Health Promotion Plan
Learner’s Full Name
Capella University of Health and Sciences
4060: Practicing in the Community to Improve Population Health –
Professor’s Name
Month Year
Tobacco cessation is one of the key current public health problems in New Orleans, Louisiana, as it relates to young adults aged 18-35, who tend to maintain much higher smoking
rates than the national average and bear significant consequential health risks and economic burdens and for that matter, negative impacts bestowing on society as a result (Yoo, 2022). This can be influenced by social norms, such as peer pressure and cultural practices that inadvertently encourage smoking, and economic factors related to healthcare costs; addressing this challenge can improve health outcomes and lower aggregate community healthcare expenditures. The aim of this plan is to promote tobacco cessation in New Orleans, Louisiana through education, easing access to smoking cessation resources, and engaging the community to provide a very supportive environment in which young adults can quit smoking and begin the pursuit of healthier behaviors.
Analyses of the Use of Tobacco among New Orleans, Louisiana
Use of tobacco among the young adult population in New Orleans, Louisiana is a vital issue concerning public health. According to estimates, nearly one in four young adults in this age group are regular smokers, which is extremely high compared to the national average of 14% in U.S (Cornelius, 2023). This disparity underlines the need to have targeted interventions aimed at the specific barriers and behaviors of such a unique demographic in this vibrant city.
Among the factors that may contribute to higher rates of smoking in young adults in New Orleans are the following: social influences, especially peer pressure and cultural norms, play a significant role in continued smoking behavior. In a city as famous for its cultural festivals and social events as New Orleans, there is likely a subset of the population in which smoking has become so normative that it’s harder to have behaviors curtailed even as knowledge about health risks increases. Other major factors that lead to continuous smoking include more exposure to the stressors of urban life and easy accessibility of tobacco products (Talluri et al., 2020). This, therefore, necessitates the urgent development of quitting strategies specifically for this population.
Underlying Assumptions and Points of Uncertainty
Effective tobacco cessation programs make certain assumptions and do acknowledge gaps of uncertainty within a community. First, it is presumed that there are precipitants of smoking cessation activities that are not equally distributed among socio-economic groups; consequently, quitting smoking is relatively more difficult for disadvantaged populations. These disparities result in differences in access to health care services and smoking cessation aids, specifically among smokers of relatively low SES at young adult age. Cultural variables, such as holidays or other social gatherings specific to New Orleans, further Smoking practices, despite acknowledgment of health risks from smoking. The effectiveness of smoking cessation programs in their current form is not clear with respect to engaging a young adult population effectively and providing the necessary support throughout the process; culturally sensitive strategies will be imperative in eliciting meaningful behavior change (Adams, 2020).
Factors are not only behavioral in nature but also socially and environmentally specific to New Orleans. Identification and addressing of such underlying assumptions and uncertainties should explain this paper on a health promotion plan, geared towards coming up with tailored strategies that would most resonate with young adults to effectively carry out tobacco cessation efforts within the community. This plan seeks to bring about sustained change in smoking rates and the general public health outcomes of New Orleans by engaging with local stakeholders. It cannot be overemphasized that the Health.
Significance of the Health Promotion Plan
Promotion Plan addresses tobacco cessation among young adults, is greatly necessary because it involves various and at the same time serious risks in poor health conditions. Smoking remains to be the leading cause of preventable death and is highly implicated in several serious health conditions and diseases, specifically cancer, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory conditions. As this involves the target population of young adults, hence this health promotion strategy would therefore intervene at that highly perilous period in life when smoking behaviors are more deeply entrenched and their alteration becomes relatively impassable. Interventions set at a rather early stage will prevent, to some level, diseases caused by smoking, reduce long-term health budgets, and improve the quality of life for both the individual and the society. (Holford et al., 2023)
Current population health and demographic data indicate that young adults have an extremely high prevalence of smoking, at about 16% of reporting regular tobacco use (CDC, 2022). In New Orleans, this is very high, with over 20% of young adults reported as regular smokers. This age bracket is at a very critical stage of lifestyle choices having long-term health effects. It focused its activities on this segment of the population to maximize the window of opportunity for inculcating health-promoting behaviors, which could translate into a lifetime of better health. Smoking leaves families, employers, and the health system with high costs resulting from healthcare loss and low productivity (Adams, 2020). In that respect, the annual burden of the smoking-related health burden on the healthcare spending of New Orleans is estimated at $40 billion annually (Louisiana Cancer Research Center , 2023). It is these economic burdens that this health promotion plan attempts to reduce by tobacco cessation efforts among young adults in New Orleans, leading to an increase in the economic productivity of the city and bridging healthcare and health outcome discrepancies across different communities in New Orleans.
It also shares other public health goals related to the generation of health equity, lessening disparities in health results, reduction of tobacco use among young adults, and so forth. Targeted interventions in New Orleans, with its pronounced socio-economic disparities, will be able to guarantee equitable opportunities to cessation resources and support. Cultural considerations—like the higher rates of smoking in some communities—and circumstances involved in the availability of smoking-cessation programs further modulate this. The plan targets toning down these inequities, looking to improve health status for all citizens of New Orleans, irrespective of their background or socioeconomic status, sought by way of promoting cessation resources equitably. (Peruga et al., 2021).
Agreed-Upon Health Goals
This health promotion plan, outlines clear goals to reduce the alarming prevalence of tobacco use among young adults in New Orleans. The strategy operationalizes these goals to create a supportive environment that encourages tobacco cessation by way of promoting awareness and education, increasing access to cessation resources, and promoting supportive policies (Visser et al., 2024). These goals are informed by the specific challenges and cultural dynamics of the city, hence aiming at young adults to quit smoking and improve general public health outcomes. These goals in terms of SMART principle are outlined below:
Goal 1: In next 6 months, Awareness of Tobacco Cessation Methods will increase among Young Adults in New Orleans, Louisiana.
· Specific: New Orleans young adults will be more aware of the individual health risks related to tobacco use and the resources that can be used to quit.
· Measurable: Increase current knowledge level regarding smoking cessation methods by 30% among the targeted population within 6 months.
· Achievable: Monthly educational workshops with the participation of at least 200 people annually.
· Relevant: Tailor educational materials to acknowledge the cultural norms and social influences that predominate in New Orleans.
· Time-Bound: Session will continue for 6 months.
Goal 2: By the end of monthly sessions, participants would have completed an intensive hands-on educational curriculum that allows for changes to increase knowledge and skills for tobacco cessation. To put it differently, these people will have been empowered with effective means for quitting, relevant tools, and a culturally sensitive approach for New Orleans Louisiana, which will lead to a supportive environment for quitting smoking and general health outcomes in the community.
·Specific: By the end of the sessions, participants will have improved knowledge and understanding of tobacco-cessation methods and related health benefits.
·Measurable: Knowledge increase will be assessed quantitatively using pre- and post-session surveys.
·Achievable: The classes will cover a comprehensive curriculum for tobacco cessation strategies with behavioral techniques, nicotine replacement therapies, and resources that give hands-on experience to the participants.
·Relevant: The information for the teaching moments will be relevant, grounded in, and speak to the needs assessed from the community; that is, changing the smoking practices and cultural norms prevalent in New Orleans.
·Time-Bound: Session will continue for 6 months.
Conclusion
The health promotion plan that emanates from this research outlines a comprehensive strategy that addresses the social, cultural, and economic complex interplay influencing smoking behaviors in the city. It aims at assisting people to quit smoking and lead a healthy life by creating awareness, expanding access to resources for quitting, and generally providing supportive settings. The plan focuses on making long-lasting positive improvements that foster tobacco-free, healthy generations and improved well-being for New Orleans, Louisiana. Their effectiveness and sustainability in the long term will therefore be ensured only through continued evaluation and adaptation.
References
Adams, J. M. (2020). Smoking Cessation—Progress, Barriers, and New Opportunities. JAMA, 323(24). https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.6647
Cornelius, M. E. (2023). State-Specific Prevalence of Adult Tobacco Product Use and Cigarette Smoking Cessation Behaviors, United States, 2018–2019. Preventing Chronic Disease, 20. https://doi.org/10.5888/pcd20.230132
Holford, T. R., McKay, L., Jeon, J., Tam, J., Cao, P., Fleischer, N. L., Levy, D. T., & Meza, R. (2023). Smoking Histories by State in the U.S. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 64(4, Supplement 1), S42–S52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2022.08.018
Peruga, A., López, M. J., Martinez, C., & Fernández, E. (2021). Tobacco control policies in the 21st century: achievements and open challenges. Molecular Oncology, 15(3), 744–752. https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.12918
Talluri, R., Fokom Domgue, J., Gritz, E. R., & Shete, S. (2020). Assessment of Trends in Cigarette Smoking Cessation after Cancer Diagnosis among US Adults, 2000 to 2017. JAMA Network Open, 3(8), e2012164. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.12164
Yoo, K. (2022). Louisiana Annual Tuberculosis Report 2021. https://ldh.la.gov/assets/oph/Center-PHCH/Center-PH/tuber/LouisianaTBAnnualReport2021.pdf
CDC. (2022, March 4). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; CDC. https://www.cdc.gov Louisiana Cancer Research Center . (2023).
Louisiana Cancer Research Center | Home. Www.louisianacancercenter.org. https://www.louisianacancercenter.org Visser, J. E. M., Rozema, A. D., Kunst, A. E., &
Kuipers, M. A. G. (2024). Smoking Cessation Support in Social and Community Service Organizations: Potential Activities, Barriers, and Facilitators. Nicotine & Tobacco Research. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntae004
