Week of 3/11-3/15

Daily Descriptions 

• Monday 3/11

• Today, I worked remotely and researched various medical and public health advancements of the 1930s and 40s for the next health education handout I will be working on. I gathered information on the synthesis of steroids, the discovery of the parathyroid and its functions, the use of amphetamines during World War, and the role of dentistry and oral health throughout World War 2, which I ended up choosing to research further. 

• Tuesday 3/12

• Today, I worked remotely and further researched the role dental officers played in World War 2 and how those efforts later transferred to civilian dental health, thereby preventing gum diseases and oral health complications for years to come. I provided sufficient information on the historical ties, an overview of what oral health means and what it means to have a “healthy mouth,” consequences of poor oral health, the link between nutrition and oral health, and optimal practices to improve oral hygiene. I took my notes and chunked them up into logical sections to facilitate the process of writing the associated paragraphs. This all took roughly 5 hours. 

• Wednesday 3/13

• Today, I met Kendra to go over her feedback on April’s health education quiz and later on made the corresponding edits. I attended our spin class, where I recognized friendly faces and welcomed newcomers. Participating in this program has enabled me to understand the benefits of the ACC Wellness program in providing free exercise classes for employees to improve their health and well-being. I also took all of the paragraphs I had written yesterday and plugged them into a Canva document I created. Developing these handouts is tedious and takes time in order to make them look as professional and informational as possible. 

• Thursday 3/14

• Today, I attended our Caregiver Support Session for March, which provided insightful information on cognition and communication. Attending these programs have been my favorite so far because I see how valuable it is for caregivers to take an hour out of their month for themselves and be in a supportive group setting. I helped set up, engage with participants, and ensure that the program ran smoothly. I also gathered some notes on simple and healthy recipes with spices for Kendra and my presentation at the Solid Waste Department at the end of the month. We are going to make the recipe and demonstrate to workers how to make the recipe themselves. 

• Friday 3/15

• Today, I worked remotely and began creating an Excel sheet for next week’s cooking demo. I included information regarding each participant's needed ingredients and contact information. 

Weekly Summary 

During the week of March 11th to March 15th, various activities were undertaken in the realm of research, health education, and community engagement. Beginning on Monday 3/11, remote research was conducted into medical and public health advancements of the 1930s and 40s. This exploration covered topics such as the synthesis of steroids, the discovery of the parathyroid, and the role of dentistry and oral health during World War 2. Subsequently, Tuesday 3/12 saw a continuation of remote work, focusing specifically on the role of dental officers during the war and their impact on civilian dental health. Detailed information was provided on historical ties, oral health importance, and practices for improving oral hygiene. Wednesday 3/13 involved meetings with Kendra to discuss feedback on health education quizzes and attendance at a spin class, highlighting the benefits of the ACC Wellness program for employee health. Additionally, written paragraphs were transferred into a Canva document for a health education handout. Thursday 3/14 featured participation in a Caregiver Support Session, contributing insights on cognition and communication while also gathering notes on healthy recipes for an upcoming presentation. Finally, on Friday 3/15, remote work focused on creating an Excel sheet for an upcoming cooking demo, detailing participant ingredients and contact information.

Responsibilities & Competencies 

• 1.1.3- Identify existing and available resources, policies, programs, practices, and interventions.

• I met this competency by gathering information on what the optimal health education topic should be for June based off previous years topics and upcoming events to entice employees to attend, which is how I ended up on the significance of oral health. 

• 1.4.2- Prioritize health education and promotion needs.

• I met this competency by emphasizing health education and promotion needs while researching so that the purpose of the handout, to raise awareness of the importance of oral health, is sufficiently met. 

• 1.2.5- Determine the validity and reliability of the secondary data.

• I met this competency by researching various sources on oral health and its links to other conditions and nutrition, and chose the sources with the highest validity and reliability based on the relevance and accuracy to the information provided. 

• 1.3.2- Determine the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, skills, and behaviors that impact the health and health literacy of the priority population(s).

• I met this competency by gathering information from conversations I had with ACCGov employees at the last dental screening and knowledge from other endeavors throughout my internship to gauge which information on oral health would most benefit employees. 

• 1.4.5-  Report assessment findings.

• I met this competency by creating a Canva handout with straightforward information on the significance of oral health and how to best implement optimal practices in everyday live to promote oral health and overall well-being. 

• 3.3.3- Modify interventions as needed to meet individual needs.

• I met this competency by making edits to April’s health education quiz based on the feedback I received. 

• 6.1.1- Segment the audience(s) to be addressed, as needed.

• I met this competency by helping facilitate our caregiver support program because these sessions must be tailored to various individuals experiencing loved ones with cognitive decline. 

• 6.2.3- Identify factors that facilitate and/or hinder the intended outcome of the communication.

• I met this competency by furthering my knowledge on how to best implement programs for caregivers because of how tough it is for caregivers to take time to care for themselves. Work, other family members, financial limitations, etc. determine whether ACCGov employees can attend, which is beneficial to know when evaluating the efficacy of these programs. 

Reflection 

Reflecting on the past week, I find myself immersed in a diverse array of tasks that have deepened my understanding of health education and community engagement. Beginning with research into medical and public health advancements of the 1930s and 40s, I delved into topics ranging from the synthesis of steroids to the role of dentistry and oral health during World War 2. This initial exploration laid the groundwork for a deeper investigation into the role of dental officers in preventing oral health complications, as I spent Tuesday distilling historical ties and practical insights into oral hygiene. Wednesday brought a fruitful exchange with Kendra, where her feedback on health education quizzes spurred thoughtful revisions. Engaging in the ACC Wellness program's spin class not only invigorated me physically but also reinforced the program's broader benefits for employee well-being. The meticulous task of compiling paragraphs into a professional Canva document underscored the importance of clarity and accessibility in health education materials. Thursday's Caregiver Support Session offered an important reminder of the value of community support, as I assisted in facilitating meaningful discussions on cognition and communication. Gathering notes for an upcoming presentation on healthy recipes added a tangible dimension to our outreach efforts. Finally, Friday saw the commencement of preparations for a cooking demo, reinforcing the valuable impacts of our educational initiatives. As I reflect on the week's endeavors, I am reminded of the interconnectedness of research, education, and community outreach in promoting holistic well-being.