Week of 4/1-4/5

Daily Descriptions 

• Monday 4/1

• Today, I worked remotely and finished September’s handout on the health effects of artificial sweeteners. Ensuring that each paragraph is written at a health literacy level applicable to a wide range of employees takes a significant amount of time because I have been so used to writing at a highly academic level. This in conjunction with making sure that spacing and formatting is symmetrical and looks aesthetically pleasing makes these handouts a tedious task, yet one that I learn a great deal from. I also began to research and gather information on the War on Cancer, beginning with President Nixon’s National Cancer Act of 1971. This week is Kendra’s Spring Break, so I am planning to knock out a good chunk of the remainder health education handout and corresponding quizzes I have left for the year. 

• Tuesday 4/2

• Today, I worked remotely and continued to gather information on the War on Cancer, the reasons for its passage, its implications and success, associated criticisms and controversies, modern cancer trends and statistics, and healthy practices to mitigate the change of developing cancer. I also included information on the modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors associated with cancer diagnosis, and made sure to explain the difference between the two. Then, I attended our monthly 5K at Sandy Creek Nature Center. I brought a friend and we walked 3.1 miles along the Greenway, running into friendly ACCGov employees' faces. The trail was marked off for the 5K and snacks were provided, which were definitely two aspects of the overall event that made it more successful, in my opinion. 

• Wednesday 4/3

• Today, I worked remotely and continued to work on September’s handout on Nixon’s War on Cancer and modern cancer trends and innovations. I wrote the corresponding paragraphs for each section and developed a Canva handout. I also created the corresponding quiz, which ACCGov employees can take to receive credit to lower their health insurance rates. 

• Thursday 4/4

• Today, I organized each of the health education handouts I have created so far into a more straightforward manner so that it will be easier for Kendra to access the resources for the months after my internship is complete. I also caught up on the corresponding health education quizzes for May until September. These quizzes must be written at a level that corresponds to a variety of health literacy levels and directly incorporates information from the handout. Sometimes it can be challenging to make questions that are not too easy and still make individuals think critically. I also began to gather research on October’s health education handout, which will be on lead exposure and its ramifications on human health. As of now, I only have October, November, and December health education handout and corresponding quizzes to create and finalize. Since I have created so many at this point, I have the process down and know the areas to dedicate more time in creating the handout. 

• Friday ⅘

• Today, I created a document of a list of spices with their associated health benefits for an employee at the Solid Waste Department. After Kendra’s and my presentation last week, he asked for more information so that he could incorporate spices into his diet more. I provided him with the presentation I created, some handouts on spices I have developed, as well as some helpful infographics I found with beneficial information. I also continued to research and organize information for October’s health education handout. 

Weekly Summary

Throughout the week, I dedicated my remote workdays to various tasks aimed at promoting health education and wellness among ACCGov employees. On Monday, I finalized a handout on the health effects of artificial sweeteners, ensuring accessibility to a broad audience while delving into the complexities of the topic. Concurrently, I began research on the War on Cancer, tracing its origins to President Nixon's National Cancer Act of 1971. Tuesday involved further exploration of cancer-related topics, alongside participation in a 5K event promoting physical activity and community engagement. Wednesday saw progress on the cancer-focused handout and quiz creation, aimed at incentivizing employee health awareness. Thursday involved organizing existing resources and catching up on pending tasks, including preparing for future topics like lead exposure. The week concluded with addressing individual employee needs, such as providing detailed information on spices' health benefits, while continuing research on upcoming health education materials.

Responsibilities and Competencies 

• 4.4.2- Compare findings to other evaluations or studies.

• I met this competency by including information on artificial sweeteners from various sources and points of view, including the FDA, WHO, American Heart Association, etc., as well as the most recent and impactful studies on artificial sweeteners. 

• 4.4.3- Identify limitations and delimitations of findings.

• I met this competency by making sure to include information on how many studies on artificial sweeteners are limited and inconsistent. Also, many studies likely have potential conflicts of interests as artificial sweetener manufacturing companies fund and disseminate study findings that fit their narrative. 

• 4.4.6- Synthesize findings. 

• I met this competency by gathering research on the War on Cancer and its implications and created a corresponding outline that provides a comprehensive overview of the topic. 

• 8.1.4- Promote health equity.

• I met this competency by attending the 5K at Sandy Creek Nature Center as individuals were encouraged to walk, run, jog, bike, or whatever exercise they could perform, which promotes physical activity for all kinds of individuals. 

• 5.2.6- Identify organizational policies and procedures and federal, state, and local laws that pertain to the advocacy efforts.

• I met this competency by evaluating the legislation, subsequent policies, and the outcomes associated with the War on Cancer, which the federal government has spent billions of dollars on– more than any other disease. 

• 4.5.4- Translate findings into practice and interventions.

• I met this competency by providing information on robust health behaviors to mitigate one’s chance of developing cancer, in a manner that tied to the other subtopics included in the handout. 

• 6.1.2- Identify the assets, needs, and characteristics of the audience(s) that affect communication and message design (e.g., literacy levels, language, culture, and cognitive and perceptual abilities).

• I met this competency by creating the health education quizzes, which must be written at a level that is understandable and straightforward to the average ACCGov employee, but still challenging enough that they must think critically to gain the associated health credits in their Wellness portal. 

• 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 evaluating the health literacy status of the average ACCGov employee on lead exposure and its health effects and reduction measures to provide a resource that meets their needs. 

• 6.4.3- Develop communication aids, materials, or tools using appropriate multimedia (e.g., infographics, presentation software, brochures, and posters).

• I met this competency by providing a comprehensive list of resources of healthy spices and their associated health benefits that included various infographics, Canva handouts, and PowerPoint presentations. 

• 1.2.1- Identify primary data, secondary data, and evidence-informed resources.

• I met this competency by researching various sources regarding the lead exposure movement of the 1980s and its subsequent consequences and health effects. 

Reflection 

Throughout the week, I focused on creating accessible health education materials for ACCGov employees. Beginning with finalizing a handout on artificial sweeteners' health effects, I navigated the transition from academic writing to a more digestible format, a task that proved both time-consuming and enriching. Concurrently, I delved into researching the War on Cancer, aiming to provide comprehensive insights into its origins and implications. Attending the 5K event further underscored my commitment to promoting health equity through inclusive physical activities. Subsequent days involved refining handouts and quizzes, ensuring they catered to varying health literacy levels while exploring topics like cancer trends and lead exposure. Additionally, I addressed individual needs by providing detailed information on spices' health benefits, demonstrating adaptability in communication aids and materials.

Reflecting on the week's accomplishments, I engaged with various competencies integral to my role. By synthesizing diverse findings on artificial sweeteners and the War on Cancer, I fulfilled competencies in comparing and analyzing research outcomes. Moreover, I identified limitations in existing studies and advocated for evidence-based practices, particularly regarding cancer prevention and mitigation strategies. Attending the 5K event aligned with my commitment to promoting health equity by fostering inclusive physical activity opportunities. Crafting quizzes and materials tailored to diverse audience characteristics highlighted my understanding of effective communication design and health literacy considerations. Furthermore, my research on lead exposure underscored the importance of evidence-informed resources in addressing pressing health concerns. Overall, the week encapsulated a holistic approach to health education and advocacy within the ACCGov community.