In order to effectively care for patients in your clinical setting, you must be familiar with the community in which you practice. Your knowledge of community factors

that might impact healthy living will help you develop strategies for influencing health behavior changes among patients. An effective way to learn about communities

from the patient population perspective is through the use of windshield surveys. By driving around and examining a community or walking around with a community

member, you can gain a better understanding of a community’s environment, culture, and resources. For this Discussion, you conduct a windshield survey in your

practicum setting’s community and consider ways to influence behavior changes among patients within the community.
To prepare:
Review this week’s media presentations as well as the “Windshield and Walking Survey” article in the Learning Resources.
Conduct a windshield survey in your practicum setting’s community.
Based on this windshield survey, reflect on your community assessment.
Consider the implications of what you observed (e.g., environment, culture, etc.) on the behaviors of patients within this community. Think about any barriers to

healthy living.
Think about culturally competent strategies you might use to influence behavior changes within this community.

Give a brief description of the community in which your practicum setting is located. Then, based on your windshield survey, explain your community assessment,

including how the environment, culture, and other aspects of the community may influence the behaviors of patients within this community. Also, identify any barriers

to healthy living you have observed. Finally, explain culturally competent strategies you might use to influence behavior changes among patients in this community.

Readings
Green, J., & Tones, K. (2010). Health promotion: Planning and strategies (2nd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.
Chapter 7, “Education for Health” (Review pp. 297–355)

This chapter explores the importance of health education in health promotion. It also examines the role of health education in influencing social and political change.
Chapter 8, “Mass Communication” (pp. 356–397)

This chapter examines the role of mass media in influencing health behavior changes. It also identifies strengths and limitations of media interventions for health

promotion.
The Community Tool Box. (2013). Windshield and walking surveys. Retrieved from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/tablecontents/chapter3-section21-main.aspx

This article examines components of windshield and walking surveys. It explains their purpose, when to conduct them, who should conduct them, and how to conduct them.
Media