Northern Brain Injury Association Reflection Essay

Northern Brain Injury Association

Joseph Tan

College of New Caledonia

Kathy Yeulet

NURS 203

February 2, 2016

Northern Brain Injury Association

According to statistics, 452 people suffer a brain injury in Canada, which amounts to one person injured with a traumatic brain injury every 3 minutes (Northern Brain Association, 2014).

Brain injuries lead to permanent disability, death, and negative coping behaviors for a patient who has a brain injury. Brain injuries are a significant issue in Canada and need to be addressed. Organizations, such as the Northern Brain Injury Association (NBIA), address these by initiating preventive measures against brain injuries, educating people about brain injuries, and providing support to patients with brain injury and their family. The purpose of this paper is to discuss health promotion, the NBIA as a health promoter, the advantages and disadvantages of the NBIA in promoting family health, and how and when would people be referred to the NBIA.

Health Promotion

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines health promotion as a “ process of enabling people to increase control over, and to improve, their health” (World Health Organization, 2016). Health promotion is a significant aspect of the contemporary health care system. It reduces the incidence of diseases, injury, and accidents. Moreover, it alleviates the financial burden on the health care system and social service systems. Reducing the financial burden on healthcare system and social service systems can help save some resources that may be allocated to other projects that can help the community.

There are various strategies where community or organization can promote health, such as building public health policy, creating supportive environments, strengthening community action, developing personal skills, and reorienting health services (BC Ministry of Health, 2014). It is important that these strategies are directed towards the social determinants of health. The presence of organizations, such as the Northern Brain Injury Association will help reduce the incidence of injuries and accidents and preserve, if not improve, the health of the community.

Health Promotion via Prevention, Education, and Support

        The NBIA is a health promoter/protector because they initiate measures to prevent brain injuries, educates people about brain injuries, and support people with brain injuries. The NBIA initiates preventive measures by encouraging the public to use protective equipment, such as helmets. They also provide information on how to fit helmets properly. It is important that the helmet sits level on the head and rests low on the forehead with the straps forming a Y under each earlobe laying flat against the head (Northern Brain Injury Association, 2014).

Moreover, they increase awareness to the slips, trips, and falls.  “Falls are a major cause of brain injury and the number one location for falls is at home” (Northern Brain Injury Association, 2014). Cloutier and Albert noted that setting a target of 20% reduction in falls among elderly in British Columbia (BC), would lead to 1,400 fewer hospital stays, 350 fewer elderly people disabled, and savings of over $25 million per year (Northern Brain Injury Association, 2014). Addressing major risk factors that contribute to the incidence of brain injury may help reduce its prevalence in Canada.  In addition, they have conducted studies on how road accidents occur due to cellphone use and has distributed the results of their findings through brochures, which are available at their main office and at their website (Northern Brain Injury Association, 2014).

Second, the NBIA also provides brain injury education, which talks about the structure and function of the brain, causes of brain injury, effects of brain injury, and the symptoms of brain injury. They educate patients with brain injury and their families through various means. They have released booklets, such as “The Healing Path” and “Understanding the New Me After Brain Injury” (Northern Brain Injury Association, 2014). These booklets prove to be valuable resources, which help people have an understanding of what it feels like to have a brain injury. Moreover, the booklets act as a guide for family members on how to care for patients with brain injury. Aside from booklets, they have also posted videos offering the same information, which can be accessed through their website. Furthermore, the NBIA travels to various communities to deliver educational workshops where they teach the community all about brain injuries.

Finally, the NBIA offers support to patients with brain injury and their families by responding to their needs and referring them to appropriate service providers. The NBIA helps the patient and the family to identify the challenges associated with the condition and strategies that may be employed to cope with the condition. If the NBIA cannot adequately meet the needs of the patient and the family, they will refer them to appropriate service providers or brain injury community support groups, such as Prince George Brain Injured Group Society (PGBIG) (Northern Brain Injury Association, 2014).

Preventing the incidence of injuries and accidents, offering education, and providing support are the key to improving a community’s health and keeps the rising health costs under control. Investing time, money, and effort in preventive healthcare and supportive care can bring immense benefits to the people with brain injuries. Preventive healthcare reduces the risks of disability or death, and less expensive than treating or managing the complications associated with the injury. Supportive care helps decreases the emotional and physical burden of the patient with brain injury and the family who is caring for the patient.