Capstone project | health 404 | Morgan State University

Public Health Capstone

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According to the Centers for Disease Control, COVID-19 has disproportionately affected many marginalized communities here in the United States. A recent CDC study shows that, once fully vaccinated, a person’s risk of infection is reduced by up to 90% (CDC, 2021). Current data also suggest that COVID-19 vaccines offer protection against the variants circulating in the United States (CDC, 2021). However, there is still a significant amount of skepticism among minorities. Some of this skepticism is noted to stem from historical implications which have limited human rights and justice—particularly as it pertains to research. This is evidenced by controversial studies such as the Tuskegee and Henrietta Lacks studies.

Further, the efficacy seen in clinical trials is now being shown in the real world. Therefore, there has been a disproportionate level of minority participation in COVID-19 clinical trials. Some research presents contributing factors as being lack of doctor office support while treating minorities and limited access to the actual locations where clinical trials are held.

Application:

First read the following on implications of vaccinations and clinical trials in marginalized communities, as noted below:

To learn more about the distrust in minority communities with respect to getting vaccinated and participating in COVID-19 clinical trials, review the following resources:

Article#1: https://abcnews.go.com/US/minority-communities-distrust-covid-19-vaccine-poses-challenge/story?id=74503429 (Links to an external site.)

Article#2: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2021971 (Links to an external site.)

Video: https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2104757 (Links to an external site.)

Based on what you have learned about minorities and possible barriers to getting vaccinated and participating in COVID-19 clinical trials, you have been tasked to identify possible strategies to promote vaccinations and clinical trial participation by using the enclosed 

Public health work involves a certain investment within communities that present unique factors, such as limited access to care, and inequitable resources.

With respect to this role, you are to draft a two-page narrative that proposes a minimum of 3 strategies that address the promotion of both (1) vaccinations and (2) participation in clinical trials. Project narratives are used to define ideas for a project or proposal and describe how the ideas will be carried out.

Here is what is to be considered when presenting the project narrative: 

Audience: You will be expected to communicate the health relevance of the project to the public (the marginalized community of your choice).

Note: Marginalized communities are communities confined to the lower or peripheral edge of the society. Such a group is denied involvement in mainstream economic, political, cultural, and social activities due to their living conditions, lifestyles, or exclusion.

Scope: Briefly describe how, in the short or long term, the selected strategies would contribute to the needs of marginalized communities and applied to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness of COVID-19. In other words, how would these strategies mobilize these communities to better health practices as they pertain to COVID-19 response efforts?

Strategy:

1. Select a minimum of (3) strategies that support increased COVID-19 vaccinations among marginalized communities. Provide a minimum 30-word rationale for each strategy.
2. Select a minimum of (3) strategies that support increased clinical trial use among marginalized communities. Provide a minimum 30-word rationale for each strategy.
3. Last, summarize the overall importance of infusing the strategies to meet marginalized communities at the level of their needs.

Be clear and stay within the scope of how, when, and where the plan will be implemented. You may use SMART goals to ensure that you provide inclusive and realistic planning strategies. Here is an example of how to use SMART goals here: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/smart-goals (Links to an external site.)

References:

Centers for Disease Control (2021, December 10). COVID-19 racial and ethnic disparities. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/health-equity/racial-ethnic-disparities/increased-risk-illness.html (Links to an external site.)

IGI Global (n.d.). What is marginalized communities? https://www.igi-global.com/dictionary/technologies-for-digital-inclusion/50719#:~:text=In%20general%20terms%2C%20marginalized%20communities%20are%20communities%20confined,due%20to%20their%20living%20conditions%2C%20lifestyles%20or%20exclusion (Links to an external site.).