Ecological Model

Social support and access to quality health care services can have an impact on breast cancer screening. Using the ecological model can help understand how to reduce risk of breast cancer on the individual level and population level determinants of health. At the individual level, when there is a lack of follow-up after receiving an abnormality it is important for the individual to engage in patient advocacy where they can ask doctors questions about risks or other concerns. At the interpersonal level, health care providers can serve as sources of support to overcome individual level barriers such as making screening recommendations to the patient (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, 2013). In addition, at the organizational …show more content…
According to the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHECH), the health educator is responsible for building relationships with other partners. For instance, breast cancer survivors can share their personal experiences and highlight the importance of early detection to encourage other women who are thinking about screening early in the implementation program. The health educator must also consider which resources will promote positive health outcomes for breast cancer prevention through data collection strategies. For example, the health educator can determine from the data results whether an awareness walk, social media, or interactive telephone conversation with the provider would be convenient for the targeted population. Once resources are identified, it the health educator’s role is to organize the activities. When having a phone conversation with the provider, the health educator can have breast cancer screening guidelines to evaluate access and quality health care. By serving as a resourceful person, the health educator can effectively communicate information to patients to trigger follow-up and screening