For this assignment, you will research and prepare a community-level strategic plan that addresses a key public health issue.
Potential topics may include:
Using prenatal and infancy home visits to prevent child abuse and neglect
Preventing falls in the elderly
Reducing population salt intake
Reducing tobacco use among adults
Preventing risky sexual behavior among youth and young adults
Reducing drug experimentation among young adults
Include :
Introduction:
Provide an overview of the community health issue as described in Part A 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.
Helpful links:
https://www.sfhsa.org/sites/default/files/media/document/migrated/Plan_DAAS%20Five%20Year%20Strategic%20Plan_2016-2021.pdf
https://www.hhs.gov/about/strategic-plan/2022-2026/index.html
ANSWER
Community-Level Strategic Plan to Reduce Tobacco Use Among Adults
Introduction
Tobacco use is a major public health issue, contributing to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. In the United States, tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death, claiming over 480,000 lives annually (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). Despite substantial declines in smoking rates over the past few decades, tobacco use remains prevalent among certain population groups, including low-income individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and individuals with mental health or substance abuse disorders.
Prevalence of Tobacco Use
In the United States, the current smoking rate among adults aged 18 and older is 13.9% (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). However, there are significant disparities in smoking rates across different population groups. For instance, the smoking rate among non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native adults is 27.0%, while the smoking rate among Asian adults is 6.4% (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023).
Globally, tobacco use is estimated to cause over 8 million deaths annually, with the majority of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries (World Health Organization, 2023).
Monetary Costs of Tobacco Use
The monetary costs of tobacco use are substantial, both in terms of healthcare expenditures and lost productivity. In the United States, the annual economic burden of tobacco use is estimated to be over $300 billion (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2023). These costs include direct medical expenses, such as hospitalizations and treatment for tobacco-related illnesses, as well as indirect costs, such as lost productivity due to illness and premature death.
Advance Practice Roles and Management Strategies
Advance practice nurses (APNs) play a critical role in addressing tobacco use at the community level. APNs can provide comprehensive tobacco cessation counseling, prescribe smoking cessation medications, and refer patients to other cessation resources. Additionally, APNs can advocate for policy changes that promote smoke-free environments and increase access to cessation services.
Effective management strategies for addressing tobacco use at the community level include:
Community-based education and outreach: Providing information about the harms of tobacco use and promoting smoking cessation resources through community events, workshops, and media campaigns.
Policy interventions: Implementing smoke-free policies in public places, workplaces, and schools.
Access to cessation services: Expanding access to effective tobacco cessation counseling and medication therapy.
Targeted interventions: Addressing disparities in tobacco use by tailoring interventions to the specific needs of different population groups.
Community and Social Resources
Several community and social resources can positively or negatively impact tobacco use. Positive resources include:
Community health centers: Providing access to primary care, tobacco cessation counseling, and other preventive services.
Support groups: Offering peer support and encouragement for individuals who are trying to quit smoking.
Smoke-free environments: Reducing exposure to secondhand smoke and promoting social norms that discourage tobacco use.
Negative resources include:
Tobacco marketing: Aggressive marketing campaigns that target vulnerable populations and normalize tobacco use.
Social norms: Acceptance of tobacco use within certain social circles.
Socioeconomic factors: Limited access to healthcare, education, and employment opportunities, which can increase the risk of tobacco use.
Changes or Enhancements in Community-Related Services
Several changes or enhancements in community-related services can help to reduce tobacco use:
Increase funding for tobacco prevention programs: Providing more resources to support community-based education, outreach, and cessation services.
Expand access to mental health and substance abuse treatment: Addressing underlying mental health and substance abuse issues can increase the likelihood of successful smoking cessation.
Promote smoke-free environments: Implementing smoke-free policies in more public places, workplaces, and schools.
Regulate tobacco marketing: Restricting tobacco advertising and marketing to reduce exposure to these messages.
Raise taxes on tobacco products: Increasing tobacco prices can discourage tobacco use, particularly among young people.
Strategic Plan
Goal 1: Reduce the overall smoking rate among adults in the community by 10% within five years.
Objectives:
Increase the number of adults who receive tobacco cessation counseling by 20% within three years.
Increase the use of smoking cessation medications by 15% within three years.
Implement smoke-free policies in all public places and workplaces within five years.
Goal 2: Reduce disparities in smoking rates among different population groups in the community.
Objectives:
Develop culturally sensitive tobacco prevention programs for targeted population groups.
Increase access to tobacco cessation services in underserved communities.
Address socioeconomic factors that contribute to tobacco use through community development initiatives.
Goal 3: Increase health literacy