses, telephone numbers, account numbers, location information, such as zip code, and user name and password for online services. When more personal information is needed for ordinary business purposes, JPMC also collects payment card information, Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and gender, race, nationality, and biometric data (JPMorgan, 2018). The organization also creates personal information for clients in some circumstances, including recordings of customer interactions and account details. Additional information JPMC collects includes device IP address when using online services, operating system and browser type, and information on sites visited and those to be called.

Moreover, JPMC uses customer data regarding social media usage and credit reporting agencies (JPMorgan, 2018). Often cyber-attacks target this information to access consumer bank accounts and other money storage or transfer avenues. Personal information on location, name, and gender can also be used for malice, including targeted attacks on individuals or stalking. This sensitive information needs protection from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse.

This paper seeks to analyze JPMorgan Chase’s network architecture and develop a network security plan proposal that can help the organization further protect public data from security threats. The JPMorgan Chase Institute takes pride in offering insightful information to decision-makers in government, business, and charitable organizations (JPMorgan Chase & Co, 2022). These disclosures, however, must not come at the expense of client or customer confidentiality. To achieve this, the Institute has implemented stringent security procedures and checks and balances to guarantee that all consumer data remains private and secure (JPMorgan Chase & Co, 2022). Government agencies use of statistical standards and JPMorgan Chase’s collaboration with technology, data privacy, and security specialists who are assisting the enterprise in upholding industry-leading standards have all influenced these measures.

Currently, the enterprise adopts measures as a further commitment to protect public data and ensure privacy and confidentiality, including the Institute’s standards and procedures that mandate that any data it collects and uses for various purposes not contain any personal information about clients. Before accessing client data, the Institute also makes its researchers and employees submit to thorough background investigations and sign binding confidentiality agreements (JPMorgan Chase & Co, 2022). Employees are legally obligated to only utilize the data for authorized purposes and not try to re-identify any clients or individuals reflected in the data. Any publishing derived from Institute data is required only to include aggregate data or data that is not otherwise not reasonably traceable to a specific, identified consumer or business. The information that the JPMC and its staff rely on is kept on a secure server that is only accessible per stringent security guidelines intended to prevent the transfer of information outside of JPMorgan Chase’s systems (JPMorgan Chase & Co, 2022). All JPMorgan Chase Information Technology Risk Management specifications for data monitoring and security are met by its data infrastructure.

The security plan proposal offers insights into strategies and procedures JPMC can adopt to reinforce or ensure better data protection and promote customer privacy and confidentiality due to the growing hacker threat probing organization networks. The plan seeks to help the enterprise to protect the network infrastructure from unauthorized access, data misuse, destruction, and damaged corporate reputation. The plan will offer recommendations to the enterprise for dealing with suppliers and dependent subcontractors and their access to information classification to ensure data protection. It will also advise additional measures for data protection, data encryption to protect data in transit, authentication approaches, protection policy, digital signatures, random number generation, hash functions, and key and certificate lifecycle management.

Moreover, it will offer procedures for data protection policy review and cookie management procedures that should comply with applicable laws and regulations. Furthermore, the security plan proposal will include recommendations on identity and access management, security configuration procedures, security operations, vulnerability management, and third-party relationship management and access protocols. Generally, this paper aims to describe the JPMC network architecture and offer a plan for managing and protecting data, risk assessment, digital evidence controls, computer forensic analysis, and recovering files, and provide recommendations for best practices.

Section 2: Network Architecture

The Network Architecture for JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co is a financial institution in the US in the consumer or commercial banking category. It offers financial services and advice to millions of people and maintains a wide variety of consumer data that needs protection from unauthorized access or illegal use. The bank adopts the client-server network architecture in which people can access information stored in its server via various platforms, including its website and other online services. This architecture allows individuals to access shared files and information, which are centralized, with a backup, from their serving machines like mobile devices and computers, which include the teller computers (Sugandhi, 2023). More than one client has access to resources and services, and there are different servers, including mail, web, and file servers. The client-server relationship is one-to-many because multiple clients can access the services and resources at go. The JPMorgan Chase & Co bank has moved into an almost entirely digital locale, and most clients or users access its resources and information remotely.

Considering the bank serves thousands of customers daily requesting different services and constantly trying to access information and bank services at high speeds through their virtual devices, client-server has been the heart of its banking system because it works effectively and makes it easy to manage information and service delivery centrally. With this architecture, the bank keeps a centralized record of all the information needs, including account information, that can be accessed at the banking center by a teller or from remote devices. Generally, an account holder can check balances, withdraw money, or deposit money. Additional services include financial advice, questing for a loan, servicing a loan, or asking for bank statements. JPMorgan Chase & Co bank network architecture is vast, with multiple serves and databases at the center of the architecture, providing additional functionality to its customers. According to (Sugandhi, 2023), this centralization allows consumers to access resources and services without the need to understand how many servers they are communicating with, increasing the possibility of breaking down the architecture to even pore task-particular nodes and elevating the distribution of the application task and processing to ensure greater performance, reliability, and security.

The servers are under strong server standards that guide the core functionality of the client-server relationship, ensuring it is more static, enabling the bank to upgrade by extending the model into future devices not used before, like mobile banking applications, without the need to redesign the architecture. As the industry and the bank mature, this architecture that allows an extension allows the bank to keep up with new customer demands for increased functionality, performance, security, and flexibility of the banking system. Generally, the client-server architecture has seamlessly transitioned the bank into the digital world of virtual services.

 

Figure 1: Client-server architecture model used by JP Morgan Chase & Co.

Physical Structures, Major Types of Hardware Used to Connect Computers and Networks Together, and the Way Data Travels Through the Network

Different types of hardware connect the computers and the network in the client-server architecture. The three major interrelated components are workstations, servers, and networking devices. Workstations are also client computers or mobile devices with different operating systems, mostly lacking administrative or security policies, a centralized database, or shared software. Servers hold much information and handle multiple requests, having more memory, hard drive space, and faster speeds (Hill et al., 2017). Servers have multiple roles, acting as the domain controller, mail server, file server, and database server, all running simultaneously. These duties are assigned to different servers to maximize performance and simplify maintenance and backup (Hill et al., 2017). Some networking devices connect computers and the network, including hubs that connect a server or centralized servers to many different workstations, repeaters that help transmit data from one device to the next, and bridges that segment isolated networks.

The primary purpose of adopting the client-server architecture is to speed up data transmission and protect data during transfer. It makes the ban faster and more secure regarding data transfers. In most instances, the interaction begins with a client request to the server through the internet, and it is successful when the server accepts the request and returns the information or data packets the client requested (Hill et al., 2017). Generally, a client sends a request to the Domain Name System (DNS) server, which searchers for the specific server and replies with the details, including the IP address of the server to the client, then the browser sends an HTTP(S) request, if the request is through the web, to the server’s IP address (Hill et al., 2017). A successful and accepted request sees the server send the necessary files, and the browser displays them to the client.

 

Figure 2: Network Connectivity of JPMorgan Chase and Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co has a data mesh architecture that aligns its data technology to its data product strategy. This data mesh architecture is beneficial as the bank adopts cloud services, enabling data sharing across the institutions while allowing data owners more control and visibility of their data, which increases the ability to manage their data effectively (Jain et al., 2022). The significant advantages of the data mesh are the ability to align the data architecture to the data product strategy, empower the right people or data owners to have more control and make control decisions, enforce control decisions via in-place consumption, and offer cross-enterprise visibility of data usage or consumption. The data mesh makes data available in lakes, and individuals can request the lake-based data via a reporting application (Jain et al., 2022). The bank can audit data flows from the lake to the reporting application, increasing visibility or clarity of the origin of the data in the reports.

Figure 3: JPMC & Co Data Mesh

Section 3: Managing and Protecting Data

Deploying a network security policy is a critical undertaking to prevent security issues on the network. A network security policy provides guidelines for network access, determines policy enforcement, dictates the organization’s network security environment, and provides how security policies are adopted throughout the network architecture (Valenza et al., 017). Security policies are the organization’s security control on various components of the network architecture, keeping malicious individuals from accessing the network and mitigating risky people within the organization. The first or initial provision of network security policy is regarding access to information, including what information and services are available, to whom, and through what means, and the protection needed. A hierarchy of access permissions ensures that individuals at different levels can only access what they need to operate with. The proposal recommends the following policies for managing and protecting data:

User Access to Computer Resources

It is critical to protect organization computing systems and resources by implementing user access security activities and ensuring users have the right to access the information they need to work with. A user access security policy is needed to control user access to computer resources, ensuring that only authorized users can access particular resources. The acceptable use policy (AUP) stipulates the rules, practices, and constraints users must agree with to access the organization’s network, internet, and other resources (Kirvan, 2022). Employees must sign the AUP before being given permission or a network ID. The AUP provides users with instructions on what they can or cannot do when using the organization’s computers, computing infrastructure, and the internet. Moreso, this applies to tellers and other office employees that have been provided individual computers for use within the organization. It spells out acceptable and unacceptable behavior and will offer the organization legal mechanisms to ensure compliance and repercussions for non-compliance.

Security Profiles

A security profile is attributed to an organization’s overall security program, comprising security determined by the organization’s work and the network facilities in place. It dictates the network, log sources, and domains a user can access (IBM, 2023). Individuals at different access levels will have different security profiles; for instance, administrative users will have a default security profile that provides access to all networks, log sources, and domains. The organization will create more security profiles before adding user accounts to help meet specific access user requirements. The security profiles policy will help configure security profiles at run-time to dictate or control security operations completed in a message flow at run-time. The security profiles policy will help determine authentication and authorization on source identities.

Passwords

In a secure network, users need passwords to access network resources. However, the organization must follow the rules regarding passwords or policies it should share with users to dictate password development to ensure a secure and protected network. A password management policy provides the organization’s requirements for acceptable password options and maintenance. The policy guides password creation to maximize password security and minimize password misuse and theft. For this proposal, all passwords should be strong and contain at least eight alphanumeric characters, at least two non-alphabetic characters, and at least three alphabetic characters (Shay et al., 2016). Also, the password should not be a single dictionary, language, slang, dialect, jargon word, or personal information. However, individuals can develop passwords with passphrases that contain three or more dictionary words joined by alphabetic characters. All passwords are private and should not be written or stored online, shared within an email message or any electronic communication, shared with anyone, including other organization personnel, or be the same as those used to access external accounts like online banking. Users should change their passwords at least every six months. Lastly, any passwords suspected of being compromised should be changed promptly.

Email

Most hackers or malicious users use email conversations to access personal information or have users click on malicious links without suspecting it. An email security policy is needed to govern email use within the organization’s network. The policy provides how the users will interact with email messages to ensure that email messages are secure from unauthorized access (Wilton, 2021). The email security policy requires the organization to use trusted email services like Gmail that include capabilities like regular updates, improved phishing filters, and multi-factor authentication, create effective spam filters, educate users to sport phishing emails and malicious attachments and links, and protect email address by instructing users and employees not to post work email addresses on social media accounts or other public platform and adopt catchall email for customer services and support.

Internet Access

An internet security policy allows the organization to manage internet access and comply with federal, legal, and accreditation rules and requirements on internet and data confidentiality and integrity. The policy dictates that users should not access or use the organization’s internet for personal business, have a valuable purpose for accessing and using the internet, and avoid offensive websites and pornographic content. Additionally, users should not use another individual’s network ID, password, or other identification details to access the internet, establish external network connections, or new network connections to allow communication or unauthorized access to the network without the Security Officer’s approval. Users are also required to avoid transferring identifiable information through the internet.

Antivirus

All users must adhere to the antivirus policy, which requires all users connected to the network or data systems to have antimalware software installed and authorized and qualified IT personnel to conduct a comprehensive analysis of virus threats regularly and evaluate application software for adequacy and sufficiency (Trinity University, 2022). Also, all resources with an antivirus installed need regular updates, and the antivirus selected must scan email, email attachments, web traffic, media, and downloaded files. Infected devices should be disconnected immediately, and the virus should be removed. Users must not install unauthorized software from external networks.

Backup

The backup policy requires all organization data and resources to be backed up as a data protection, disaster recovery, and business continuity plan. The policy also ensures that all organization and user data copies are safe (Savannah State University, 2016). It provides the organization to back up data on the cloud for rapid recovery in case of disruption. The policy dictates what data needs protection, where to store the copies, how often the backup should run, and the time to retain a copy. The policy adopts the 3-2-1 approach that requires the organization to have three backup copies in two locations, one on the cloud and the other in an offsite location. The organization should have an incremental backup that copies the data sets that have changed since the previous backup.

System Patches

The system patch management policy highlights the processes and approaches that help ensure that hardware and software on the organization’s data are regularly maintained (Jill, 2022). The patching security policy requires patches to be evaluated constantly and responded to promptly, documented and well understood by employees, automated and constantly monitored, and executed according to the vendor tools on a constantly communicated schedule.

Remote Access

Employees and consumers can access data remotely or offsite, which sometimes increases the risk of unauthorized users like hackers and man-in-the-middle accessing the data (Ouaddah et al., 2016). The remote access policy requires individuals accessing the organization’s services remotely, especially employees, to have standardized hardware and software, including firewall and antivirus or antimalware, to adopt data and network encryption standards, use VPN access on network connectivity, and follow information security and confidentiality and email usage policies.

Intrusion Detection

Intrusion detection or prevention and a security monitoring policy are vital in monitoring loggings and observing events to identify security issues and threats. Internet, electronic mail, Local Area Network traffics, and operating system security parameters will be used to monitor intrusions. Intrusion checks will monitor the firewall, automated intrusion detection system, user account, network scanning, system error, application, data backup ad recovery, telephone call, service desk trouble tickets, and network printer logs for any signs of vulnerability (Sam Houston State University, 2022). Every year, the policy requires checking password strengths, unauthorized network devices, unauthorized personal web servers, unsecured sharing of devices, and operating system and software licenses.

Section 5: Digital Evidence Controls, Computer Forensic Analysis, and Recovering Files

Preserving Information for Forensic Analysis

Digital evidence can be stored and maintained in physical or digital devices. After information collection, it will be moved to physical media for storage and where it can be accessed. The data acquired and the device used for storage are secured until the information is required for forensic analysis. The physical and digital storage systems or a smart management system are integrated to form the evidence management system to be used at the organization. Preservation is required to ensure the legal admissibility of the information stored. The evidence management system will include drive imaging, hash values, and a clear chain of custody (Simon, 2023). Rather than the original information, the company will create images of the evidence that will be used for analysis. The analyst will develop a duplicate of the drive used to store the information to help retain the original evidence for investigation. Investigators can exclusively use the duplicate image rather than the original media.

Hash values will also aid in preserving the evidence or information generated when duplicates or images of the original media are produced. The hash values will help determine the authenticity and integrity of the duplicates as an exact image of the original information. Hash values will help ascertain if the information was altered at any point, which is a vital part of forensic analysis and admitting the evidence in court if necessary (Simon, 2023). Creating new or editing existing files generates new hash values that can only be accessed using special software. The hash values must match the expected values, and if not, they will help confirm that the evidence was altered. A clear chain of custody is vital in digital evidence preservation. The company forensic analyst or investigator will document all media and evidence transfers on the Chain of Custody (CoC) forms and capture signatures and dates after handing off media. The chain-of-custody paperwork will help determine that the image of the digital evidence is or was under known possession from the time the duplicate or image was created (Simon, 2023). A lapse in the chain of custody would allow the company to nullify the legal value or dependability of the image. Generally, the primary purpose of preserving the evidence is to ensure legal admissibility.

Digital Evidence Controls

JP Morgan Chase works with a cybersecurity forensic investigator whose main role at the company is to watch over the data and find innovative ways to protect the data. Approaches used to control digital evidence include risk reviews and vulnerability analysis that help identify potential threats. The investigator conducts forensic preservation work and preliminary investigations, adopting established standards (JP Morgan Chase Company, n.d.). The investigator also helps identify violations of the JP Morga Chase Code of Conduct and identifies, collects, and preserves the associated digital evidence. The organization, through the investigator, conducts forensically sound collection and analysis of electronic evidence using different tools to enhance security, compliance, and legal processes.

JP Morgan Chase preserves network and host-based digital forensics on Microsoft Windows-based systems and other necessary operating systems like LINUX and adopts standard digital forensic and network monitoring tools to independently plan and carry out forensic support. The organization adopts High-Security Access (HSA) systems for forensic investigations. It conducts an enhanced annual screening of users of the systems, including checking criminal and credit backgrounds (JP Morgan Chase Company, n.d.). Additionally, the organization ensures technology governance, risk, and compliance by regularly validating the effectiveness of the controls, assessing risk annually to ensure the implemented controls can protect the organization’s information, and adopting security policies and procedures to govern receipt, transmission, processing, storage, retrieval, access, and presentation of the information. The principle of least privilege is adopted to grant personnel access to the information. Physical facilities hosting the data are restricted and have detective monitoring controls and controls for hazards like fire and water.

Computer Forensic Tools for Forensic Analysis and File Recovery

The autopsy/the Sleuth Kit will be used for disk analysis. The tool is recommended for its ease of use, extensibility, speed, and cost-effectiveness. The Sleuth kit is a command-line tool that helps conduct forensic analysis of hard drives and smartphone images. The Autopsy is a GUI-based system using the Sleuth Kit in the background (Kaushik et al., 2020). Its modular and plug-in architecture ensures that the user can easily incorporate additional functionality. Law enforcement agencies and organizations can use this tool to investigate activities or events in a computer, analyze disk images, and recover associated files. The tool can analyze both Windows and LINUX disks. The Volatility tool will also help with memory forensics, incident response, and malware analysis. Often, investigations determine what activities occurred at the time of the incident. Volatility is used to link device, network, file system, and registry artifacts to confirm the list of all running processes, active and closed network connections, running Windows command prompts screenshots and clipboard contents that were in progress at the time of the incident (Mohanta et al., 2020). Investigators will use Volatility to assess processes, check command history, and retrieve files and passwords from the system.

Section 6: Recommendations for Best Practices

Recommendations For Best Practices

The organization must understand the OSI Model, different types of network devices, network defenses, network segregation, proper placement of security devices, network address translation, avoiding disabling personal firewalls, centralized logging, and immediate log analysis as best practices for network security. The organization should comprehend the devices that make up the network in order to build and protect it (Yu et al., 2019). Hubs, switches, routers, bridges, and gateways are the various categories of network devices. Also, the company may protect its network by implementing the right tools and solutions. Firewalls, intrusion detection systems, intrusion prevention systems, network access controls, web filters, proxy servers, anti-DDOS, load balancers, and spam filters are among the most popular and efficient network defenses.

Network segmentation includes dividing the network into zones, which are logical or functional components. For instance, the company might have distinct technical requirements for its sales, technical support, and research zones. It can do this by employing switches, routers, or virtual local area networks (VLANs), which are made by setting up a switch’s ports to act like different networks (Netwrix Corporation, 2022). Segmentation restricts the scope of what could be affected by a compromise to that particular area. In essence, it separates one target into several, giving attackers the option of treating each part as a separate network or compromising one and trying to cross the gap. Neither option is desirable. Since the attacker must breach each section separately, treating each segment as a separate network entail much more work and significantly increases the attacker’s risk of being found. Attempting to jump from a compromised zone to other zones is challenging. The network traffic between the segments can be limited if properly constructed (Netwrix Corporation, 2022). Data classification and data protection also benefit from segmentation. Each segment may be given a different set of data categorization rules, configured to the proper level of security, and after that, monitored.

The company must choose where to put each device as it develops its network segregation strategy. The firewall is the simplest device to install; the company should install a firewall at each network zone intersection (Anwar et al., 2021). A firewall ought to be installed on every section of the network. All current switches and routers have firewalls (Anwar et al., 2021). These features only need to be enabled and properly configured by the company. An anti-DDoS device should also be placed on the perimeter so that the company can thwart DDoS attacks before they spread throughout the network. The company should have a web filter proxy behind the primary firewall that serves the public network.

Another network security best practice is using network address translation. The company can make up for the IPv4 networking address shortage via network address translation (NAT). Private addresses (internal to a specific business) are converted into routable addresses on open networks like the internet through NAT. For instance, NAT is a technique for using a single IP address to link numerous computers to the internet or any other IP network (Netwrix Corporation, 2022). NAT works with firewalls to add an additional layer of protection to an organization’s internal network. The protected networks’ hosts typically have private addresses that allow them to connect with the outside world, but external systems must pass through NAT boxes in order to access internal networks. Additionally, the company can adopt centralized logging and immediate log analysis. The company should keep track of erroneous computer events like logins and other suspicious activity (Netwrix Corporation, 2022). With the aid of this best practice, the business will be able to reconstruct what took place during an attack and take action to enhance its threat detection system and effectively stop attacks in the future.

Why the Proposal Should be Accepted as Best Practices for the Organization

Financial institutions are a lucrative target for cybercrime and network infiltration because of the money. Individuals working outside and inside the banks will likely take advantage of the many vulnerable links in the network architecture and security chains. JP Morgan is a financial institution that is highly vulnerable to security attacks as hackers and malicious individuals seek to access financial account information. This proposal offers a robust analysis of JP Morgan Chase Network Architecture, data management and protection, risk assessment, digital evidence controls, computer forensic analysis, and file recovery, and recommends best practices to ensure network security. The proposal seeks to help the company be more secure by integrating technology and awareness best practices because more than technology is needed to solve network security issues and the cybercrime problem efficiently and effectively. It provides insights into how the company can ensure consumer and organization data security through data management and protection and risk assessment techniques. Most importantly, it suggests to the organization how to protect itself from insider threats by adopting detection strategies, multi-factor authentication, and other preventative measures like system hardening and monitoring of users and networks. These insights are adequate to convince JP Morgan Chase to accept this proposal.

References

Anwar, R. W., Abdullah, T., & Pastore, F. (2021). Firewall best practices for securing smart healthcare environment: A review. Applied Sciences, 11(19), 9183.

Hill, J.D., Kruth, A. R, Salisbury, J., & Varga, S. (2017). Software architecture in banking: A comparative paper on the effectiveness of different software architectures within a financial banking system. https://www.rosehulman.edu/class/csse/csse477/handouts_377/HillTermPaper_FINAL.pdf

IBM. (2023). Security profiles. https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/qsip/7.4?topic=management-security-profiles

Jain, A., Person, G., Conroy, P., & Shankar, N. (2022, May 5). How JPMorgan chase built a data mesh architecture to drive significant value to enhance their enterprise data platform. Amazon Web Services. https://aws.amazon.com/big-data/how-jpmorgan-chase-built-a-data-mesh-architecture-to-drive-significant-value-to-enhance-their-enterprise-data-platform/

Jill, S. (2022). Patch management policy. https://www.cde.state.co.us/dataprivacyandsecurity/patchmanagementpolicy

JP Morgan Chase Company. (n.d.). Cybersecurity Forensic Investigator. https://www.wayup.com/i-Financial-Services-j-JP-Morgan-Chase-Company-827769314821227/

JP Morgan Chase Company. (n.d.). JPMorgan Chase & Co. Minimum Control Requirements. https://www.jpmorganchase.com/content/dam/jpmc/jpmorgan-chase-and-co/documents/supplier-minimum-control-requirements.pdf

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (2022). JPMorgan Chase & Co. Minimum Control Requirements. https://www.jpmorganchase.com/content/dam/jpmc/jpmorgan-chase-and-co/documents/supplier-minimum-control-requirements.pdf

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (2022, March 29). Data Privacy Protocols. https://www.jpmorganchase.com/institute/about/data-privacy-protocols

JPMorgan. (2018, May 21). Private Policy. https://www.jpmorgan.com/privacy

Kaushik, K., Tanwar, R., & Awasthi, A. K. (2020). Security tools. In Information Security and Optimization (pp. 181-188). Chapman and Hall/CRC.

Kirvan, P. (2022). Acceptable use policy (ATP). https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/acceptable-use-policy-AUP

Mohanta, A., Saldanha, A., Mohanta, A., & Saldanha, A. (2020). Memory Forensics with Volatility. Malware Analysis and Detection Engineering: A Comprehensive Approach to Detect and Analyze Modern Malware, 433-476.

Netwrix Corporation. (2022). Network security best practices. https://www.netwrix.com/network_security_best_practices.html

Sam Houston State University. (2022). Intrusion Detection/Prevention and Security Monitoring Policy: IT-23. https://www.shsu.edu/intranet/policies/information_technology_policies/documents/IT-23IntrusionDetectionSecurityMonitoringPolicy.pdf

Ouaddah, A., Abou Elkalam, A., & Ait Ouahman, A. (2016). FairAccess: a new Blockchain‐based access control framework for the Internet of Things. Security and communication networks, 9(18), 5943-5964.

Savannah State University. (2016, July 1). Information Technology Security Plan Backup Policy (10.13). https://www.savannahstate.edu/computer-services/docs/policies-2017/10_13%20Backup%20Policy.pdf

Shay, R., Komanduri, S., Durity, A. L., Huh, P., Mazurek, M. L., Segreti, S. M., … & Cranor, L. F. (2016). Designing password policies for strength and usability. ACM Transactions on Information and System Security (TISSEC), 18(4), 1-34.

Simon, M. (2023). Methods to preserve digital evidence for computer forensics. https://www.criticalinsight.com/resources/news/article/3-methods-to-preserve-digital-evidence-for-computer-forensics

Sugandhi, A. (2023). Client Server Architecture: Components, Types, Benefits. https://www.knowledgehut.com/cloud-computing/client-server-architecture

Trinity University. (2022, June 16). Antivirus policy. https://policies.trinity.edu/a2e92e93-3e56-45ac-b237-da061062f925.pdf?v=mM8K9Ed4AUOdCX0xEXykCQ2/

Valenza, F., Su, T., Spinoso, S., Lioy, A., Sisto, R., & Vallini, M. (2017). A formal approach for network security policy validation. J. Wirel. Mob. Networks Ubiquitous Comput. Dependable Appl., 8(1), 79-100.

Wilton, L. (2021). How to secure email in your business with an email security policy. https://carbidesecure.com/resources/how-to-secure-email-in-your-business-with-an-email-security-policy/

Xu, J., Sun, F., & Chen, Q. (2022). Network security. An Introduction to the Smart Court System-of-Systems Engineering Project of China (pp. 343-384). Singapore: Springer Nature Singapore.

Yu, Q., Ren, J., Fu, Y., Li, Y., & Zhang, W. (2019). Cybertwin: An origin of next generation network architecture. IEEE Wireless Communications, 26(6), 111-117.

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Part 2: Section 6: Recommendations for Best Practices

/in , , /by

Part 2: Section 6: Recommendations for Best Practices

Part 2: Section 6: Recommendations for Best Practices

Part 2: Section 6: Recommendations for Best Practices

The organization must understand the OSI Model, different types of network devices, network defenses, network segregation, proper placement of security devices, network address translation, avoiding disabling personal firewalls, centralized logging, and immediate log analysis as best practices for network security. The organization should comprehend the devices that make up the network in order to build and protect it (Yu et al., 2019). Hubs, switches, routers, bridges, and gateways are the various categories of network devices. Also, the company may protect its network by implementing the right tools and solutions. Firewalls, intrusion detection systems, intrusion prevention systems, network access controls, web filters, proxy servers, anti-DDOS, load balancers, and spam filters are among the most popular and efficient network defenses.

Network segmentation includes dividing the network into zones, which are logical or functional components. For instance, the company might have distinct technical requirements for its sales, technical support, and research zones. It can do this by employing switches, routers, or virtual local area networks (VLANs), which are made by setting up a switch’s ports to act like different networks (Netwrix Corporation, 2022). Segmentation restricts the scope of what could be affected by a compromise to that particular area. In essence, it separates one target into several, giving attackers the option of treating each part as a separate network or compromising one and trying to cross the gap. Neither option is desirable. Since the attacker must breach each section separately, treating each segment as a separate network entail much more work and significantly increases the attacker’s risk of being found. Attempting to jump from a compromised zone to other zones is challenging. The network traffic between the segments can be limited if properly constructed (Netwrix Corporation, 2022). Data classification and data protection also benefit from segmentation. Each segment may be given a different set of data categorization rules, configured to the proper level of security, and after that, monitored.

The company must choose where to put each device as it develops its network segregation strategy. The firewall is the simplest device to install; the company should install a firewall at each network zone intersection (Anwar et al., 2021). A firewall ought to be installed on every section of the network. All current switches and routers have firewalls (Anwar et al., 2021). These features only need to be enabled and properly configured by the company. An anti-DDoS device should also be placed on the perimeter so that the company can thwart DDoS attacks before they spread throughout the network. The company should have a web filter proxy behind the primary firewall that serves the public network.

Another network security best practice is using network address translation. The company can make up for the IPv4 networking address shortage via network address translation (NAT). Private addresses (internal to a specific business) are converted into routable addresses on open networks like the internet through NAT. For instance, NAT is a technique for using a single IP address to link numerous computers to the internet or any other IP network (Netwrix Corporation, 2022). NAT works with firewalls to add an additional layer of protection to an organization’s internal network. The protected networks’ hosts typically have private addresses that allow them to connect with the outside world, but external systems must pass through NAT boxes in order to access internal networks. Additionally, the company can adopt centralized logging and immediate log analysis. The company should keep track of erroneous computer events like logins and other suspicious activity (Netwrix Corporation, 2022). With the aid of this best practice, the business will be able to reconstruct what took place during an attack and take action to enhance its threat detection system and effectively stop attacks in the future.

Why the Proposal Should be Accepted as Best Practices for the Organization

Financial institutions are a lucrative target for cybercrime and network infiltration because of the money. Individuals working outside and inside the banks will likely take advantage of the many vulnerable links in the network architecture and security chains. JP Morgan is a financial institution that is highly vulnerable to security attacks as hackers and malicious individuals seek to access financial account information. This proposal offers a robust analysis of JP Morgan Chase Network Architecture, data management and protection, risk assessment, digital evidence controls, computer forensic analysis, and file recovery, and recommends best practices to ensure network security. The proposal seeks to help the company be more secure by integrating technology and awareness best practices because more than technology is needed to solve network security issues and the cybercrime problem efficiently and effectively. It provides insights into how the company can ensure consumer and organization data security through data management and protection and risk assessment techniques. Most importantly, it suggests to the organization how to protect itself from insider threats by adopting detection strategies, multi-factor authentication, and other preventative measures like system hardening and monitoring of users and networks. These insights are adequate to convince JP Morgan Chase to accept this proposal.

Refences

Anwar, R. W., Abdullah, T., & Pastore, F. (2021). Firewall best practices for securing smart healthcare environment: A review. Applied Sciences, 11(19), 9183.

Netwrix Corporation. (2022). Network security best practices. https://www.netwrix.com/network_security_best_practices.html

Yu, Q., Ren, J., Fu, Y., Li, Y., & Zhang, W. (2019). Cybertwin: An origin of next generation network architecture. IEEE Wireless Communications, 26(6), 111-117.

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

NSG 301: Communication is Key

/in , , /by

NSG 301: Communication is Key

NSG 301: Writing With Confidence, Clarity, and Style

NSG 301: Communication is Key

NSG 301: Communication is Key

Teamwork is an essential component of providing quality care for patients. Being a part of a team means using different tools to best interact with other members of the health care team. Members of the health care team often work in different departments, have different leadership, and receive different levels of education on how to interact as a team. A recent review of reports collected by the Joint Commission reveal the startling statistic that over 70 percent of sentinel events share a common root cause; communication failures of the team.

Currently, members of the health care team consist of many different people, with various roles, who receive various training on working together. If members of a very important team aren’t able to communicate with each other, the potential for poor patient outcomes rises.  Since communication education currently does not involve all members of the team, utilizing a standard checklist, participating in simulation based training, and providing education of communication processes to all team members can promote better communication amongst interdisciplinary members of the team.

(NSG 301: Communication is Key)

Background

Recently, the Institue for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) published an article citing the most common reasons for medication errors.  In that list, communication failures surrounding verbal/oral orders was listed as the 4th highest reason for errors.  This article was posted in January of 2020, less than 3 years ago.  For many years, the existence of the electronic medical record and tools, such as checklists, have been available to use, yet not all members of the team utilize resources that could potentially entrance communication, thus leading to better care.

The growing number of literature available suggests that poor communication (especially between physician and primary nurse) is a significant contributor to negative patient outcomes. In one study, highlighting the ICU, poor collaborative communication between the nurse and physician boasted a 1.8 percent increase in length of stay (Zwarenstein & Reeves, 2002).

Standardized Checklist

The use of a standardized checklist for communication amongst team members is one that is already utilized in both the field of aviation and health care. Checklists are often found in high stakes areas, where missing a step could be critical to the overall mission, or patient care goal. In one high stakes setting, post anesthesia care unit (PACU), a communication tool was implemented by the bedside nursing team. The PACU was experiencing a drop in information from the operating room to the PACU, leaving the nursing team with a feeling of lack of information. Bedside nurses were getting report from a member of the anesthesia team but, not the surgical team, again leaving the team responsible for assessing the patient with no communication of what to expect or even what they did.

The PACU nursing team enacted a simple bedside checklist to standardize information that would be useful for any patient visiting the PACU. This allowed for the information to be given in a quick, concise method. This checklist was adopted by the nursing team and then provided to the surgical and anesthesia teams to circulate. A copy of the checklist was laminated and kept in each bay, for quick reference. Although patient outcomes were not able to be quantified from this method, the PACU council conducted an audit after 30 days and reported a perceived better handoff from surgery. PACU nurses reported less distractions in report and felt that they obtained better assessment data about their patient (Sapikowski, et al 2022).

(NSG 301: Communication is Key)

Simulation Based Training

Currently, hospital staff are provided education in a traditional method.  Staff complete mandatory training, utilizing computer based, self paced/study modules. Providers and members alike all have to work together in real time yet, are trained in a siloed, isolated environment. In one recent study, a review of different education provided to all members of an intensive care team; perceived communcication improvement amongst the members was shown upon review of a simulation based training tool. Team members were able to role play difficult patient care scenarios and were instructed to provide feedback in real time. Members were given roles to play and a mediator led the training.

Evaluation of this was completed by utilizing a pre and post survey of perceived communication improvement.  Of note, this study involved not only nurses and physicians but, chaplains, social workers, and techs as well. Amongst nursing, perceived communication was improved surrounding nurse to nurse communication. No physicians returned the request for post survey information, leaving many questions to be unanswered (Fettig et all, 2022).

Education for All

Transitioning from the previous section, education provided for all members of the health care team could be considered to improve communication amongst the health care team. Members of the team work in a variety or roles, yet don’t all receive training or even know what type of training the other party has. One study done in the ICU setting revealed that current interventions surrounding collaborative communication are not being provided or encouraged (Boyle & Koshinda, 2004). This is a stepping stone to start the conversation with senior leadership on how improvements surrounding interdisciplinary collaboration and collaborative education can lead to better patient outcomes.

Barriers

Barriers cited have included logistical challenges to getting an interdisciplinary team together.  Scheduling challenges and location of departments were cited by both the nursing and ancillary teams that participated in the simulation based training mentioned previously. Costs associated with enacting sweeping changes to the current education program is a factor to implementation.

Refutation

Logistical challenges will always be a factor that provides limitations on gathering a large team together in one location. However, simulation based training or training in general doesn’t have to be in person. We learned over the course of the pandemic that almost anything can be done virtually. There is opportunity to think outside of traditional educational offerings and get creative. Costs associated is also a factor that could be calculated with a return on investment over time, seeing the date (or numbers) may help influence key stakeholders of the value of their investment.

(NSG 301: Communication is Key)

Conclusion

            Working as a team means communicating, sharing, and providing all the members with all the information needed to be set for success. In the health care setting, high stakes can mean high tensions, leading to an environment of lack of communication and collaboration.  As evidenced by the studies cited, having a standard checklist, providing simiulation based training, and ensuring all team members have access to education, perceived communication enhancement amongst team members has been shown.  All leading towards the goal of providing the best patient care we can.

            References

Hospital: 2023 national patient safety goals. The Joint Commission. (n.d.). Retrieved March 19, 2023, from https://www.jointcommission.org/standards/national-patient-safety-goals/hospital-national-patient-safety-goals/

Fettig, L., Tang, Q., Newton, E., Rosario, R., Matthias, M. S., & Torke, A. M. (2022). A Communication Skills Training Workshop to Improve ICU Team Relational Coordination about Goals of Care: A Pilot Study. The American journal of hospice & palliative care, 39(10), 1157–1164. https://doi.org/10.1177/10499091211069994

Sapikowski, L., Bullock, K., Walsh, J., & Alexander, C. (2022). Implementation of a PACU pause in a Pediatric Post Anesthesia Care Unit. Journal of PeriAnesthesia Nursing, 37(4). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jopan.2022.05.032

ISMP publishes top 10 list of medication errors and hazards covered in newsletter. Institute For

Safe Medication Practices. (2020, January 17). Retrieved March 19, 2023, from

https://www.ismp.org/news/ismp-publishes-top-10-list-medication-errors-and-hazards-

covered-newsletter

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

The Importance of Communication in Clinical Practice

/in , , /by

The Importance of Communication in Clinical Practice

Letter of Analysis

The Importance of Communication in Clinical Practice

Dear Royce,

I went through your classical argument and identified the following:

Reflection

You have written a paper on the importance of communication in clinical practice, the consequences of poor communication, and strategies that can be adopted to enhance communication among interdisciplinary teams. Communication is critical in care coordination and general healthcare delivery and is integral to accomplishing patient care objectives. There is a direct link between communication and healthcare outcomes, increasing the need to adopt evidence-based strategies, including a standardized checklist, participating in simulation-based training, and providing education on the communication process you shared to improve the effectiveness of interdisciplinary teams.

Praise

Thesis

Your thesis is focused and well developed throughout the paper. The essay focuses on the importance of communication in the clinical environment and the consequence of communication failure. The thesis highlights the problem statement indicating that not all members are involved in communication currently, the interventions to enhance communication, including using a standardized checklist, participating in simulation-based training, and providing education on the communication process to every member, and the outcome, which is improved communication among interdisciplinary team members. These thesis elements are sustained throughout the paper, with supported information from current, peer-reviewed studies. You did well in this section, and you achieved your stated purpose.

Idea Development

I was also impressed with your idea development corresponding to the thesis. Your reasoning is clear and logical, and every statement and point developed or argument brought forward is well-thought and convincing. Regarding idea development, I am convinced you did a proper job, which helped sustain the thesis elements throughout the paper and deliver a compelling argument.

Recommendations

However, I have concerns about some elements of writing that you need to improve to become a better academic writer. You have a proper idea development, but your rhetorical arrangement, paragraph organization, and transitions within the paragraphs need improvement.

Organization/Rhetoric Arrangement

Although the ideas are well developed, the organization is flawed and sometimes fails to support the focus and unify the ideas in your essay. The organization contains gaps that, if addressed, would make the essay more aesthetic and free-flowing. Notably, the heading levels do not follow the APA style. The level one headings in a classical argument are the introduction, background, body (argument), opposition, refutation, and conclusion. I am more interested in the body section of the paper. Based on your thesis and main ideas, the interventions shared are subtopics within the body section and should be developed as level two headings rather than level one. Also, it is vital to use heading levels provided in word to specify level one and level two headers.

(The Importance of Communication in Clinical Practice)

Paragraph Organization and Transition

Additionally, your paragraph organization and transition within the paragraphs are a major concern. Often, a paragraph has a topic sentence, evidence, critical thinking, and a transition, meaning that a paragraph requires at least four sentences. Some paragraphs have less than four sentences and do not follow the basic paragraph model. For instance, paragraphs one and two have three sentences. Paragraph four has two sentences, while paragraph nine has three sentences. Your paragraphs should follow the basic model to be more convincing and make your essay more robust. Also, you mention research studies in some paragraphs without in-text citations, such as in paragraphs one, three, and five. Your refutation paragraph is not evidence supported. Notably, most of your citations are indicated at the end of the paragraph instead of within the paragraph and at the end of the evidence sentence (s). Proper citations would make your work more credible and reliable.

Strategies for Improvement

Based on these concerns, I would advise that your review essay structuring or rhetoric organization and paragraph structuring and transition notes provided by the instructors.

Organization and Rhetoric Arrangement

To improve essay structure:

  1. The Paragraph Shuffle: Create a set of index cards, with one card for each paragraph in your essay. Write one idea per index card. If you have multiple ideas in each paragraph, write the second (and third, etc.) idea on a separate card. Now, shuffle the cards. Inspect the order. Try rearranging the cards to deliver your focus, ideas, and overall message more effectively.
  2. Color the Categories: Use a highlighter to separate your ideas into categories. Use one color highlighter to mark all your sentences within one category in your essay. Use a different color to code the second category, etc. Now organize your essay into matching colors/categories

Paragraph Organization and Transition

To improve paragraph structuring and transition within paragraphs, I recommend:

  1. Basic Paragraph Model: Use this paragraph model to ensure your body paragraphs are developed and organized so that readers can clearly understand the relationship between your ideas and the progression of your thoughts.
    1. Topic Sentence: States the main idea of this paragraph and shows how it supports the thesis
    2. Evidence: Expert opinion, example, fact, statistical, or logical argument
    3. Critical Thinking: Analyzes, synthesizes, and/or evaluates the evidence
    4. Transition: Make a connection between the main idea of this paragraph, the paper’s thesis statement, and the next paragraph’s main point.
  2. Transition Test: Q & A
    1. Look at the last sentence of your body paragraph.
    2. Write three questions about your main idea. Begin each question with how, why, or what.
    3. Now look at the first sentence of the following paragraph–does it answer or respond to any of those implied questions? If not…
    4. Write the answer to the question…
    5. That answer may fit the first sentence of your paragraph that already exists.
    6. OR! You may need to create another new paragraph.

Generally, the argument is thought-provoking and encouraging and puts forward a genuine concern in the healthcare environment, impacting the effectiveness of interdisciplinary teams and patient health outcomes. Your essay/academic writing level is recommendable in terms of thesis development, sustaining the thesis throughout the paper, and idea development.

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Week 4: Skin Comprehensive SOAP Note

/in , , /by

Week 4: Skin Comprehensive SOAP Note

Week 4

Skin Comprehensive SOAP Note

Patient Initials: D.W.              Age: 32                                   Gender: Female

SUBJECTIVE DATA:

Chief Complaint (CC) (Graphic 2): “I feel less confident around people, including my husband, and I cannot go out to swim or wear bikini or crop tops.”

History of Present Illness (HPI): D.W. is a 32-year-old single African American woman who is 29 weeks pregnant and presenting at the clinic with complaints of increasing stretch marks in the past one and a half months. D.W. claims that due to the stretch marks, she has lost confidence and self-esteem. She denies feeling any pain in places of the abdomen but explains that the area might be “itchy” and that the lines are continuing to darken. She claims that since she cannot wear a bikini, crop top, or swimsuit, she would like anything to reduce the stretch marks. She indicates 0/10 for reported pain on the pain scale and denies fever. Over-the-counter cocoa butter was ineffective in eliminating or reducing stretch marks. She also thinks her stretch marks are related to weight gain.

Medications:

  1. Prenatal Rx: 1 tablet daily
  2. Amlodipine for HTN: 10 mg daily
  3. Albuterol 90mcg for Asthma
  4. Cortisone OTC for itching skin: Applies at least 6 times daily

 

Allergies: Patient reports she is allergic to dust, mold, pollen, and metronidazole

Past Medical History (PMH): The patient developed HTN when she was 24, asthma at 4 years, although controlled, and allergic rhinitis at age 7. She also has past medical history of bacterial vaginosis, controlled with medication, and anxiety, which was managed without medication.

Past Surgical History (PSH): The patient underwent a surgical report of the umbilical hernia in 2006.

Sexual/Reproductive History: D.W. reports that she is married with one child, which she conceived at 26 years. This is her second pregnancy. She is sexually active and not on using condoms. She has one sexual partner, and together they go for regular testing for STIs, every four months.

Personal/Social History: She is married and currently lives with her husband. She has an extended family comprising of her mother and father and two brothers.

Health Maintenance:

  • She does not smoke
  • She maintains one sexual partner
  • Maintains a healthy diet, although she has experienced weight gain during pregnancy.
  • She maintains a healthy, supportive relationships with members of the extended family and friends.

Immunization History:

  1. Covid vaccination
  2. Influenza vaccine: 09/10/2019
  3. Tdap: 07/4/2020
  4. Measles and Rubella

Significant Family History: She has an extended family comprising of the mother, father and two brothers. Her grandparents are dead. The mother, 60, has a history of asthma and depression. The father, 63, has a history of diabetes. The brothers are 35 and 27 years and have no medical history.

Review of Systems:

General: The patient reports fatigue over the last two months. She denies fever, syncope, lightheadedness with standing or ambulation, or chills. She reports sleeping 7-10 hours a day. She reports pervasive weight gain over the course of her pregnancy, gaining about 10 pounds.

            HEENT

Respiratory: Patient reports a history of asthma. Denies history of pneumonia, dyspnea or hemoptysis. Reports dyspnea during vigorous physical activities like running or walking fast.

Cardiovascular/Peripheral Vascular: Denies chest pain, chest pressure, or chest discomfort. No palpitations or edema.

Gastrointestinal: The patient reports diet changes, feelings of nausea and vomiting. Denies diarrhea. No abdominal pain or blood. Patient reports experiencing constipation.

Genitourinary: Denies burning on urination, urgency, hesitancy, odor, odd color.

Musculoskeletal: The patient reports occasional muscle pain and weakness. Denies back pain and muscle or joint stiffness.

Neurological: Denies headaches, dizziness, syncope, paralysis, ataxia, numbness, or tingling in the extremities. No change in bowel or bladder control.

Psychiatric: Patient reports a history of anxiety, controlled nonmedically through meditation and physical exercise.

Skin/hair/nails: Patient indicates intermittent abdominal pruritus, scalp dandruff. Patient denies dermatitis on other body areas, spontaneous bruising, brittle hair, yellowing nails, or fungal infections. She reports itching, controlled using Cortisone OTC.  

OBJECTIVE DATA:

Physical Exam:

Vital signs: temp: 98.6F, B.P.: 100/65, P: 85, R.R.: 18, pain: 0/10 Ht: 5’5 feet, Wt.: 167 lbs., BMI: 27.8

General: Well-nourished and groomed AXOx4 32-year-old Black female, with appropriate mood, bright affect, and polite.

HEENT: Normocephalic and atraumatic. Sclera anicteric, No conjunctival erythema, PERRLA, oropharynx red, moist mucous membranes.

Neck: Supple. No JVD. Trachea midline. No pain, swelling, or palpable nodules.

Chest/Lungs: The patient’s heartbeat and rhythm are normal. The patient’s heart rate is within normal range, and capillaries refill within two seconds.

Heart/Peripheral Vascular: Regular rate and rhythm noted. No murmurs. No palpitation. No peripheral edema to palpation bilaterally.

Abdomen: Normal active bowel sounds x4. No rebound tenderness X 4. Soft abdomen. No organomegaly. Fundal distance 30cm

Genital/Rectal: D.W. decline, reporting seeing a gynecologist routinely.

Musculoskeletal: Normal range of motion. Low muscle mass for age. No signs of swelling or joint deformities. Muscle and back pain rated 0/10.

Neurological: Balance is stable, gait is normal, posture is erect, the tone is good, and speech is clear.

Skin: Multiple stretch marks visible on the abdomen; color nigrae and albae. Noted skin xerosis to the abdomen, linea nigra vertically from pubic bone to intermediary breast. No lymph nodes on palpation. Severe striae as indicated by TSS:> 18

Diagnostic results:

  1. HCT – 36
  2. WBC 5.89
  3. Albumin – 3.7
  4. Sodium – 135
  5. Potassium – 3.7
  6. AIC – 4.6
  7. Fibrinogen – 215
  8. Rh negative

ASSESSMENT:

Primary diagnosis:

  1. Striae gravidarum and Linea Nigra:

Stretch marks, or striae gravidarum, develop in roughly 50 to 90% of pregnant women as the uterus grows inside the abdominal cavity and separates the connective tissue beneath (Oakley & Patel, 2022). Early stretch marks are reddish-purple and develop as skin collagen is damaged and blood vessels enlarge. White or brown mature stretch marks result from melanocytes or pigment-producing cells dying due to collagen remodeling. Stretch marks most frequently appear on the breasts, thighs, and abdomen (Dai et al., 2021). A woman’s skin type and family history affect the thickness of the striae. The weight gain D.W. experienced could explain the striae gravidarum, the first confirmed diagnosis, vividly noticeable to her abdomen.

Linea is a brown line visible on the abdomen, running from the umbilical to the symphysis pubis. Usually, around the second or third trimester of pregnancy, linea nigra symptoms manifest. Linea nigra hyperpigmentation is brought on by hormonal fluctuations in progesterone and estrogen during pregnancy, which lead the cells to stimulate melanocytes in the skin more (Barnawi et al., 2021). The skin’s increased melanocyte count is what makes the abdomen darker. Linea nigra is also vividly noticeable on D.W. abdomen, confirming it as the second diagnosis.

Differential Diagnosis

  1. Linear Focal Elastosis: Uncertain etiology characterizes linear focal elastosis (LFE), an unusual benign acquired elastotic disease. Clinically, it is distinguished by several asymptomatic, raised, yellowish striae-like lines or bands dispersed horizontally throughout the lower and middle portion of the posterior trunk (Florell et al., 2017). The dermis’s focused increase in elastic fibers is the histological sign of LFE. The most common differential for LFE is Striae distensae.
  2. Steroid Induced Skin Atrophy: Topical steroids applied excessively on the skin might lead to steroid-induced skin atrophy. D.W.  exceeded the recommended dosage by using cortisone at least six times daily. Two to three times a day is recommended for using cortisone cream. When applied excessively, topical cortisone creams can lead to lipocortin production that blocks enzyme phospholipase A2, resulting in erythema and striae distensae (Niculet et al., 2020). Protein catabolism and increased mitotic activity caused the enzyme phospholipase to develop, which helps to reduce inflammation. As seen in striae distensae, the atrophy brought on by excessive topical steroid use can elevate the skin, create vasoconstriction, and cause itching.
  3. Cushing’s Syndrome: Cushing’s syndrome frequently presents as different skin disorders because of endogenous glucocorticoids and hypercortisolism. Although miscarriages are uncommon during pregnancy, they are highly likely when high blood pressure is present (Chaudhry & Singh, 2022). Striae distensae, a Cushing’s syndrome-related condition, results in dark, medium-sized to wide marks on the back, hips, thighs, and belly. Stretch marks are caused in patients with this illness by significant weight gain, high cortisol levels, and thin skin.
  4. Pruritic Urticarial and Plagues of Pregnancy (PUPPP): PUPPP can develop at the end of the second trimester and continue into the third trimester in places including the belly, legs, and forearms (Ishikawa-Nishimura et al., 2021). D.W.’s belly shows extensive striae, which she describes as itchy. Target lesions on the abdomen might appear in PUPPP patients as itchy, edematous eczema lesions resembling stretch marks or a combination of stretch marks and eczema. Owing to PUPPP’s pathophysiology, it frequently goes undetected and eludes treatment during pregnancy. In PUPPP, Th2 cytokines such as IL-9 and IL-33 are upregulated. These cytokines target body parts where there is an excess of cortisol and cause hyperpigmentation, skin eruptions, and patchy white lesions with stretch marks.

Week 4: Skin Comprehensive SOAP Note

PLAN: This section is not required for the assignments in this course (NURS 6512), but will be required for future courses.

 

References

Barnawi, A. M., Barnawi, G. M., & Alamri, A. M. (2021). Women’s Health: Most Common Physiologic and Pathologic Cutaneous Manifestations During Pregnancy. Cureus, 13(7), e16539. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.16539

Chaudhry, H. S., & Singh, G. (2022). Cushing syndrome. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.

Dai, H., Liu, Y., Zhu, Y., Yu, Y., & Meng, L. (2021). Study on the methodology of striae gravidarum severity evaluation. Biomedical engineering online, 20(1), 109. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12938-021-00945-w

Florell, A. J., Wada, D. A., & Hawkes, J. E. (2017). Linear focal elastosis associated with exercise. JAAD case reports, 3(1), 39–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdcr.2016.10.012

Ishikawa-Nishimura, M., Kondo, M., Matsushima, Y., Habe, K., & Yamanaka, K. (2021). A Case of Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy: Pathophysiology and Serum Cytokine Profile. Case reports in dermatology, 13(1), 18-22. https://doi.org/10.1159/000511494

Niculet, E., Bobeica, C., & Tatu, A. L. (2020). Glucocorticoid-Induced Skin Atrophy: The Old and the New. Clinical, cosmetic and investigational dermatology, 13, 1041–1050. https://doi.org/10.2147/CCID.S224211

Oakley, A.M., & Patel, B.C. (2022). Stretch Marks. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Bipolar Illness (BD)

/in , , /by

Bipolar Illness (BD)

Bipolar Illness (BD)

By (Student Name)

Bipolar Disorder Depressed

Depression in people with bipolar illness (BD) poses significant clinical difficulties. Depression, the most common psychopathology even in BD that has been treated, is linked to excess morbidity, mortality from co-occurring general medical illnesses, and a high risk of suicide. Risks for cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and other medical conditions, as well as the accompanying mortality rates, are many times higher in BD than in the general population or those with other psychiatric conditions (Baldessarini et al., 2020). The likelihood of suicide among people with BD is 20 times higher than the rate for the general population and is higher than the rate for those with other severe psychiatric conditions. In BD, hospitalization, time spent depressed, and mixed and depressive phases are all highly linked to suicide.

Signs And Symptoms

Patients with BD frequently fear, try to avoid, report, and seek therapeutic assistance for depression. On the other hand, they might not regard little improvements in mood, vigor, activity, or libido as clinically significant hypomanic symptoms and might even enjoy such states (Barney, 2022). Diagnostic ambiguity is pervasive early in the illness and the absence of corroborating information from a family member or close friend. Initially undiagnosed, bipolar disorder (BD) is characterized by recurrent bouts of mania or hypomania that alternate with depressive episodes (Barney, 2022). Bipolar disorder’s depression phase can cause people to feel down, anxious, or empty, have little to no energy, feel like they cannot enjoy anything, sleep too little or too much, struggle to get out of bed, eat too little or too much, struggle to concentrate or remember things, struggle to make decisions, and even consider suicide or death. People may experience some or all of these symptoms. Bipolar disorder patients can experience extreme sadness and high energy levels (Barney, 2022). Those who experience depression for an extended period, often at least two weeks, are more likely to be in the depressive phase of BD. Patients may experience these episodes infrequently or frequently each year.

Pharmacological Treatments

Pharmacological treatment for bipolar disorder depressed includes FDA-approved drugs such as olanzapine and fluoxetine (OFC), quetiapine, lurasidone, cariprazine, and lumateperone. Other common BD-D treatments include classic mood stabilizers and antipsychotics (Yalin & Young, 2020). The first medication that the US FDA expressly approved to treat BD-D was OFC. While treating BD-D, lurasidone is taken alone or in conjunction with lithium or valproate. Cariprazine lessens the symptoms of depression. Recently, lumateperone was licensed for treating depression in either BD-I or BD-II disorder as a monotherapy or as an additional therapy with lithium or valproate. Lithium is beneficial in the short-term management of mood and prevention of mania, and it may be especially effective in a subset of patients (Yalin & Young, 2020). Asenapine, risperidone, clozapine, aripiprazole, and ziprasidone have not received FDA approval.

Nonpharmacological Treatments

Common nonpharmacological treatments for BD-D are electroconvulsive therapy and cognitive-behavioral therapy. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) delivers a rapid clinical reaction and can be utilized in urgent clinical conditions, including suicidal behaviors, severe psychosis or catatonia (Levenberg & Cordner, 2022). Patients with BD-D typically notice improvement after seven ECT sessions, while the number of sessions required varies considerably. There is a relatively minimal probability of negative side effects with psychotherapy. Pharmaceutical therapy is supplemented by cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT has been linked to decreased BD-D relapse rates and improved depressive symptoms.

Appropriate Community Resources and Referrals

NAMI and NAMI Affiliates provide people with information about various community resources and support on an individual and family level. For questions concerning bipolar disorder and available resources, contact the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is a national nonprofit that assists people with depression and bipolar mood disorders. The group also provides a support system for parents of kids who have pediatric mood disorders. Assistance is provided through local chapter meetings and online tools like educational videos, discussion forums, and support groups. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) is a prestigious nonprofit group of doctors and other mental health specialists committed to assisting kids, teenagers, and families experiencing mental, behavioral, or developmental issues. The AACAP offers information for parents on its website, including a link to a local pediatric and adolescent psychiatrist.

References

Baldessarini, R. J., Vázquez, G. H., & Tondo, L. (2020). Bipolar depression: a major unsolved challenge. International journal of bipolar disorders, 8(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40345-019-0160-1

Barney, A. (2022). Depression in Bipolar Disorder: What You Can Do. https://www.webmd.com/bipolar-disorder/guide/depression-symptoms

Levenberg, K., & Cordner, Z. A. (2022). Bipolar depression: a review of treatment options. General Psychiatry, 35(4).

Yalin, N., & Young, A. H. (2020). Pharmacological Treatment of Bipolar Depression: What are the Current and Emerging Options?. Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment, 16, 1459–1472. https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S245166

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Letter of Analysis – Becoming a Better Academic Writer

/in , , /by

Letter of Analysis – Becoming a Better Academic Writer

Letter of Analysis - Becoming a Better Academic Writer

Dear Royce,

I went through your classical argument and identified the following:

Praise

Your thesis or focus of the paper is clear and well developed, and sustained throughout the paper. The essay focuses on the importance of communication in the clinical environment and the consequence of communication failure. The thesis highlights the problem statement indicating that not all members are involved in communication currently, the interventions to enhance communication, including using a standardized checklist, participating in simulation-based training, and providing education on the communication process to every member, and the outcome, which is improved communication among interdisciplinary team members. These thesis elements are sustained throughout the paper, with supported information from current, peer-reviewed studies. You did well in this section, and you achieved your stated purpose. I was also impressed with your idea development corresponding to the thesis. Your reasoning is clear and logical, and every statement and point developed or argument brought forward is well-thought and convincing. Regarding idea development, I am convinced you did a proper job, which helped sustain the thesis elements throughout the paper and deliver a compelling argument.

(Letter of Analysis – Becoming a Better Academic Writer)

Recommendations

However, I have concerns about some elements of writing that you need to improve to become a better academic writer. Your thesis and idea development is proper, but your organization or rhetorical arrangement, paragraph organization, and transitions within the paragraphs need improvement. Although the ideas are well developed, the organization is flawed and sometimes fails to support the focus and unify the ideas in your essay. The organization contains gaps that, if addressed, would make the essay more aesthetic and free-flowing. Notably, the organization does not attend to the APA style regarding heading levels. The level one headings in a classical argument are the introduction, background, body (argument), opposition, refutation, and conclusion. I am more interested in the body section of the paper. Based on your thesis and main ideas, the interventions shared are subtopics within the body section and should be developed as level two headings rather than level one. Also, it is vital to use heading levels provided in word to specify level one and level two headers.

Your paragraph organization and transition within the paragraphs are a major concern. Often, a paragraph has a topic sentence, evidence, critical thinking, and a transition, meaning that a paragraph requires at least four sentences. Some paragraphs have less than four sentences and do not follow the basic paragraph model. For instance, paragraphs one and two have three sentences. Paragraph four has two sentences. Paragraph nine has three sentences. Your paragraphs should follow the basic model to be more convincing and make your essay more robust. Also, you mention research studies in some paragraphs without in-text citations, for instance, in paragraphs one, three, and five. Your refutation paragraph is not evidence supported. Notably, most of your citations are indicated at the end of the paragraph instead of within the paragraph and at the end of the evidence sentence (s). Proper citations would make your work more credible and reliable.

(Letter of Analysis – Becoming a Better Academic Writer)

Strategies for Improvement

Based on these concerns, I would advise that your review essay structuring or rhetoric organization and paragraph structuring and transition notes provided by the instructors. To improve essay structure:

  1. The Paragraph Shuffle: Create a set of index cards, with one card for each paragraph in your essay. Write one idea per index card.  If you have more than one idea in each paragraph, write the second (and third, etc.) idea on a separate card.  Now, shuffle the cards.  Inspect the order.  Try rearranging the cards to deliver your focus, ideas and overall message more effectively.
  2. Color The Categories: Use a highlighter to separate your ideas into categories. Use one color highlighter to mark all of your sentences dealing with one category in your essay. Use a different color to code the second category, etc. Now organize your essay into matching colors/categories

To improve paragraph structuring and transition within paragraphs, I recommend:

  1. Basic Paragraph Model: Use this paragraph model to make sure your body paragraphs are developed and organized so that readers can clearly understand the relationship between your ideas and the progression of your thoughts.
    1. Topic Sentence: states the main idea of this paragraph and shows how it supports the thesis
    2. Evidence: expert opinion, example, fact, statistical, or logical argument
    3. Critical Thinking: analyzes, synthesizes and/or evaluates the evidence
    4. Transition: makes a connection between the main idea of this paragraph, the thesis statement of the paper, and the main point of the next paragraph.
  2. Transition Test: or Q & A
    1. Look at the last sentence of your body paragraph.
    2. Write three questions about your main idea. Begin each question with how, why, or what.
    3. Now look at the first sentence of the following paragraph–does it answer or respond to any one of those implied questions? If not…
    4. Write the answer to the question…
    5. That answer may fit as the first sentence of your paragraph that already exists.
    6. OR! You may need to create another new paragraph.
 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!

Consumer Health Information Website Analysis Paper

/in , , /by

Consumer Health Information Website Analysis Paper

Consumer Health Information Website Analysis Paper

Consumer Health Information Website Analysis Paper

The world is in an information age as consumers seek more information to understand products, including health products. Concurrently, more information is available about health on multiple online sources, readily available to everyone with internet access. However, the credibility of the information varies because most people present as health experts on their websites, providing health information and advice without supporting evidence or authority (NIH, 2023). Most websites are for sale, and only a few provide authentic and evidence-based information for educational purposes. This paper addresses diabetes mellitus and analyzes a website offering information on diabetes mellitus, including its authority, credibility, and adequacy.

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic illness that involves abnormally high glucose levels. It is a chronic disease occurring due to impaired insulin secretion, resistance to insulin peripheral actions, or both (Xu et al., 2018). Diabetes mellitus significantly impacts the quality of life and can damage other body organs and systems, making individuals disabled and living with multiple health complications like retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy (Liu et al., 2020). Diabetes increases the risk of macrovascular complications two to four times, making an individual more susceptible to cardiovascular diseases.

Diabetes mellitus is classified into type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is marked by autoimmune damage of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, resulting in insulin deficiency (Sapra & Bhandari, 2022). It can develop at any stage of life but is more common among children and adolescents. Type 2 diabetes mellitus accounts for 90% of all diabetes mellitus cases, and its etiology is linked to insulin resistance (Sapra & Bhandari, 2022). Type 2 diabetes mellitus is more common among adults, particularly those above 45 years old, although cases are increasing among children and young adults due to sedentary lifestyles and calorie-dense foods. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy due to hyperglycemia (Sapra & Bhandari, 2022). Risk factors include age, ethnicity, family history of diabetes, physical inactivity, obesity, and smoking.

Website Description and Analysis

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) website provides information, services, and support to ensure a life free of diabetes and associated burdens or consequences. The organization’s mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and enhance people’s lives (ADA, n.d.). The organization owning the website fund research towards diabetes prevention, cure, and management, delivers associated services to American communities, offers objective and credible information, and gives voice to those facing denied rights due to diabetes.

Overall, the web pages are well arranged with working buttons to navigate the website from one page to another. The pages are visible at the top of the websites, and the reader can easily go to the webpage they are interested in. It is easy to find information. The website provides previews for the various elements and a “Learn More” or “Get Started” button that directs the reader to more information about a particular topic. The website is not text-dense and easy to read. If the reader requires more information, they can click the “Learn More” or “Get Started” button. The colors contrast perfectly, and the fonts are large enough, making reading easy. The website looks professional. The only issue is the pop-ups about donating that come up every time the website is refreshed or opened again.

The American Diabetes Association sponsors the websites. It has memberships who donate to the websites, but anyone is open to donating. The website is updated annually, but it can be more frequent when new information, evidence, or regulatory changes are made, and it has to incorporate them (ADA, n.d.). The website was created in 1995. It was last updated as recently as December last year. The website does not state whether the content is medical advice or not. All Americans comprise the intended audience because it provides information to prevent, treat, cure, and manage diabetes. It also specifically targets medical professionals, community groups, and students with the latest diabetes research and treatment and general information to enhance awareness, knowledge, and attitudes regarding diabetes prevention, cure, and management (ADA, n.d.). The information presented is appropriate for the general public and people of all ages and ethnicities.

Information Credibility

Authority

Behind the American Diabetes Association, which sponsors the website, is a network of over 565,000 volunteers, including their families and caregivers and a professional society of over 12,000 healthcare professionals and 250 staff members (ADA, n.d.). Professionals working with ADA have the expertise and authority to publish information on the websites in various forms, including panel discussions and research. ADA network of professionals offers exclusive education, career development, engagement resources, and other information and education materials for the diverse audience of the general public and healthcare professionals (ADA, n.d.). The website publishes journals providing necessary research information related to diabetes. Readers can access multiple abstracts, which also include the authors’ information and the various institutions they are affiliated with. Many are affiliated with universities and medical institutions, and some are members of the ADA research community, giving them credibility to conduct research and publish information on the website. The website does not offer a place to contact the authors, but it has a center for information where readers can leave or post their inquiries.

Bias

The website’s authors are multiple, and most publications are new updates on diabetes and research journals. There are publications on general health information, including food and nutrition, weight loss criteria, health and wellness, and diabetes care products, without mentioned authors, only the date when they were last updated (ADA, n.d.). The website is professional and does not indicate any form of bias in the information published. The publications are not promoting any products but offer information to help people prevent, cure, and manage diabetes, including information on lifestyle choices that enhance the quality of life.

Supporting Evidence

ADA website is a professional one with various types of publications. Some publications provide general information on various topics without reference lists indicating supporting evidence. On the other hand, there are journals or research publications available as abstracts for the general public, but full articles can be accessed only by members (ADA, n.d.). The journals have a complete list of works cited, referencing credible and authoritative sources. The information presented as research publications is valid and supported by evidence. The website is committed to providing objective information, and its purpose is clear. The information posted on the website includes peer-reviewed and scholarly articles which are credible, reliable, and valid sources of information in terms of accuracy. The publications providing general information are consistent with the wide knowledge of diabetes. Readers can click on multiple links directing them to additional, valuable resources with minimum effort, although it is easier for members who can access full publications.

Adequacy

The website is educative, providing informative publications in different forms, including statistics, research publications, education guides on healthy living, and additional tools, products, and resources the audience can access to learn more about diabetes prevention, treatment, and management (ADA, n.d.). The educational information is adequate, and the audience does not have to go elsewhere to get answers about topics presented on the websites. The consumer can access general information on the various web pages and gain more information by accessing multiple research journals published on the website. The information targets every individual, and the level of information sophistication, especially on publications providing general information on diabetes, is elementary to ease understanding and provide uncomplicated data. More technical and advanced information is provided in the research journals. The website communicates its clear purpose through its mission and vision statements, and the information published on it corresponds with its purpose. The website is intended to educate the general public on diabetes.

References

American Diabetes Association (ADA). (n.d.). Diabetes. https://diabetes.org/

Liu, J., Ren, Z. H., Qiang, H., Wu, J., Shen, M., Zhang, L., & Lyu, J. (2020). Trends in the incidence of diabetes mellitus: results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 and implications for diabetes mellitus prevention. BMC public health, 20(1), 1415. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09502-x

National Institute on Aging (NIH). (2023, January 12). How To Find Reliable Health Information Online. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/how-find-reliable-health-information-online

Sapra, A., & Bhandari, P. (2022). Diabetes mellitus. In: StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls Publishing.

Xu, G., Liu, B., Sun, Y., Du, Y., Snetselaar, L. G., Hu, F. B., & Bao, W. (2018). Prevalence of diagnosed type 1 and type 2 diabetes among US adults in 2016 and 2017: population based study. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 362, k1497. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.k1497

 
Do you need a similar assignment done for you from scratch? Order now!
Use Discount Code "Newclient" for a 15% Discount!