Tobacco Free Generation Policy: Assessing Population Health Needs and Intervention Options

This study discusses the assessment of population health needs and potential intervention options available in the UK to prohibit the habit of tobacco smoking. It evaluates the Tobacco Free Generation Policy using specific frameworks such as CDC and WHO.

TOBACCO FREE
GENERATION POLICY

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY CYCLE.............................................................................................3
Assess Population Health Needs.................................................................................................3
Assess potential intervention options..........................................................................................5
Develop policy choices................................................................................................................7
Implement policy.........................................................................................................................8
Evaluate policy............................................................................................................................9
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Tobacco Free Generation Policy is a public health policy that aims to monitor and evaluate
the different level at which the smoking is prevalent in UK ad he measures that can be used to
control its consumption and intake (Branston and Gilmore, 2020). This particular study aims to
discuss the assessment of population health needs with potential intervention options available in
the UK to prohibit the habit of tobacco smoking. The Government of the country has
implemented a Tobacco Control Plan to reduce the rate of smoking in the country, which will
prove to be effective for the people. Along with this, the policy of Tobacco free generation will
be evaluated by using specific frameworks such as CDC and WHO.
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY CYCLE
A policy can be defined as the set of rules or regulations that need to be complied with in
order to attain the objective with which they have been developed. The Tobacco free generation
policy basically works with the objective of reducing the number of smokers below the age of 15
years to 3%, reduced percentage of smoking adults to 12%, reduce the inequality gaps that exist
and also reduce the prevalence of smoking in pregnancy to 6% or less (Adult smoking habits in
the UK: 2017, 2018). The CDC framework will help in ascertaining how intricately ere these
objectives achieved and also evaluate different epidemiological data that is available for this.
Assess Population Health Needs
Demography, population dynamics:
The government of the UK has been very instrumental in terms of implementing public
health policy related to the demographic features of the country. More importantly, it has taken
several steps against the smoking of tobacco in the country to save the people from the bad habit.
Although the proportion of the smokers has significantly declined from the year 2011 to the year
2017, i.e. form the 20.2% in the year 2011, it has come down to 15.1% in 2017 but yet the
current proportion is also very high (Adult smoking habits in the UK: 2017, 2018).
As per the reports published by PHE, the current adult smokers included 14.4% in the
entire England as reported in the year 2018 an there are regular and the social- economic gaps
between the current adult smokers is also rising to 2.47%. It was identified that the majority of
the smokers that have quit are between the age group of 11 to 19. In the year 2010, Tobacco
control strategy was implemented to reduce the percentage of tobacco smoking in the country
(Local Tobacco Control Profiles, 2019). Therefore, the government has taken the strategic
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decision to implement a related Public Health Policy that will prove to be effective for the people
of the country and lead a sustained life in UK.
Descriptive epidemiology:
Measuring the health of the population
Although the focus in the leading of a sustainable life has increased in the recent years,
but yet the consumption of tobacco i.e. smoking is not declining at a level that it should
(Papanastasiou et al., 2019). Recent statistics of the NHS have shown that almost 70% of total
health, as well as social care spending, are measured by this lifestyle in the country (Adult
smoking habits in the UK: 2017, 2018). The consumption of tobacco is still not in control and the
resulting diseases are increasing every day.
Identifying trends and patterns
In order to quit the pattern of smoking, the use of e- cigarettes and vaping is increasingly
being used where there are approximately as much as 2.8 million vapers in Great Britain as
measured in the year 2017.
Assessment of health risks
More importantly, smoking coupled with obesity is considered two primary risk factors
for the lives of the compatriots (Hill et al., 2019). Overall, it can be said that the life expectancy
rate is declining and the mortality rate is also rising due to some chronic diseases amongst which
the lung cancer emerges to be the most prominent one.
Assessing health needs
There are several public health issues in the country such as smoking and alcohol
problems, cardiovascular disease issues, problems related to cervical screening and lots of others
(Hill et al., 2019). For this reason, the Tobacco Control Plan implemented by the government
will be effective for the country to reduce the extent of chronic diseases.
Identifying priority targets for policy development
The need for developing the strategy against smoking in the country is due to several reasons
in the form of targets. Below are mentioned the reasons:
 To spread awareness throughout the country regarding the smoking habit
 To make people understand the need to lead a healthy life
 To increase the rate of life expectancy in the country (Blackwell et al., 2019)
 To diminish the life inequality prevailing in the UK
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Analytical epidemiology:
Individual-level and population-level causes
At an individual level, it is necessary to acknowledge the fact that the smoking is
increasingly affecting the heath of the population and despite the measures that are being taken
in order to minimise it, the indicators are not very much in positive accordance with the file. The
use of vaping was also found to be an increasing addiction rather than serving its true purpose of
curing the habit of smoking. Presently, in the country, 13.5% of women indulge themselves in
smoking and due to the government initiatives, it is estimated that the percentage will be on the
verge of decline in the coming years respectively. At the population level as well, the initiatives
that are being taken at such an increased level are not proving to be very effective.
Assess potential intervention options
Identifying potential policy interventions:
In this regard, the Government of the country has given the focus on meeting several
potential initiatives to increase the living standard in the country. In a way, it can be said that in
order to raise awareness throughout the country and to reduce the death mortality rate the
government has felt the urge to introduce effective Public Health Policy in the country. There are
two specific types of interventions, such as
 Preventive interventions
 Therapeutic Interventions
Preventive interventions
Campaign against smoking
In this regard, the healthcare organizations aim to build campaigns that will spread the
necessity of leaving the habit of smoking (Kondo et al., 2019). At the same time, the campaigns
will be useful in terms of forming a public opinion that will aid in making the people understand
the relevance of living a beautiful life.
Therapeutic Interventions
Effective treatment of chronic diseases
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In this regard, efficacious treatment will ensure the longevity of the health of the people.
Along with this, it is necessary for the health care services to use improved technologies while
treating the disease, which will make the job easier for the healthcare specialists considerably.
Synthesizing existing knowledge regarding their effectiveness:
There are a variety of stakeholder that are involved in this policy development amongst
the most prominent are the government, the public, the medical professionals and the patients.
The government makes specific objectives before making the Tobacco Control Plan that will be
effective in terms of expanding consciousness in the country (GOV.UK, 2020). Optimum
knowledge regarding the ill effects of tobacco will help the people to make out the detrimental
effects of it, which will assist in leaving the bad habit among the people. Excessive smoking of
tobacco creates bronchitis. Moreover, the aging population is creating more pressure on the NHS
in the country. It has been evidenced that people whose age is more than 85 acquire the bulk
portion of health and well as social care services in the country. More importantly, most of them
suffer from a chronic disease caused by cigarette smoking (GOV.UK, 2020).
From the above picture, it is evident that the prevalence rate in the UK for Smoking is on
the lower side. In 2011 it was 19.8%, in 2012 19.3%, in 2013 18.4%, in 2014 17.8%, in 2015
16.9% in 2016 15.5% and in 2017 14.9 percentage respectively (GOV.UK, 2020). It is estimated
that in 2023, it will come around between 8.5 to 11.7 percent and in 2030; it will probably be 5
percent.
Contribution in relevant new research:
In this regard, it is important for the people of the country to build a non-smoking attitude
in them that will lead to a happier life. More important of saying no smoking will also be crucial
so that they can reduce the death rate in the country. Simultaneously it will make an eventful
impact on the health inequalities observed in the country (East et al., 2019). The new research
regarding tobacco smoking in the country has proved the ill effects that tobacco has in it with the
harmful aspects it can generate in the health of the people of the country.
Assessing the potential of each approach:
As per Public Health England, there are several health-related issues set in the country due
to which the country has not been effective in spending an effective lifestyle. Smoking is the
country is one of the primary issues against which people need to build a conscious approach.
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The effectiveness of the health-related approach will bring success for them to quit the habit of
smoking (Willemsen and Fooks, 2019). In fact, it has been observed that in the country people
whose age is below 15 years smoke a lot, which might create respiratory issues in their health
accordingly at such an early age.
Develop policy choices
Projecting impact of potential interventions on the health of the population:
Qualitative, quantitative and computer assessments or simulations of the impact of
different interventions
Due to the abovementioned potential interventions, there has been a considerable
enhancement in the percentage of smokers and no smokers in the country. In fact, people have
now started to realize the detrimental consequence that smoking can create in human bodies
(Bartington et al., 2020). More importantly, the extent of severity needs to be understood by the
people, which will build a non-smoking attitude among them. The smoking rate among adults in
the country is declining. In the year 2017, the smoking rate was almost 15 percent, which is
estimated to range from 8 percent to 11 percent by year 2023. In this context, it needs to be
stated that, mainly women have to face chronic diseases related to smoking than men, which
ultimately ruins their lives.
Assisting the process of consensus development
The development of an effective policy named Tobacco Control Plan will prove to be
effective for the denizens of the country. In this regard, people should realize the negative impact
that tobacco can create in their health. At the same time, the extent to which the plan needs to be
followed will also be evaluated accordingly. In general terms, A Consensus Development
program refers to a specific program called by the National Institute of Health for thoroughly
reviewing the public health-related issues in the country It is used for providing clinical
guidelines related to health issues in the UK (Evans-Reeves et al., 2019). Opinions coming from
experts matter a lot in this case based on which people get the scope of acquiring knowledge
regarding the side effects of smoking tobacco. More importantly, the government needs to look
at implementing a Tobacco Control Program through which restrictions will be imposed on the
usages of tobacco accordingly (Cairney, 2019).
Moreover, it will limit the extent of tobacco advertisement, which is the primary reason for
tobacco addiction in the country UK. Due to the implementation of the Tobacco Control Plan by
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the government, there has been a significant reduction in the use of tobacco, which is a positive
aspect for the people of the country (Cairney, 2019). However, people need to take lessons from
the ill effects regularly, which will reduce the usage of tobacco in the country comprehensively.
Implement policy
Help to set targets for the chosen policies:
The introduction of the Tobacco Control Plan has helped the people to realize the potential
threats that tobacco has in it. The primary objectives of the policy as it was discussed above are
listed below:
 To make a reduction in the number of people below 15 years who have the bad habit of
smoking from 8% to 3%.
 To decrease the percentage of smoking among adults from 15.5% to 12% (Hydes et al.,
2019).
 To lower the inequality gap that creates disturbances in spending a hazard-free life.
 To reduce the smoking percentage at the time of pregnancy from 10.7% to 6% in a
considerable manner.
Inform needs-based resource allocation for health services:
In this regard, the NHS will be able to provide effective health services for the people.
Additionally, healthcare organizations can easily be able to take preventive precautions regarding
chronic diseases. Moreover, the scope of need-based allocation of resources will be opened for
the healthcare organizations (Partos et al., 2019). Clinical care is proved to be an essential aspect
of today’s lifestyle all over the world based on which healthcare organizations tend to spread
campaigns related to leading a safe life (The Independent. 2020).
In this regard, the Government of the UK has made an announcement regarding the
cutting down of smoking rates for reducing the percentage of smoking addicted people in the
country. Presently the percentage of smoking people is 15.5, which is aimed to reduce to 10 by
the end of 2022. Along with this, the authority hastened the decision to reduce the percentage of
smoking during pregnancy from 10.7 percent to 6 percent or below that until the end of the same
year.
Guide development of information systems:
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In this respect, the imputation policy will provide guidance to develop an information
system. The NHS uses the Exeter System to treat the patients accurately regarding various
health-related issues. The excretory system involves important information on
 Patient registration
 Registration of NHS organ donor
 Certification of patient prescription
 Cervical screening recall (Ajiboye et al., 2019)
Moreover, the Public Health Policy relating to Tobacco Control Plan will be beneficial in
terms of raining consciousness among the people based on which they will become more aware
in the upcoming days that will help them to leave the bad habit of smoking respectively
Evaluate policy
Evaluate the impact and outcomes of policies:
The entire policy of Tobacco Control Plan can be evaluated comprehensively using the
six step CDC programme:
 Engage Stakeholders: As it was identified earlier, the major stakeholders of the policy
are government, people, medical professionals and the patients (Ajiboye et al., 2019).
The engagement of the stakeholders helps in ensuring that the policy that has been
formulated is correct or not and whether it addresses all the aspects or not.
 Description of Programme: The description of the policy i.e. Tobacco Control Plan is
basically intends to limit the current consumption of tobacco and smoking amongst the
people of UK that belong to different sectors and minimise it to lower levels. The
intended objectives are planned to be achieved by the end of year 2020.
 Focusing on Evaluation Design: The evaluation design will basically lead to the creation
of the proper evaluation technique and under this the best measure is to continuously
monitor the different level of smoking i.e. if they are declining at the rate that was
planned, then the policy will be said to have succeeded (Currie and Bray, 2019).
 Gathering Credible Evidence: he evidence regarding the implementation of the policy
can be gathered effectively from the improvement in the intended outcomes or through
the number of people that are in compliance with this plan.
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 Justifying Conclusions: The conclusions that will be drawn will b completely justified
because they are the key towards determining what is the actual performance and will be
derived in a significant manner (Hunter et al., 2020).
 Ensuring Use: It is also one of the important outcomes of the Tobacco Control Plan in
the UK based on which people will find new ways to lead a prosperous life. More
importantly, chances of cardiovascular disease will be decreased along with other severe
diseases, caused due to smoking.
Monitor future health:
The impact of improved technology will also be essential for providing the best healthcare
services by healthcare organizations across the country (Hydes et al., 2019). Along with
smoking, the government needs to take steps in preventing the consumption of alcohol, which
will bring outcomes that are more prominent for the people in the country. The Government of
the country needs to take more useful approaches related to Public Health Policy based on which
in future people can gain new ways of living life.
CONCLUSION
The research conducted in the report above helps in concluding that the Government of the
country by developing Tobacco Control plan has been promising in making a reduction in the
smoking rate of the country that will bring positive results for the people throughout the country.
In this regard, the NHS also needs to play its part in spreading awareness campaigns against the
habit of smoking based on which people will be more aware and conscious in the future
accordingly
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