(Answered) Unit 4 Assignment: Health Behavior Theories

Unit 4 Assignment: Health Behavior Theories

You completed an annotated bibliography where you identified current theory-based health behavior research on a selected health behavior. For this Assignment, you will build upon your previous work by proposing goals and objectives of a feasible health intervention, project, or program to address the health behavior components of this health issue.

You will begin this Assignment by providing a summary of the selected health issue and corresponding health behavior theories. In outline format, you will provide three goals for the proposed health intervention, project, or program. Each goal should have at least 2–3 objectives. Goals and objectives must reflect health behavior at the intrapersonal, interpersonal, or community-based level. Goals and objectives must also be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (i.e., SMART goals). Conclude this Assignment with a short discussion on possible barriers or challenges to implementing these goals and objectives.

Sample Answer

Summary of Health Issue and Corresponding Health Behavior Theories

Over the half-a-century, smoking has become recognized as a leading health risk factor that contributes significantly to the global disease burden. The World Health Organization highlighted that by 2019 smoking contributed to at least 7.4 million deaths annually and numerous disabilities (Jamal et al., 2018). In the US, the CDC has highlighted that at least 14% of adults above 18 years smoke cigarettes, representing more than 34.1 million smokers in the country. The CDC estimates that at least 16 million Americans struggle with different smoking-related diseases. Smoking has also been shown to significantly reduce life expectancy, especially among individuals who begin smoking while they are young (Jamal et al., 2018). Studies have also attributed smoking to at least 15 different types of cancer, including bowel and lung cancer which are most common. As a result of the dangers of smoking, different authorities across the world have therefore spearheaded smoking cessation and tobacco control programs such as tobacco taxation, population-level approaches legislation, and various individual-level approaches (Jamal et al., 2018). Curbing smoking remains to be a significant priority for various authorities.

One of the most prominent health behaviours theories that have been utilized to help support smoking cessation programs is the transtheoretical theory (Rahimi et al., 2019). The transtheoretical model posits that an individual will move through six main stages of behaviour change before adopting a certain desired behavior. These stages include pre contemplating, contemplating, preparing, taking action, maintenance of action, and termination. An individual has to move through the six major steps to be able to effectively quit smoking (Rahimi et al., 2019). Public health interventions should therefore be focused on helping individuals to successfully go through the main stages of behavior change so as to effectively quit smoking (Rahimi et al., 2019).

Smoking Cessation Program Goals 

1. Reduce current use of cigarette smoking in the US.
2. Increase Medicaid coverage for smoking cessation treatment
3.  Ensure more states ban smoking in restaurants, worksites, and bars

Objectives

1. Reduce current use of Cigarette smoking in the US.

• Reduce cigarette smoking rates by at least 5% in the next five years.
• Increase taxes for cigarettes by at least 15% in the next five years

2. Increase Medicaid coverage for smoking cessation treatment

• Lobby for increased Medicaid coverage for smoking cessation treatment from 15 covering States to 51 in the next five years.
• Enhance consistency in regulations, policies national programs, and law related to smoking cessation treatment in the next decade

3. Ensure more states ban smoking in restaurants, worksites, and bars

• Increase the number of states that ban smoking in restaurants, worksites, and bars from 38 to 51 in the next five years.
• Protect the population from secondhand smoke in all indoor public areas in the next decade.

Barriers and Challenges to Implementing Goals and Objectives

One of the most significant barriers to implementing the goal to reduce the current use of cigarette smoking in the US by at least 5% in the next five years is opposition from cigarette-producing companies. Cigarette manufacturers use their vast resources to lobby legislators into protecting them from increased taxes and other interventions that can help reduce smoking rates (Owens et al., 2020). Cigarette manufacturers continue to be a big barrier to the goal of reducing the current use of cigarettes in the US. On the other hand, related to the goal of increasing Medicaid coverage for smoking cessation treatment in different states across the US. The main barrier is opposition from legislators who do not believe in expanded Medicaid. The ideological differences in the US especially related to universal health care coverage, negatively affect any efforts to expand Medicaid for vital programs such as smoking cessation treatment (Levy et al., 2018).