PA005 Assignment Healthcare Program Policy Evaluation

Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation

“Tobacco-Free Policies and Secondhand Smoke Exposure”

Description

The program implemented by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States of America was called the Tobacco-Free Policies and Secondhand Smoke Exposure (CDC, 2022). The program was aimed at averting secondhand smoke exposure through the creation and evaluation of tobacco-free policies in all states.

Describe the healthcare program/policy outcomes.

The program achievements were the improvement of comprehensive smoke-free laws in the states and communities including smoke-free laws that prohibited smoking all in the indoor public places and workplaces, restaurants, and bars (CDC, 2024), improved smoke-free laws in the multi-unit housing including public housing authorities and market-rate apartments, and improved smoke-free laws in the campuses including colleges/universities, school districts, and early childhood centers.

Explain how the success of the healthcare program/policy was measured in the evaluation.

Top metrics were quantitative data that helped to determine the success of the program and qualitative data in the form of self-evaluation (CDC, 2024). These measures included the number of states, communities, and organizations that introduced CSPs, the number of data collected on ST exposure in WPL and homes using surveys and population health outcomes, including heart disease and lung cancer rates.

Identify how many people were reached by the healthcare program/policy based on the healthcare program/policy evaluation you selected.

By the year 2022, the program had influenced a huge section of the population of the United States of America. More specifically, SFLs existed in 28 states and over 1200 towns and cities that covered over 60 percent of all Americans (CDC, 2022). In addition, over 3000 multi-unit housing properties had already adopted the smoke-free policies, and over 2500 colleges/universities, K-12 schools, and childcare facilities had adopted the smoke-free policies.

Describe at what point the healthcare program/policy evaluation occurred.

The evaluation was conducted at varying points of the program (CDC, 2022b), where progress reviews took place, and a final evaluation at the end of the funding period of the program.

Describe the sources of data that were used to conduct the healthcare program/policy evaluation.

The evaluation was based on state and local policy monitoring systems, national and state survey data on health, measures of exposure to secondhand smoke (CDC, 2022b), and program documents.

Explain at least one potential added benefit and one potential unintended consequence of the healthcare program/policy, based on the results of the healthcare program/policy evaluation. Be specific and provide examples.

The other possible beneficial outcome of the program was to restrict the contact of the individuals with second-hand smoke and, therefore, to enhance the lung capacity and reduce the risk of getting heart disease or contracting lung cancer (Nyman et al., 2022). Nevertheless, one negative thing could have occurred which was not expected, and this could be the transfer of smoking to other areas, like near exit and entrance points, or even in cars.

Explain which stakeholders were approached or involved in conducting the healthcare program/policy evaluation. Which stakeholder would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program/policy evaluation that was conducted? Be specific and provide examples.

It was assessed working with CDC, state and local health departments, academic partners, and community-based organizations (Santibanez et al., 2019). Policy makers, public health authorities, and NGOs can find the findings most useful in order to inform future policy and planning.

Explain whether the healthcare program/policy successfully met the original intent of the outcomes that were identified. Was the healthcare program/policy successful? Why or why not?

The assessment revealed that the program had its intended outcome, which is the reduction of exposure to secondhand smoke and the increase in population health in the United States (Duan et al., 2020). The program was established to be effective in increasing the number of smoke-free policies and also reducing exposure to secondhand smoking was reduced.

Explain whether you would recommend continuing or implementing this program/policy in your place of work. Be specific and provide examples.

According to the results of the positive evaluation, it is recommended to continue to use this type of tobacco-free policy program and even extend its duration to reduce the number of individuals who are exposed to secondhand smoke and other associated health consequences (van der Kooi et al., 2017). As a nurse, I can also facilitate the same policies within a healthcare unit; I can collaborate with the hospital administration and develop policies to go smoke-free in the campuses, with other groups to develop and implement smoke-free policies in multi-unit structures, and with other healthcare practitioners to learn more about the advantages of promoting and implementing smoke-free policies.

Describe at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program/policy after one year of implementation. Be specific and provide examples.

My role as a nurse advocate may be engaged in assessing a tobacco-free policies program in the following ways (Pereira-Salgado et al., 2018): First, participate in the ongoing data collection and analysis of STEP activities, such as as clinical and patient-based outcome measures, such as exposures to the secondhand smoke and smoking cessation rates; second, engage with the participants and the stakeholders of STEPs to gather a qualitative data on their experiences, difficulties, and suggestions on how the program can be improved and present these results to the evaluation team to make amendments

.General Notes/Comments

The results of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) review of the “Tobacco-Free Policies and Secondhand Smoke Exposure” can help to comprehend how tobacco control programs occur in the American setting and what the outcomes of their activity are.

The perspective of the program regarding the prevention of second-hand smoking by introducing smoke-free laws, policies, and regulations is in line with the goals of the public health agenda of improving respiratory health, reducing the cases of cardiovascular and lung cancer diseases, and promoting the healthy living of all citizens.

 Overall, the evaluation of the program Tobacco-Free Policies and Secondhand Smoke Exposure can be deemed as a best practice of how a high-quality and holistic program assessment can be instrumental in improving the policy and programs regarding the goals of population health.