For Module 5 Everyday Population Health Journal assignment, Find a recent (within the past week) news item that relates to population health. Compose a journal entry that includes:
A brief summary of the news item issue.
The population it affects.
An analysis/application of the concepts associated with a course competency to the news item.This journal entry should be 300-350 words While you do not have to use APA format, please be sure to include the news item as an attachment or a link to your entry.————-Course Competencies——–PICK A RELEVANT COMPETENCY——–1. Analyze the major factors and issues affecting population health.
2. Explore how healthcare policy affects population health outcomes.
3. Analyze the roles of education and technology on population health.
4. Appraise the role of healthcare professionals in influencing population health.
5. Analyze the use of research, models, and education to benefit population health.
6. Analyze the use of behavioral change to engage a population.

ANSWER

Recent News item that Relates to Population Health

On October 19^th 2022, New York Times published an article that provided evidence on whether E-cigarettes can help adults quit smoking. According to Jean (2022), for the adults that are planning to quit smoking, e-cigarettes is the most common option. The e-cigarettes work through heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine addiction by they do so without have to burn tobacco to produce the smoke which is leads to damaging the lungs and potentially causing lung cancer and other lung issues. According to a practice at the University of Oxford, nicotine is harmful since facilitates addiction to smoking. On the other hand, studies have also shown that e-cigarette vapor is also harmful since it contains other harmful substances such as cancer causing chemicals, flavorings and heavy metals.

Older Adult Population

Smoking is a major health concern for older adults. With reference to CDC, tobacco and smoking have been the major cause of unnecessary disability, disease and death in the U.S, with more related deaths each year. The older adult population is particularly at risk for the harmful effects of smoking. Studies have shown that smoking contributes to a number of health problems in older adults, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Smoking among older adults raises the risk of developing cancer, diabetes, lung disease and cardiovascular disease (Jean, 2022). Smoking also increases the risk for other serious health conditions, such as respiratory infections, bone loss, and cataracts. Older adults who smoke are more likely to experience cognitive decline and memory loss. The mortality rate among adult smokers is higher compared to older adults that are non-smokers.

The Use of Behavioral Change to Engage a Population

Behavior change is a process that uses different techniques to change people’s behavior. It is often used to engage populations in activities that improve their health or well-being. Behavioral change focuses on empowering communities, individual and health populations to adopt practices that are positive to improve their health outcomes. Therefore, behavioral change is about altering behaviors and habits for long term.

There are many reasons why people may want to change their behavior. For example, older adults may want to stop smoking, eat more healthfully, or be more active. Behavioral change can help people reach their goals. There are several steps that can be taken to change behavior. First, it is important to identify the behavior that needs to be changed. This involves understanding the target behavior and choosing a broad mechanism or appropriate intervention.

Second, a plan should be created to change the behavior. This plan should include what will be done, when it will be done, and how it will be done. For instance, e-cigarette can be used as an effective approach for behavior change among older adults. Once the plan is in place, it is important to follow through with it. Finally, it is necessary to monitor the behavior to see if it has changed. Behavioral change takes time and evaluation is important in demonstrating that the intervention has led to and maintained the behavior change.

By changing the behavior, older adults can be motivated to live healthier lives. This change can be done by using e-cigarettes as an approach for behavior change among older adults. E-cigarettes can help reduce the number of cigarettes smoked per day and can also help reduce the amount of nicotine intake (Dobbs, Branscum and Wilkerson, 2020). In addition, e-cigarettes can help reduce or eliminate other tobacco-related health risks. Therefore, the use of behavioral change to engage a population is an important and effective way to improve the health of older adults.

Module 5 Everyday Population Health Journal: References

Dobbs, P. D., Branscum, P., & Wilkerson, A. H. (2020). Intention to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking: a reasoned action approach. American Journal of Health Education, 51(6), 360-370.

Jean, A.M. (2022, October 19). Can E-Cigarettes Help You Quit Smoking? Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/19/well/e-cigarettes-quit-smoking.html

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