HS8904: Health Prevention, Promotion, and Education in Singapore

This report examines contemporary issues in the healthcare environment, specifically focusing on cancer prevention, health promotion, and education strategies in Singapore. The assignment analyzes the efforts of the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) in combating the rising incidence of cancer, detailing their screening programs, health campaigns, and educational initiatives. The report applies the Health Belief Model (HBM) to understand the factors influencing health behaviors and evaluates the effectiveness of various strategies, including free screening programs, public forums, and social media campaigns. It also highlights the importance of early detection, healthy lifestyles, and educational efforts in reducing cancer rates and improving the quality of life for Singaporeans. The report references various sources to support its findings and concludes by emphasizing the need for continued awareness and proactive measures to tackle this chronic disease.

Running Head: HS8904: Contemporary Issues in the Healthcare Environment
HS8904: CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN THE HEALTHCARE
ENVIRONMENT

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HS8904: Contemporary Issues in the Healthcare Environment
Table of Contents
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Overview of the organization and the present status of cancer in Singapore............................3
Health belief model (HBM).......................................................................................................4
Health prevention.......................................................................................................................4
Health promotion.......................................................................................................................5
Educational strategies.................................................................................................................6
Conclusion..................................................................................................................................7
Reference list..............................................................................................................................8

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HS8904: Contemporary Issues in the Healthcare Environment
Introduction
The extent and severity of chronic diseases like cancer are increasing day by day.
Some cancer types like leukemia are slow-growing and dangerous in nature. While other
cancer like breast or prostate cancer can be controlled effectively. This chronic disease can be
prevented through the intake of a healthy diet, regular physical exercise, and a disciplined
lifestyle. Moreover, bad habits like smoking also help in the occurrence of this disease. Out
of 4 Singaporeans at least one has chronic disease including cancer. In this assignment, health
prevention, health promotion and education strategies of my organization are evaluated with
the help of models.
Overview of the organization and the present status of cancer in Singapore
The Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) is putting their best effort to make the
community cancer-free. The mission of this organization is to reduce cancer and increased
the life expectancy of people through their effective programs
(Singaporecancersociety.org.sg, 2020). They respect the dignity of people while promoting
health and wellbeing for cancer patients. Reportedly, the highest number of cancer cases has
been diagnosed in Singapore among entire Southeast Asia and the rate of cancer cases is
increasing with the passage of time. According to the report shared by the National Cancer
Centre Singapore (NCCS), this disease is affecting the local people. Between the years of
2008 and 2012, approximately 56316 cancer cases have been diagnosed in Singapore. This
number includes incidents of more than 51% female and 48% male.
In Singapore, the most common causes of cancers occur in the stomach, liver, lung,
skin, colon, rectum, bladder and other organs in males. On the other hand, Lwin, Shin, Yee &
Wardoyo (2015) have mentioned that females suffer from cancers of breast, uterine, ovary,
lung, skin, lungs and cervix mostly. Higher mortality rates have been caused by lung and
breast cancer. Approximately 27% of male cancer patients died due to lung cancer and 17%

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HS8904: Contemporary Issues in the Healthcare Environment
of deaths of cancer deaths of the female have been accounted for breast cancers in Singapore
(Healthxchange.sg, 2020).
Health belief model (HBM)
This model has been developed in 1950 by social scientists. The main purpose of this
model is to understand the failure of people in adopting prevention strategies of disease.
Later, HBM was also used to measure patients' responses to symptoms and compliance with
medical treatments. The HBM is derived from behavioral and psychological theories. The
foundation of this model is formed by two components of health-related behavior (Jeihooni &
Rakhshani, 2019). The first component is the desire to avoid disease and wishes to get cured
of the disease. The second component is a belief, which states that a specific measure can
help to get cured of illness this model can be used in designing health promotion process and
health prevention activities. Six constructs of HBM are there that include perceived
susceptibility, severity, benefits, and barriers. Other constructs are self-efficacy and cue to
action. These constructs can be analyzed to design health prevention activities. However,
there are few limitations like this model assumes that every individual has access to
information equally regarding illness and disease prevention (Jeihooni & Rakhshani, 2019).
Moreover, this model does not consider a person's beliefs or determinants, which dictate a
person's decision regarding the acceptance of health behavior. This model is considered as
descriptive rather than explanatory, which does not suggest any strategy regarding health
actions.
Health prevention
Prevention of cancer has become important in Singapore as the number of cancer
cases is increasing rapidly. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), near about
30% to 50% of cancer is preventable. Long term strategies are being developed by different
organizations to help people to control cancer. As mentioned by Li et al. (2017), the detection

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HS8904: Contemporary Issues in the Healthcare Environment
of cancer in early stages helps to reduce the risks of chronic diseases. The SCS of Singapore
has realized that approximately 29% of the total deaths caused by cancer in 2016. Due to this
realization, they have started offering screening facilities to cancer patients free of cost
throughout the year. Free screening including mammogram, HPV test, Faecal
Immunochemical Test (FIT) and HPV vaccination are being offered by SCS. SCS have
started their FIT 50 programs in 2014 and this program includes HPV, pap smear and FIT
tests that are required for the detection of cancer. People over 50 years are eligible for
registering their names for the free screening program of SCS.
Colorectal cancer can be detected through the FIT kit and it is being supported by
SCS in Singapore. On the other hand, this organization has initiated mammobus program to
encourage women to undergo screening for detecting breast cancer. The Breast Cancer
Foundation of Singapore, Singapore Cancer Society, and other similar authorities are offering
breast cancer screening at an affordable cost. On the other hand, the pap test, HPV
vaccination, and HPV test are being offered by organizations like SCS to prevent colorectal
cancer. As mentioned by Shulin et al. (2018), eating a healthy diet, avoiding tobacco,
avoiding overexposure to direct sunlight, regular physical activities and regular health
checkups can help to prevent cancer. People must be aware of the importance of these
solutions that can help them to prevent cancer.
Health promotion
This organization has arranged health campaigns for controlling and raising
awareness about different cancer in Singapore. Lung cancer is the 3rd most commonly
diagnosed cancer in Singapore. They have invited people to join their public forum and gain
knowledge regarding the prevention of this disease. Different adverse impacts of the disease
and ways to avoid this disease are discussed in this forum (Singaporecancersociety.org.sg,
2020). Moreover, they use the strategy of campaigning on the internet regarding

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HS8904: Contemporary Issues in the Healthcare Environment
gynecological cancer. They promote their services like screening of cancer, HPV vaccination
on their website regarding this cancer type. Among Singaporean women, gynecological
cancer is included in the top 10 that affects them. Uterine cancer is the 4th and 5th position
there is ovarian cancer. As stated by Li et al. (2017), the internet can be used to impart
information about facilities and knowledge about a disease. Different signs and symptoms of
this type of cancers and the need for treatment are promoted through social media like
YouTube in Singapore by this organization.
This organization also conducts health promotion activity about breast cancer, which
is also a common form of cancer in Singapore. Hence, it is essential to impart knowledge
regarding the prevention of this disease and facilities to control this disease (Shulin et al.
2018). SCS conducts regular mammogram screening that is promoted on different health
websites. Besides, they organize different events like "Race against cancer", which is one to
minimize the impacts of this disease by raising funds. These funds have been utilized to run
different programs organized by SCS. They have organized different other events like "Relay
for Life", which is also organized to raise awareness and funds. These health promotion
activities can help Singaporeans to gain knowledge about different facilities that they can
avail to control this disease. Moreover, these promotional activities also help in the collection
of funds, which is essential to treat patients who belong to the poor economic background.
Educational strategies
Educating people about cancer can help people in Singapore to control cancer. At
present, there is no such medication that can heal cancer. However, Lwin et al. (2017) have
mentioned that educating people can help to increase the life expectancy of people who are
suffering from cancer. The SCS is using its official website to educate people about can and
its possible control measures. Their content about beating cancer, blog about cancer, basics of
cancer and information about different types of cancer are available on their official website.

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HS8904: Contemporary Issues in the Healthcare Environment
This website is open to all for access and it is educating people from all over the world
regarding cancer. On the other hand, this kind of organization uses social media platforms to
educate people about cancer. As stated by Li et al. (2017), people these days use social media
and get influenced by different contents of these platforms. For example, SCS share
information about cancer on their social media pages. Contents of these pages are accessible
by every user of social media.
Publication of newsletters is another strategy of educating people about cancer. SCS
has published e-newsletters to educate people about preventive measures of cancer. On the
other hand, they are using the media to spread information about cancer to people from all
over the world. People are getting information about the screening method, medication and
healthy routine that can help them to cope up with cancer. Through these education strategies,
this organization is reducing the rate of cancer cases in Singapore successfully.
Conclusion
From the above discussion, it can be concluded that it is essential to raise awareness
among people to fight against chronic diseases like cancer. In Singapore, this disease is
increasing its impact, which can be controlled through different prevention activities like
screening and mammogram tests. SCS is raising funds through different promotional events
and increasing awareness among the common people through different strategies such as
social media campaigning. On the other hand, different educational strategies also help to
improve the daily life practices of Singaporeans, which can help them to avoid the harmful
impacts of cancer.

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HS8904: Contemporary Issues in the Healthcare Environment
Reference list
Healthxchange.sg. (2020). 10 Most Common Cancers in Men and Women in Singapore.
Retrieved on 1st February 2020, from: https://www.healthxchange.sg/cancer/mens-
cancer-concerns/common-cancers-men-women-singapore
Jeihooni, A. K., & Rakhshani, T. (2019). The effect of educational intervention based on
health belief model and social support on promoting skin cancer preventive behaviors
in a sample of Iranian farmers. Journal of Cancer Education, 34(2), 392-401.
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%20Social%20Support%20on%20Promoting%20Skin%20Cancer%20Preventive
%20Behaviors%20in%20a%20Sample%20of%20Iranian%20Farmers.pdf
Li, S. T., Yuen, J., Zhou, K., Ishak, N. D. B., Chen, Y., Met-Domestici, M., ... & Soo, K. C.
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Lwin, M. O., Shin, W., Yee, A. Z., & Wardoyo, R. J. (2017). A parental health education
model of children’s food consumption: Influence on children’s attitudes, intention,
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HS8904: Contemporary Issues in the Healthcare Environment
Childrens-Food-Consumption-Influence-on-Childrens-Attitudes-Intention-and-
Consumption-of-Healthy-and-Unhealthy-Foods.pdf
Shulin, J. H., Aizhen, J., Kuo, S. M., Tan, W. B., Ngiam, K. Y., & Parameswaran, R. (2018).
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Singaporecancersociety.org.sg. (2020). Home. Retrieved on 1st February 2020, from:
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