Healthcare Problem Assignment

Overview of Emerging Infectious Diseases

The healthcare problem in focus is emerging infectious diseases. Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) represent a pressing global healthcare issue, driven by factors such as globalization, climate change, antimicrobial resistance, and increased human-animal interactions. These diseases include novel pathogens like COVID-19, Zika virus, and Ebola, which have reshaped public health priorities worldwide. According to Akello (2025), the professional relevance of EIDs lies in their ability to overwhelm healthcare systems, disrupt economies, and expose weaknesses in global health preparedness. Nurses, physicians, epidemiologists, and policymakers must collaborate to strengthen surveillance, prevention, and rapid response strategies. The unpredictability of EIDs underscores the importance of evidence-based interventions, including antimicrobial stewardship, global collaboration, and investment in research and development (Alexakis et al., 2026).

Personal Interest in the Topic

My interest in EIDs stems from their intersection with public health, epidemiology, and nursing practice. As a nursing student, I recognize the critical role nurses play in patient education, infection control, and frontline response during outbreaks. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted how quickly healthcare systems can be strained, and how essential it is for nurses to adapt to evolving protocols while supporting patients and communities. This topic resonates with my academic focus on population health and my professional goal of contributing to evidence-based nursing practice that addresses global health challenges. It also encourages me to appreciate interdisciplinary collaboration, continuous learning, and the importance of translating current research into practical strategies that improve patient outcomes across diverse healthcare settings.

Professional Experience with EIDs

Professionally, I have encountered the impact of infectious diseases in clinical settings, particularly in maternal and pediatric care. For example, during rotations, I observed how infection prevention protocols were intensified during COVID-19 surges, affecting patient flow and care delivery. Additionally, I have studied the role of surveillance systems in identifying outbreaks early, which directly influences nursing responsibilities in triage and patient education. These experiences have reinforced my commitment to understanding EIDs not only as a scientific issue but also as a human-centered challenge requiring compassion, resilience, and interdisciplinary collaboration. They also strengthened my appreciation for effective communication, timely reporting, ethical decision-making, and coordinated teamwork in consistently protecting vulnerable populations and improving healthcare preparedness through evidence-informed nursing practice.

Discussion of Research

Applying Library Research Skills

The process of identifying relevant journal articles on emerging infectious diseases required deliberate application of library research skills. I began by accessing the Capella University Library and using its database search tools to locate scholarly literature through CINAHL Plus with Full Text, PubMed Central, and the Annual Reviews Collection. These databases are well-regarded for peer-reviewed, evidence-based publications in nursing, public health, and epidemiology. My initial search involved broad keywords such as emerging infectious diseases, pandemic preparedness, and global health surveillance. I then refined my search using Boolean operators, combining terms like climate change AND infectious diseases and digital health AND surveillance. This iterative process allowed me to narrow results to highly relevant, recent publications.

Keyword Selection

The keywords were critical in guiding my search. For the first article, I used the keywords “climate change” AND “infectious diseases,” which led me to Anikeeva et al. (2024). For the second, I applied public health surveillance AND emerging infections, yielding Jia et al. (2023). Finally, for the third, I searched for “digital health AND infectious disease surveillance,” which identified Shausan et al. (2023). These keywords aligned with the interventions outlined in the assessment supplement, including surveillance, global collaboration, and antimicrobial stewardship, ensuring that the articles addressed the broader context of EIDs.

Criteria for Article Selection

My selection criteria emphasized peer-reviewed sources published within the last five years, ensuring currency and relevance. Each article was evaluated for its contribution to understanding EIDs, its methodological rigor, and its applicability to nursing and public health practice. For example, Anikeeva et al. (2024) was chosen for its exploration of climate change as a driver of infectious disease emergence, a critical environmental determinant of health. Jia et al. (2023) was selected for its comprehensive review of innovations in surveillance that are directly relevant to outbreak detection. Shausan et al. (2023) was included for its focus on digital health technologies, reflecting the growing role of data science in healthcare.

Locating Relevant Articles

Locating relevant articles required persistence, as initial searches often yielded broad or tangential results. I identified sources that met the assignment criteria by refining keywords and applying filters for peer-reviewed journals, full-text availability, English language, and publication dates between 2022 and 2026. This process highlighted the importance of precision in research, as overly broad searches risked retrieving irrelevant material, while overly narrow searches limited the scope of available evidence.

Assessing Source Credibility

Assessing credibility was a central step. All three articles were published in reputable, peer-reviewed journals: BMJ, Annual Review of Public Health, and Frontiers in Digital Health. These journals are recognized for their rigorous editorial standards and contributions to healthcare scholarship. Transparent research methodologies, comprehensive reference lists, and publication in journals with established editorial and peer-review standards further strengthened credibility. Furthermore, the findings remain relevant, as they address ongoing issues such as climate-driven disease emergence, improvements in surveillance systems, and the integration of digital health.

Evaluating Relevance and Contribution

The relevance of each source was carefully considered. Although Anikeeva et al. (2024) article focuses on climate change impacts, their findings are globally applicable, including to U.S. healthcare systems facing vector-borne disease risks. The article by Jia et al. (2023) provides insights into surveillance innovations that can be adapted across diverse healthcare contexts. The article by Shausan et al. (2023) emphasizes digital health tools, which are increasingly integrated into U.S. public health infrastructure. Together, these studies offer a multidimensional understanding of EIDs by integrating environmental, technological, and public health perspectives. Their combined evidence supports informed nursing practice, strengthens public health preparedness, and reinforces the importance of evidence-based interventions for preventing and responding to future infectious disease threats.

Annotated Bibliography

Anikeeva, O., Hansen, A., Varghese, B., Borg, M., Zhang, Y., Xiang, J., & Bi, P. (2024). The impact of increasing temperatures due to climate change on infectious diseases. BMJ, 387. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2024-079343

The purpose of this article is to examine how increasing global temperatures associated with climate change influence the emergence and transmission of infectious diseases. Anikeeva et al. (2024) review evidence demonstrating that warmer climates expand the geographic distribution of disease vectors and pathogens, increasing the risk of illnesses such as malaria and dengue. The authors conclude that climate change is an important driver of emerging infectious diseases and requires strengthened surveillance, preparedness, and coordinated public health responses. This article is directly relevant because it explains environmental factors that influence disease emergence and supports evidence-based strategies for protecting populations through prevention, monitoring, and adaptation.

Jia, P., Liu, S., & Yang, S. (2023). Innovations in public health surveillance for emerging infections. Annual Review of Public Health, 44(1), 55–74. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-051920-093141

The purpose of this article is to review recent innovations that strengthen public health surveillance for emerging infectious diseases. Jia et al. (2023) examine advances including genomic sequencing, artificial intelligence, digital reporting platforms, and international data-sharing networks that improve outbreak detection and response. The authors conclude that integrating innovative surveillance technologies enhances preparedness by enabling faster identification of emerging threats and supporting coordinated interventions. This source is highly relevant because surveillance is fundamental to preventing the widespread transmission of disease. Its findings provide valuable evidence to improve public health systems and to inform evidence-based nursing and healthcare decision-making. Additionally, the article emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, timely information exchange, and continuous technological advancement as essential components of resilient, effective infectious disease surveillance systems worldwide.

Shausan, A., Nazarathy, Y., & Dyda, A. (2023). Emerging data inputs for infectious diseases surveillance and decision making. Frontiers in Digital Health, 5, 1131731. https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2023.1131731

The purpose of this article is to evaluate emerging digital data sources that enhance infectious disease surveillance and support public health decision-making. Shausan et al. (2023) discuss information derived from mobile health technologies, electronic health records, social media, and other digital platforms that complement traditional surveillance approaches. The authors conclude that combining diverse data sources improves outbreak detection, situational awareness, and evidence-based responses. This article is relevant because it demonstrates how digital innovations strengthen preparedness for emerging infectious diseases while supporting timely interventions, informed healthcare decisions, and improved coordination among public health professionals and healthcare organizations. Furthermore, the article highlights the value of integrating multiple data streams to improve responsiveness, resource allocation, and strategic planning during evolving public health emergencies.

Summary: Reflections on the Research Process

Developing this annotated bibliography enhanced my ability to apply research skills systematically, from keyword selection to credibility assessment. I learned the importance of refining search strategies to balance breadth and specificity, ensuring relevant and current sources. Evaluating peer-reviewed journals reinforced the value of scholarly rigor in supporting evidence-based practice. Each article contributed unique insights—environmental, technological, and systemic—into emerging infectious diseases, highlighting the complexity of global health challenges. The research process strengthened my confidence in navigating academic databases and synthesizing evidence, skills that will directly support my nursing practice and future academic work.

References

Akello, W. (2025). Harnessing the power of One Health education to tackle Emerging Infectious Diseases (EIDs) and other global health challenges. One Health Outlook, 7(1), 23. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42522-025-00139-7

Alexakis, K., Ishak, A., Mazonakis, N., Tsioutis, C., & Spernovasilis, N. (2026). Beyond the ward: the evolving roles of infectious disease specialists. Clinical Microbiology and Infection. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2026.05.038

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In your professional life, you’ll need to find credible evidence to support decisions and plans of action. This assessment helps you practice research skills by investigating a current healthcare problem or issue.

You will select a current healthcare problem or issue from the provided options for this assessment. Research your topic, and develop a written assessment, which includes an annotated bibliography to document your resources.

The purpose of this assessment is to ensure you know how to research topics and find credible references to use in your assessments. Part of the assessment is an annotated bibliography. The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to document a list of research references, along with key information about each; the detail about the reference is the annotation. Developing this annotated bibliography will create a foundation of knowledge about your chosen problem or issue.

This assessment is a culmination of the resources found throughout the previous assessment resources. You may need to refresh on the topics to successfully complete this assessment.

This assessment has three parts—all three parts must be submitted to pass the assessment.

A 3–5 page annotated bibliography (not including the title page or reference page).
The three articles you have selected from the Capella library (full articles in PDF format, not abstracts).
A 3–5 minute Kaltura video of you performing the search in the Capella library. Ensure you are capturing your screen actions showing the following:
- Navigating to the Capella library.
- Showing the search engine, database(s), and key words you have used.
- You do not need to appear on video but you should narrate your actions.

Part 1

Create a Kaltura video of you conducting your research in the Capella library as you locate three scholarly, peer-reviewed journal articles related to your selected healthcare problem or issue. This video should be about 3–5 minutes in length.

Part 2

Write a 3–5 page paper in which you include the following:

1. Topic Identification

Select one of the healthcare problems or issues presented in the Assessment 05 Supplement: Applying Research Skills [PDF] resource. Write a brief overview of the healthcare problem or issue. In your overview:

Summarize the healthcare problem or issue, including a description of its professional relevance.
Describe your interest in the problem or issue.
Describe any professional experience you have with this topic.

2. Discussion of Research

Discuss your research and selection process for each of the three journal articles you have chosen to include in your annotated bibliography.

Describe your process of applying library research skills to identify the journal articles relevant to the healthcare problem or issue you are researching.
- Identify the keywords you used to select the articles.
- Describe the criteria you used to select the resources, including the names of the Capella library databases that you used.
- What was the process like to locate relevant articles?
Assess the credibility of the information sources.
- Determine whether each resource is from an academic, peer-reviewed journal.
- Determine whether the publication is current (published within the last 3–5 years).
- Determine whether information in the academic peer-reviewed journal article is still relevant.
Assess the relevance of the information sources.
- Is the information relevant to your topic? For example, did you select an article about a health system in Japan and how is that applicable to your topic of a U.S. healthcare issue or problem?
Explain how the healthcare problem or issue is addressed in each source.
- Discuss what kind of contribution each resource provides.

3. Annotated Bibliography

Summarize each of the three current academic, peer-reviewed journal articles you chose, using the annotated bibliography organizational format. The purpose of an annotated bibliography is to document a list of references along with key information about each one. The detail about the reference is the annotation. Developing this annotated bibliography will create a foundation of knowledge about the selected topic. Be sure to complete this assessment’s Annotated Bibliography activity before starting this section.

In your annotated bibliography:

List each full reference in APA format, followed immediately by its annotation.
- Present your three current, annotated references in alphabetical order, according to the reference citation.
- Double-space each reference and format it with a hanging indent.
- Provide the full APA reference citation, including the author, date, title, publisher or publication, and any additional information required by APA style.
Write the annotation (summary) for each citation in paragraph form, using approximately 150 words (or 1–3 paragraphs) for each annotation. Make sure to cite the article in your summary. Include the following components for each annotation:
- Identify the purpose of the article.
- Summarize the article.
- Include the conclusions and findings of the article.
- Ensure each article is relevant to your topic.

4. Summary

In a separate paragraph or two at the end of the paper, summarize what you learned from the process of developing the annotated bibliography.

5. Reference page in APA style format.

For this assessment, you will research best practices related to a current healthcare problem.

Before you complete the instructions detailed in the courseroom, first select one of the

following healthcare problems or issues:

• Healthcare Deserts

o Description: Healthcare deserts are geographic areas where residents have

limited or no access to essential healthcare services, such as primary care,

hospitals, pharmacies, or specialty providers. These areas often face shortages

of healthcare professionals and facilities, leading to disparities in health

outcomes.

o Interventions: Expand telehealth services to reach underserved populations,

develop mobile clinics and community health programs, increase funding and

incentives for providers to practice in underserved areas, partner with local

organizations to improve transportation and outreach, advocate for policy

changes to address provider shortages and infrastructure gaps.

o Keywords: Access to care, provider shortage, rural health, health equity,

telehealth, underserved communities.

• Emerging Infectious Diseases

o Description: Globalization and climate change have introduced new threats like

COVID-19, Zika, and other novel pathogens that were not part of the healthcare

landscape decades ago.

o Interventions: Surveillance & early Detection, rapid response protocols, public

education, research & development, global collaboration, coordinate efforts

across countries and health agencies. Antimicrobial stewardship.

o Keywords: Outbreak, pandemic, zoonotic diseases, surveillance, global health,

antimicrobial resistance, public health preparedness.

After you have selected one of the problems/issues from the list above, return to the detailed

Healthcare Problem Assignment