This opening presents several public health opportunities. First, a rural community with tobacco-related disparities has been identified. Second, the Director of the Community Health center has identified the need to address the tobacco-related disparity. To that extent, he hired someone with public health training with a bias for an evidence-based approach to develop a smoking cessation program. The availability of a current version of Guidelines for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence provided for the training of the center’s staff on the program (Johnson, 2013). Another opportunity occurs when Ali notices the staff members who take smoke breaks in front of the center at a designated smoking area. Generally, such a case presents a population with an identified health problem with a program manager who can plan, design, implement programs for reducing tobacco dependence.
Question 2
There are several topics that Ali could address. She should discuss the progress made by the program since its inception. Moreover, Ali ought to discuss the program objectives with the aim of encouraging staff participation in formulating methods to achieve program objectives. Generally, reducing tobacco dependence entails eliminating environmental exposure to tobacco smoke (Williams, Clark & Alley, 2006). It also entails discouraging smoking among those exhibiting tobacco dependencies and preventing initiation into smoking and tobacco dependence among the youth. Collectively, such objectives will lead to the overall objective of eliminating tobacco dependency within Lake Sophia for it has already been identified as a community with a tobacco-related disparity.
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Question 3
Strengths
One among the various strengths is the availability of trained staff from Dr. Whitten to Ali and the center’s staff who received training on the program. Additionally, is the use of an evidence-based approach to the program. It allows the program to create new information in the formulation, implementation, and evaluation of strategies aimed at ending tobacco dependency in Lake Sophia.
Community response to the program’s initial phase is encouraging and Ali focuses on planning and evaluating program strategies means the program has the potential to positively impact the health status of the inhabitants of Lake Sophia. The program’s director, Dr. Whitten has experience in community health and might have valuable insights that would help the program succeed (Ojala,2017). Moreover, the same applies to the staff at the community health center, assuming both parties are either inhabitants of Lake Sophia or natives.
Weaknesses
Considering the prevalence of tobacco usage in the community, it is probable that some of the center’s staff will be smokers(Ojala,2017). This contradicts the program and has the potential to confuse the target population as there are smokers among those responsible for reducing tobacco dependence within the community.
Assuming all the staff associated with the program are natives or inhabitants of Lake Sophia for a considerable period, there is the potential for unintentional bias limiting the program’s potential(Ojala,2017). According to the case, it is only Ali who has not worked in the community health center prior to the program. Therefore, there is the potential that members of staff will exhibit some bias towards Ali or the program.
Opportunities
Dr. Whitten, through this program, has the opportunity to end tobacco dependency from the Lake Sophia community. They can enlist the support of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Office on Smoking and Health for additional funding and support. The high unemployment levels within the community means that seeking community participation will be easier than if most were employed.
Threats
Lake Sophia is a rural community with high illiteracy and poverty levels. Generally, those who are poor and illiterate avoid seeking medical attention. Such actions limit community awareness on the program (Ojala, 2017). Given the high rate of tobacco-related disparity, community awareness of the program is essential to its success. Generally, the high illiteracy and unemployment levels pose threats to the program (Ojala, 2017). The illiteracy limits sensitization efforts about the program’s objectives while the unemployment threatens the success of the program as it presents inhabitants with the temptation of recreational tobacco use.
Question 4
It is necessary for Ali to address the staff smoking in front of the health center. As staff in a program to end tobacco dependency, they compromise the program in the eyes of the community through their actions(Johnson,2013). However, they are also members of a community with a high tobacco-related disparity rate. Therefore, Ali should address the staff as potential stakeholders in planning her systematic approach.
She could use the staff’s professional and local knowledge during the formulating phase as they can facilitate her identification of the target population. In addition, they are better positioned to enlist the participation of the target population and establishing program objectives. Collectively, they can identify the problems risks and need of the target populations(Johnson,2013). Then, they could generate solutions to problems identified. Thereafter, they would evaluate their solutions and implement the program if there are no modifications.
Reference
Johnson, J. A. (2013). Introduction to public health management, organizations, and policy . Clifton Park, NY: Delmar, Cengage Learning.
Ojala, M. (2017, January 1). Locating and creating SWOT analyses. Online Searcher , Retrieved from https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-4308313451.html
Williams, C., Clark, J., & Alley, K. (2006). Identifying and eliminating tobacco-related disparities. American Journal of Health Education, 37 (1), 51-55. Retrieved from https://libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.libraryresources.columbiasouthern.edu/docview/212710385?accountid=33337.
