Assessing the Problem: Leadership, Collaboration, Communication, Change Management, and Policy Considerations

In this assessment, I will assess the population health problem of smoking cessation. This paper will mainly discuss the leadership necessary for promoting smoking cessation and the need for collaboration and communication to obtain desired results. Additionally, the change management strategy will be highlighted to drive smoking cessation among tobacco smokers. Lastly, the policies that impact tobacco use and improve health outcomes are emphasized.

Tobacco Use and Smoking Cessation: A Population Health Concern

This capstone project will delve into a population health concern of smoking cessation due to the significant use of tobacco products. A group of young boys who have been using tobacco products for a long time are admitted to the Dignity Health- California Hospital Medical Center due to emphysema. I approached these boys as it was my regular duty in the respiratory ward, and they all had a strong history of tobacco use in the past. Now, as their health condition is worsening, they are willing to quit smoking and have a healthier lifestyle.

Their keen interest in smoking cessation led me to work with this group to improve their health and restore lung function. The group of boys informed that they indulged in smoking tobacco in their teenage and got addicted, resulting in significant damage to their lungs. When their respiration was severely impacted, and their cough worsened due to continuous smoking for years, the group of boys wanted to get rid of this addiction and improve their health.

Capella 4900 Assessment 1 Assessing the Problem Leadership Collaboration Communication Change Management and Policy Considerations

Tobacco smoking is a global issue that kills almost 8 million people every year. About 22.3 % of the entire world population is engaged in the use of tobacco products, with 7.8 % of women and 36.7% of men being active users (World Health Organization, 2023). Tobacco smoking causes significant damage to the immune system, enhances inflammation, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), and emphysema. This increases their chances of bacterial and viral infections (Cattaruzza et al., 2020). It is also the driving factor of lung cancer in people due to consistent damage to the lungs.

It has caused 610,000 deaths due to lung cancer in China and contributed to 17% of the incidence of cancer due to smoking (Parascandola & Xiao, 2019). These data show the presence and relevance of this healthcare issue and its significance in reducing prevalent tobacco use rates. This problem is particularly relevant to my practice because I see people in my hospital suffering from the harmful impacts of smoking, such as lung cancer cases, COPD cases, and cardiovascular cases. Moreover, this issue is relevant to me personally as my father was an active smoker, and I lost him due to lung cancer as a result of continuous smoking. Therefore, I am responsible for working with this group to promote smoking cessation and improve their health outcomes.

The Guiding Nursing Actions for Smoking Cessation

Nurses play a broad role in promoting health within hospitals and communities. Nurses can be the right leaders for supportive care and inspiring patients to improve their health. One significant nursing action can be smoking cessation training by nurses in promoting smoking cessation. This training, along with smoking cessation interventions by nurses, such as self-efficacy, can promote smoking cessation among smokers (Li et al., 2021).  The interventions for nurse-led smoking cessation training programs will include implementing the 5As (Ask, Advise, Assess, Assess, and Arrange) approach to address smoking and its cessation (Grech, 2021).

Nurses can also provide online courses on smoking behaviors and how to promote smoking cessation through cognitive behavior management. The course will comprise four lessons on smoking, its cessation plan, and interventions.  In the last lesson, the nurse will introduce pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments for nicotine addiction (La Torre et al., 2019). Additionally, nurses can also connect smokers with smoking cessation programs through community support groups where they can implement smoking cessation interventions (Tsoh et al., 2022).