Health Promotion Plan for Tobacco Cessation in Young Adults

Introduction

This health promotion plan addresses tobacco use, including the practice of vaping, using e-cigarettes, hookah, chewing tobacco, and smoking. The goal of the plan is to facilitate the cessation of tobacco use. This plan discusses the population, health concern, potential learning needs of the population, and SMART goals that will be used to evaluate the educational session.

Scenario and Target Population

As Adams (2020) points out, 16 million people in America live with a smoking-related disease. The average tobacco user is male, between the ages of 18 and 24, and has a high school education. He is more likely to be married and employed than his non-smoking counterparts, and his income is slightly higher. However, tobacco use is not limited to any one group; people of all ages, races, and socioeconomic backgrounds smoke. In general, smokers are more likely to live in urban areas and have lower incomes than nonsmokers. They are also more likely to suffer from chronic health problems such as lung disease, heart disease, and cancer.

Whether due to peer pressure, advertising targeting certain groups, or other factors, tobacco use continues to be a serious problem in the United States (Hoek et al., 2019). The upcoming generation prefers vaping to smoking, or uses alternative tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, hookahs, and chewing tobacco. The goal is to address this population directly — those in the 18–24 age range — by gathering a group of self-described tobacco users or vapers drawn from a local community college. This group is relevant to the targeted population because all members smoke, vape, chew tobacco, or use e-cigarettes or hookahs, despite differences in ethnicity, economic background, or gender.

There are a number of reasons why young adults are predisposed to tobacco use or vaping. First and foremost, they are often exposed to tobacco advertising and marketing, which can make smoking or vaping seem like an attractive option. Secondly, peer pressure can play a significant role, as young adults may feel pressure to fit in with friends or peers who use tobacco. Finally, many young adults view smoking or vaping as a way to cope with stress or anxiety.

Predisposition to Tobacco Use

However, there are also a number of benefits that young adults can gain from a health promotion educational plan. Such a plan can help young adults learn about the risks associated with tobacco use and vaping. Additionally, a health promotion educational plan can provide young adults with the skills and knowledge needed to avoid tobacco use in the first place. Ultimately, such a plan can help young adults lead healthier, smoke-free lives.

When developing a sociogram for young adults who use tobacco, tobacco products, or vape, it is important to include information on the frequency and type of tobacco or vaping products used, as well as the social context in which these activities take place. Doing so will allow for a more complete understanding of the factors that contribute to tobacco or vaping use among young adults, and can ultimately help to inform interventions aimed at reducing these behaviors. Interactions between members of a community within the target population can reveal a great deal about why members of this group engage in tobacco use.