For this assignment, you will research and prepare a community-level strategic plan that addresses a key public health issue.
Potential topics may include:
- Preventing falls in the elderly
- Reducing population salt intake
- Reducing tobacco use among adults
Include the following in your paper:
- Introduction:
- Provide an overview of the community health issue as described in Part A ( Part A- paper attached with this instructions for your references) with identified causes and influences, including knowledge gaps.
- Detail the prevalence of the issue inside and outside the United States.
- Describe potential monetary costs associated with the issue in the United States.
- You must include data as part of your introduction (images, charts, graphs, etc., may be included as well as written data).
- Describe advance practice roles and management strategies that affect change at the community level.
- Identify key community and social resources that negatively and positively affect the selected issue.
- Identify changes or enhancements in community-related services for your selected topic.
- Develop a strategic plan that could decrease the prevalence of your selected topic.The goals for this plan needs to be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. Include how your plan takes into consideration health literacy, socioeconomic factors, and cultural differences.
- Conclusion:
- A summary of the goals and challenges
- An assessment of the outlook for action/progress
- Appendix A: Include your community assessment from Week 3 as Appendix A.
Your paper should be 3–5 pages in length (not including the cover or reference pages). Use APA throughout.
Title: Community-Level Strategic Plan to Reduce Tobacco Use Among Adults
Introduction: Tobacco use remains a significant public health issue in the United States, with profound health and economic implications. This essay presents a community-level strategic plan to address the problem of tobacco use among adults. The plan is informed by a comprehensive community assessment and aims to develop specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound (SMART) goals.
Tobacco use, primarily in the form of smoking cigarettes, is a major contributor to preventable deaths and diseases. It is closely associated with various cancers, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory conditions, and a range of other health problems. This issue is driven by complex factors, including addiction, peer influence, marketing tactics, and social norms.
The prevalence of tobacco use inside the United States is a cause for concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2020, approximately 14% of U.S. adults smoked cigarettes regularly. This figure is significantly higher than the Healthy People 2020 target of reducing adult smoking rates to 12%. Outside the United States, tobacco use is a global issue, with an estimated 1.3 billion tobacco users worldwide. Knowledge gaps exist regarding the effectiveness of different strategies to reduce tobacco use and address disparities among various populations.
The monetary costs associated with tobacco use in the United States are staggering. It is estimated that smoking-related healthcare expenses and lost productivity cost the country over $300 billion annually. These costs extend to healthcare services, insurance, and premature deaths, imposing a substantial burden on both individuals and the healthcare system.
Advance Practice Roles and Management Strategies: Advanced practice roles play a crucial role in addressing tobacco use at the community level. Nurse practitioners, for example, can engage in smoking cessation counseling, prescribe nicotine replacement therapies, and provide education on the health risks of tobacco use. Collaboration with other healthcare providers, such as physicians and psychologists, is essential to provide comprehensive care and support to individuals trying to quit smoking.
Management strategies should include implementing evidence-based interventions, such as tobacco cessation programs, public awareness campaigns, and policy changes. Community health workers can also play a significant role in reaching underserved populations and promoting smoking cessation.
Key Community and Social Resources: Negatively affecting the issue of tobacco use are factors like easy access to tobacco products, social acceptance of smoking, and limited access to healthcare and cessation resources. Positively affecting the issue are community-based smoking cessation programs, educational initiatives, and policies aimed at restricting tobacco sales and advertising.
Changes or Enhancements in Community-Related Services: To address tobacco use among adults, community-related services must focus on prevention, cessation, and support. This includes expanding access to smoking cessation programs, increasing the availability of nicotine replacement therapies, and implementing policies like higher taxes on tobacco products and smoke-free laws in public spaces.
Strategic Plan:
- Goal: Decrease the prevalence of adult tobacco use in our community by 20% over the next five years.
- Objective: Increase the utilization of smoking cessation services by 30% within the first year.
- Strategy: Collaborate with local healthcare providers to offer free smoking cessation counseling and nicotine replacement therapies.
- Measurement: Track the number of individuals participating in smoking cessation programs monthly.
- Goal: Promote smoke-free environments.
- Objective: Implement smoke-free policies in all public parks and recreational areas within the next two years.
- Strategy: Engage with local policymakers to advocate for and pass smoke-free ordinances.
- Measurement: Monitor the number of smoke-free areas established each year.
- Goal: Increase public awareness of the health risks of tobacco use.
- Objective: Achieve a 10% increase in knowledge regarding the harms of tobacco use within the first year.
- Strategy: Conduct educational campaigns targeting schools, workplaces, and community events.
- Measurement: Conduct surveys before and after campaigns to assess changes in knowledge.
- Goal: Address disparities in tobacco use among diverse populations.
- Objective: Reduce tobacco use among vulnerable populations, such as low-income communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and minority groups, by 15% within five years.
- Strategy: Develop culturally sensitive smoking cessation programs and outreach initiatives.
- Measurement: Track the participation rates of targeted populations in cessation programs.
Conclusion: Addressing the issue of tobacco use among adults requires a comprehensive and multifaceted approach that engages the entire community. The outlined strategic plan focuses on specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound goals to decrease tobacco use prevalence. By leveraging advanced practice roles, community resources, and evidence-based strategies, we can make meaningful progress in reducing the health and economic burdens associated with tobacco use. While challenges may arise, with concerted effort and dedication, the outlook for action and progress in our community is promising. Together, we can create a healthier, tobacco-free future for all.
Appendix A: Community Assessment (Week 3) – Attached as a separate document.