Health Promotion Essay

Nobody is perfect and everyone has the individual behavior needs to change or make it more positive. The habit that we want to change is sometimes the habits that hinder us. Some behaviors are not difficult to change such as putting shoes on the shelves instead of putting on the floor. But some behaviors are very difficult to change, especially addictive behaviors such as smoking cessation. Still, changing a habit in spite of smallness also needs much effort to overcome old habits and maintain new habits. The change of addictive behavior is even more difficult. In this Health Behavior Change Journal, I choose to change behavior of quitting smoking through significance of the smoke behavior, interventions to change way of thinking and perception

The smoking cessation was witnessed by the author throughout her placement. This was used on a daily basis in the community by district nurses, health visitors, but especially by the general practice nurses as being incorporated in each consultation in the form of advices, leaflets, smoking cessation programs including medication and follow-ups.

Smoking is a severe health issue which can results in pain, sickness and depression. Not only does the misuses of tobacco and nicotine have a devastating

Egan's also goes on to explain that during smoking cessation a RT could follow the 5 A's, of smoking cessation “Ask if they are smoking, Advise to quit, Assess willingness to quit, Assist by providing a plan, Arrange a follow-up” (Kacmarek et al. 523). The Therapists role now begins to get further involved with the patient, and progresses to shift from educating the patient to counseling the patient. Thus building rapport with the patient and further reinforcing the idea of quitting

This association also advocates that nurses who work with smoker patients should show knowledge, skills and abilities for supporting and monitoring of smokers in the smoking cessation process, implementation of preventive actions against second-hand smoke, trying to develop interventions to stop smoking and

In today’s session, group members were to learn the physiological and neurological effects of using nicotine and tobacco. The importance of quitting smoking and the methods of cessation were discussed. PO was on time and moderately engaged in the discussion. PO openly shared personal experiences and thoughts related to tobacco use with peers, stated “I started smoking cigarette when I was 10 year old because everyone was doing it”. PO stated no desire for quitting smoking cigarette at this point. PO completed the weekly treatment progress, reported that he did not attend any support meetings as he was “sick and lack of free time”. PO has maintained a positive attitude throughout the group process.

Developing strong, key partnerships is important in the assistance of smoking cessation within a community. Communities can host wellness or health fairs to promote smoking cessation. Individuals that attend can be provided with educational handouts, support groups and call hotlines. Schools, hospitals, restaurants, shopping centers and other community-based organizations should adopt a smoke free environment to aid in the process and advertise smoking cessation motivational posters.

Training the Health specialists properly is very important to our organization. Quitting an unhealthy behavior is hard, and ultimately relies of the individual. It is imperative that the health specialists are understanding and be able to encourage the person to be self-sufficient. Only seven percent of people will be successful on quitting the first time they try. To quit smoking it is a process and an individual’s personal behavior to have the power to quit smoking.

According to a study completed back in 1972, seventy-five percent of one hundred and six smoker had emphysema and nonsmokers lived an average of 5 years longer (NCBI, 2010). Also, the proportion of emphysema in the lungs increases with the length of time smoked (NCBI, 2010). Studies like these have proved that smoking causes emphysema and decreases the life span. Since then, detrimental effects of smoking have been made public and are now common knowledge; it is surprising that there is still an astounding amount of individuals that continue to partake in this dreadful habit. As nurses, it is our responsibility to educate patients, not only about the effects of smoking, but about ways to quit. Since it seems common knowledge

The second “A” is when the nurse advises the patient to quit. Sometimes patients are not ready to quit, in this cases nurses can only advice to quit smoking. Repetitive “no-smoking” advice is another effective method. Nurses can advise to use Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) with nicotine gums and nicotine patches.

According to McCance and Huether (2014), Nicotine increase the release of epinephrine and norepinephrine which increase heart rate and peripheral vascular constriction. Cigarette smoking also increase LDL and decrease HDL (McCance & Huether, 2014). NPs should educate patients about smoking cessation. Some patients may want to quit smoking but they do not know how or what to do. NPs should assess the readiness of patients. It is more likely for patients to be successful if they are ready to quit smoking. NPs should educate patients on health risk associate with smoking and tobacco uses. Moreover, patients who are second hand smokers also have the same risk as direct smokers. There are several options that NPs can offer to patients who desire to stop smoking, including counselling and motivating. Prescription medications such as nicotine patch and nasal spray are also found to be helpful in smoking cessation (Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2015). It is important for NPs to continue support patients by encourage follow-up appointments; this way NPs can assess the progress and motivate patients (Wikinson,

Reorientating health services works to be a ‘preventative approach’ moving beyond curative and clinical services. This action area focuses on the reorientation of health services by research and health professionals discussing holistic health approaches and behaviours. This is applied through the National tobacco strategy through GP interventions. GP’s are advised by the ‘Australian general practice guide to ask their patients about to discuss smoking. The guidelines includes them to ask about their smoking status, assessing their ability to change, advise, assist and arrange appointments to view their progress. This approach is allows health professionals to prevent and encourage their patients to stop smoking. 15-20% of smokers who

Other than that, a different literature that formed part of a longitudinal randomized controlled trial examined the efficacy of MI, CBT and NRT compared to standard smoking cessation treatment among people with a mental disorders found that it is useful to expect interest from patients, as many being at the contemplation and action stages (Baker, Richmond, Haile, Lewin & Carr et al., 2007). It is possibly very valuable for general practitioners or other health care workers to encourage patient to consider quitting, ask patient’s reasons for quitting then focus on motivational interventions. There is a need to target young people for smoking cessation interventions. This of course is looking at stopping the progression early. Targeting those at risk for abusing other substances, and address patient’s lifestyle factors (stress and boredom) can probably improve smoking cessation rates and provide a better quality of life. Health care workers need to give appropriate pharmacological interventions for nicotine dependence, involve GPs to conduct smoking cessation interventions and consider training mental health care workers in interventions for smoking cessation as these would benefit patients as well as the health care system as the burden of disease is lessen (Baker, Richmond, Haile, Lewin & Carr et al., 2007).

The contribution to patient care can be seen with health promotion assessment use. The conclusions were clear about teens needing a plan to quit after they reached the maintenance phase of smoking. This result alerts nurses to assess smoking in younger adolescence and offer assistance with smoking cessation.

It has often been stated in wider society and asked many times, why can those who smoke, not just quit? Despite numerous drives and public campaigns within the United Kingdom in recent years which encourage smokers to quit, these have often led to a miniscule decline in the number of individuals smoking. One can only conclude that there is a lack of success in these public campaigns as they do not focus on the psychological processes which are key aspects as to what drives people to smoke, and what allows for the continuation of this habit. Within this essay, I will outline and examine the different psychological processes that are prominent in the maintenance of a smoking habit, as well as briefly looking at forms of help that are available for smokers, that are far more likely to lead to a significantly higher chance of smoking cessation.