NURS 8100 Selecting a Policy Analysis Framework
Thank you for sharing your chosen policy topic, which is Genetic Data Privacy, and your selection of the Fawcett and Russell Conceptual Model of Nursing and Health Policy as the framework for analyzing this policy. It’s evident that genetic data privacy is an important and evolving issue, especially with the rise of genetic testing services and the potential implications for individuals’ privacy and healthcare access.
Your choice of level five within the conceptual model as the most relevant level for addressing the privacy of genetic information makes sense. Ensuring that genetic data remains private to prevent insurance denials is indeed a matter of social justice and a fair distribution of healthcare resources. It’s crucial to protect individuals from potential discrimination based on their genetic information.
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Moreover, your consideration of levels two and three of the model for guiding healthcare institutions in policy development and assessing policy effectiveness is also valuable. Healthcare institutions play a critical role in implementing policies related to genetic data privacy, and these levels help in translating high-level policy goals into practical strategies and evaluating their impact.
The use of a framework like the Fawcett and Russell Conceptual Model can simplify the process of engaging with policy development, making it more accessible for healthcare professionals, including nurses, who may not have extensive experience in policy work. By providing a structured approach to understanding and influencing healthcare policy, such frameworks empower healthcare professionals to actively participate in shaping healthcare policies that directly impact patient care.
Your insights into how this framework applies to the policy issue of genetic data privacy are well-reasoned, and your discussion highlights the importance of this policy issue in today’s healthcare landscape. Thank you for sharing your perspective on this matter.
References:
Fawcett, J., & Russell, G. (2001). A conceptual model of Nursing and health policy. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 2(2), 108–116. https://doi.org/10.1177/152715440100200205
Fording, A. (2021, February 25). Consumer Data Privacy Laws:2021 State Trends. Fiscal Note Blog. https://fiscalnote.com/blog/2021-state-trends-the-rise-of-consumer-data-protection
The chosen policy deals with setting up wellness programs for state agency employees, as specified in the Texas Government Code, Section 664.053. The health of these employees impacts how much the state spends on healthcare and how productive state agencies are. For instance, overweight individuals cost their employers about $5,555 per year, which includes medical expenses, sick days, disability claims, and workers’ compensation. In contrast, employees with a healthy weight cost around $3,839 annually (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2020).
The Texas Government Code, Section 664.053, mandates the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to appoint a wellness coordinator responsible for creating and promoting a wellness program model for state agencies. This law also requires DSHS to study how well these wellness programs are being implemented and how many people are participating, reporting these findings to the Legislature every two years. In 2020, DSHS conducted two surveys: one was sent to wellness liaisons from different state agencies in Texas to inquire about wellness programs at their workplaces, and the other was sent to state employees to understand their use of wellness-related resources.
From the survey of wellness liaisons, 65 out of 188 responded, which is a 35 percent response rate. An overwhelming 99 percent of those respondents stated that their agency had a wellness policy, with 55 percent having a wellness plan involving various activities. However, 46 percent of liaisons mentioned that their agency didn’t have a wellness budget. Most wellness activities in state agencies required minimal resources to fit within limited budgets, time constraints, agency sizes, and available space. The survey of state employees saw 5,840 respondents out of 145,645, which is a 4 percent response rate. A majority of respondents found wellness services and benefits useful but weren’t aware of the full range of opportunities available. This suggests the need for more awareness-raising efforts.
DSHS leadership and the Statewide Wellness Coordinator will continue to provide technical support to wellness liaisons as they implement wellness programs at their agencies. They will also carry out statewide initiatives that align with the goals of the model wellness program called Work Well Texas (Texas Department of State Health Services, 2020).
The chosen policy analysis framework is John Kingdon’s multiple streams theory. This theory differentiates between governmental agendas and decision agendas. The governmental agenda is the list of issues receiving attention from governmental officials and those associated with them. An issue makes it to the governmental agenda when it captures the interest of policymakers. Kingdon’s model expands the actors involved in agenda-setting, including individuals and groups linked to decision-makers. Since policymakers face numerous complex issues, only a few make it from the governmental agenda to the decision agenda. The decision agenda is a subset of the governmental agenda where issues are ready for active decisions.
Kingdon’s theory explains that agendas change over time and consists of three streams: the problems stream, the policy stream, and the political stream. These streams interact, and a policy entrepreneur can play a pivotal role when windows of opportunity open for change (Capella, 2020).
Currently, the policy is in the implementation stage, with DSHS focusing on aligning statewide initiatives with the model wellness program’s objectives. They plan to continue supporting wellness liaisons in their program implementations and will initiate projects at state agencies not yet participating in wellness programs. These projects may involve promoting lactation support policies, collaborating with cafeteria and vending operators to provide healthier food options in state buildings, and maintaining annual initiatives such as the fitness challenge and wellness conference. The aim is to offer evidence-based, ready-to-implement activities to minimize the effort and time required by other agencies for developing their programs. State agencies will only need to make minor logistical changes to integrate these activities. Lastly, through ongoing collaboration with the Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS), DSHS will address state-level issues related to enhancing employee health, increasing awareness of available benefits, establishing wellness infrastructure across agencies, and providing resources and technical assistance.
References
Capella, A. C. N. (2020). Policy agenda-setting studies: an overview of Brazilian research. Revista de Administração Pública, 54, 1498-1512.
Texas Department of State Health Services (2020). Implementation and Participation in State Agency Worksite Wellness
The policy regarding Genetic Data Privacy is still in the development phase, and there are crucial issues that need consideration. Firstly, the question of data ownership arises. Secondly, it’s important to determine how this data will be utilized. Lastly, we must contemplate the consequences of sharing genetic information. These questions don’t have simple answers, but it’s crucial to engage in a discussion about them (Bennett & Raab, 2017). With the increasing collection and storage of genetic information by numerous companies, safeguarding our privacy becomes paramount. Otherwise, we could find ourselves in a situation where our DNA could be used against us, for instance, in decisions related to insurance or employment.
In addition to Fawcett and Russell’s (2001) Conceptual Model of Nursing and Health Policy, another applicable conceptual model of nursing, developed by Jacqueline Fawcett and Gail Russell in 2001, can provide a more comprehensive approach to analyzing this policy (Fawcett & Russell, 2019). Some essential elements to consider in the development of this policy framework include:
– Establishing clear rules and regulations governing who can access genetic data and under what circumstances (e.g., only with the individual’s consent) (Fontaine, 2018).
– Ensuring that individuals have the right to know how their genetic data is used and shared, and that they can provide or withhold consent for its use as they see fit.
References
Bennett, C. J., & Raab, C. D. (2017). The governance of privacy: Policy instruments in global perspective. Routledge.
Fawcett, J., & Russell, G. (2019). A conceptual model of Nursing and health policy. Policy, Politics, & Nursing Practice, 2(2), 108–116. https://doi.org/10.1177/152715440100200205
Fontaine, T. M. (2018). A Policy Analysis of the Provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Related to Access to Primary Care for Older Adults. https://doi.org/10.28971/532015FT149
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