BUHEA6902 Policy: A Smoke-Free Policy Proposal for SA Health Services

This policy proposal addresses the critical issue of tobacco use and cigarette smoking in South Australia and its detrimental effects on public health. It advocates for the implementation of a 100% smoke-free policy across SA Health entities to improve health outcomes and create a healthier environment. The proposal outlines the problem, its impact on various demographics, and the rationale behind the recommended actions, drawing on existing legislation and research. It emphasizes the importance of reducing smoking prevalence among staff and patients, providing cessation support, and raising awareness about the risks of tobacco consumption. The expected impact includes a reduction in mortality rates, decreased government expenditure on smoking-related diseases, and enhanced public safety. While acknowledging potential implementation challenges, the proposal highlights the overall effectiveness and cost-efficiency of a smoke-free policy in promoting public health and well-being. Desklib offers similar solved assignments and past papers for students.

Introduction
A policy proposal is an effective way to demonstrate the need of a change along with
a rationale. Implementing any change is quite difficult but putting facts on the paper can be
one of the greatest initiatives. In a policy proposal, the main attempt is to address a problem
and describe how to resolve that from the root. This policy proposal is focused in bringing a
change in the health status of people. Initially it will discuss a specific issue and its effect on
human health. Then the proposal will illustrate some change initiatives, their rationale and
impacts upon the implementation.
The problem and its effects
The main problem identified is associated with the use of tobacco and cigarette
smoking. It is being considered as one of the greatest concerns for the healthcare
professionals from all over the world. Studies in this regard indicated that every year,
approximately 1140 people die due to the effects of tobacco usage and cigarette smoking (SA
Health, 2017). Apart from that, it causes emphysema, diffuse lung disease, lung cancer,
ischemic neuropathy, increased risk of heart disease, chronic bronchitis and many others
(Jamilya, Baizhaxynova & Zhanna, 2018). Various studies indicated the impact of cigarette
smoking on the health of people irrespective of the gender. In a study, conducted in the year
2018, daily smoking prevalence among females were recorded to be approximately 8.8%
which was higher than the males in the age group of 45-59 (SA Health, 2019). Also, the
researchers indicated, tobacco related diseases are more likely to be found among the people
with lower socio-economic status and especially the rural south Australians, prisoners, people
with mental illness and others. Not only the smokers, but the passive smokers also suffer
from various health issues (Drug and alcohol services South Australia, 2016). However, a
research conducted in the year 2018 found that smoking prevalence among 15 years and

above was approximately 8.6% but it was significantly decreased from the previous years
(SA Health, 2019).
Outline of the proposed policy
In order to address the issues of smoking and to reduce the use of tobacco, the
proposed policy is no-smoking policy. The policy is focussed to introduce a 100% smoke-
free environment. The policy is focussed to improve the health status of human being as well
as the environment. It will not only create a smoke-free environment but also increase
awareness among people regarding the negative impacts of cigarette smoking and tobacco
usage. The policy will highlight the necessity of a no-smoking policy along with some strong
literature evidences. At the same time, some examples of previous implementation of similar
policy will also be discussed in this regard. The no-smoking policy will establish facts and
will set an example to the future generation about the necessity of creating a smoke-free
environment for the benefit of their own health.
Recommended action and rationale
According to the Tobacco and E-Cigarettes Products Act 1997, smoking is banned at
an enclosed public place, shared areas, or workplaces. Again, as per the Work Health and
Safety Act 2012, all the employees must be safe from any kind of health hazards at their
workplaces. Even, smoking and using electronic e-cigarettes at the health services of SA is
strictly prohibited. Some literatures also supported no-smoking policy and authors discussed
that it plays an important role in encouraging the smoking abstinence and cessation (Martin et
al., 2017). Also, it can be implemented across a large number of health sites with the support
of staffs and the patients. In order to implement the smoke-free policy, various methods will
be utilized. According to WHO, different measures can be taken to create a smoke free
environment, such as taxation, advertising bans, education campaigns, and others. Reduction

in the number of staffs with smoking prevalence can be an effective method. Again,
providing opportunity to the existing smokers to take a quit attempt in a supportive
environment will also be helpful. Most importantly, it is necessary to provide a clear message
to the patients, visitors, as well as employees about the risk of tobacco consumption. All these
methods will be considered while implementing the no-smoking policy, and authors indicated
that if proper measures are taken then such smoke free policies are widely accepted across the
health professionals and the patients which not only improves health but also the environment
(Martin et al., 2017).
Impact of the policy
This smoke-free policy is an immediate, cost-effective as well as actionable to
monitor and control the use of tobacco and cigarette. It will also support a program
environment where smoking among staffs and clients can effectively be reduced. Literature
evidences indicate that 55% hospitals with smoke-free policy were reported to have no
tobacco consumption inside the campus (Sureda et al., 2014). Department of Health Western
Australia Was first to implement the no-smoking policy where staffs, patients, visitors, and
others were not allowed to smoke in community health centres, hospitals, office buildings,
car parks, inside vehicles, and in many other places (Government of Western Australia
Department of Health, 2019). No-smoking policy ensures reduction in the mortality rate, and
it will also reduce the government expenditure on smoking or tobacco related diseases. With
the proper implementation of the policy, it is possible to enhance the interest of public that
they are safe. The no-smoking policy has the ability to deliver an effective outcome and it can
be evaluated as a measure of efficacy as well as effectiveness through collection of opinions.
As the policy is less expensive to run, it will create a value for the money as well. At the
same time, it follows all the laws and has clear accountability it shows positive and
substantially reduced king tendency.

Conclusion
No-smoking policy is extremely effective for the people but it might face many
implementation issues which include poor response from the staffs, enforcement problems,
reluctance to respond to non-compliance and many others. This policy proposal illustrates the
importance of no-smoking policy. Initially it discusses the affects of cigarette smoking and
tobacco usage on the health of human being. It also provided a clear outline of the policy
along with recommended implementations and rationale. Finally it discussed the impact of
the policy on human being as well as the environment. With proper measures taken,
implementation issues will be recovered and the policy can be extremely effective in
improving overall health.

References
Drug and alcohol services South Australia. (2016). South Australian Tobacco Control
Strategy 2017-2020. Adelaide, Australia: Drug and alcohol services South Australia,
Government of South Australia.
Government of Western Australia Department of Health. (2019). Smoke Free WA Health.
Retrieved August 12, 2019, from https://ww2.health.wa.gov.au/Improving-WA-
Health/Smoke-Free-WA-Health
Guydish, J., Yip, D., Le, T., Gubner, L. R., Delucchi, K., & Roman, P. (2017). Smoking
related outcomes and associations with tobacco-free policy in addiction treatment,
2015-2016. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 179, 355-361. doi:
10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.06.041
Jamilya, S., Baizhaxynova, A., & Zhanna, K. (2018). Smoking Rooms are Dangerous for
Health. Tobacco Prevention and Cessation,4. doi: https://doi.org/10.18332/tpc/91511
Martyn, K., Dono, J., Sharplin, G., Bowden, J., & Miller, C. (2017). Staff and patient
perspectives of a smoke-free health services policy in South Australia: A state-wide
implementation. Health Policy, 121, 895-902. doi: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2017.06.003
South Australia Health. (2017). Smoke-free policy directive (Version No. 3.0). Adelaide,
Australia: Government of South Australia, SA Health .
South Australia Health. (2019). Smoking Statistics. Retrieved August 14, 2019, from
https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/connect/public+content/sa+health+internet/
about+us/health+statistics/alcohol+and+drug+statistics/smoking+statistics

Sureda, X., Ballbe, M., Martinez, C., Fu, M., Carabasa, E., Salto, E., Martinez-Sanchez, M.,
J., & Fernandez, E. (2014). Impact of tobacco control policies in hospitals: Evaluation
of a national smoke -free campus ban in Spain. Preventive medicine reports, 1, 56-61.
doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2014.10.002