Even though the population know the harmful effects of smoking there is minimal change in smoking habits. There was a decline on tobacco sale in the early 60s. But then in the mid 80s there has been no decline. The census survey show 1972-1988 there was a decline in smoking men smokers from 52% to 33% comparing it to women 41% to 30%. In occasional male smokers there was a rise from 25% to 35 % and occasional female smokers a smaller but relative increase 49% to 51%.
There has been increased publicity in the U.K on the effects of smoking there has been slight difference in smoking habits amongst different social classes, 43% manual workers are smokers, compared to professionals 16% (Macdonald, H T. 1998).
Planners sometime do not seek to attend to the positive attributes when promoting health they mainly focus on the absence of disease. Health promotion planners should decide what is best. To set programs those are accessible and beneficial to the population. Such programs then can be successful and will not outweigh the benefits in the long run. A range of strategies for better help in promoting health should be used. Educational programs and other strategies such has individual and group functions are helpful interventions. The types of techniques were organisations influence health promotion could be successful. They can be an active process in eliminating, the process of disease prevention (Macdonald, H T. 1998).
Education is an important factor regarding health promotion. Medicine and health promotion have a scientific basis. Both of them deal with making improvements for improving the quality of life. The only differences in the perspectives, is one looks at the individual and one is societal. It is important to understand that health promotion aims to enhance positive health and prevent ill health. This can be only achieved through the overlapping sphere of health education. In order to achieve prevention of disease and health protection education is a positive factor.
The educational approach aims to give the individual the knowledge for him to make a decision, which they could act upon. The health promotion activity, to this approach is providing information about the cause and effect of health demoting factors. It is essential to provide individuals with the skills to develop healthy living. The health promoters’ job in this approach is to have responsibility providing individuals with educational content. The right of free choice must be given to the client. The aim in this approach is to give clients enough understanding of smoking, and the risks associated to health. It is then up to the smoker if they want to smoke or not. The activity to this approach is to help individuals to find their own attitude and values. If the client wants to stop smoking help and support it is given to them.
In schools education has contributed to health education. Schools have received materials, and had one to one advice on health related issues including smoking. Children in their teens know the adverse effects of smoking; many teens know that it is the big companies who are making money by selling cigarettes. The reason they are still buying knowing perfectly well is because it helps to take the pressure off social and psychological. In order to tackle the use of tobacco the health promotion has to be aware of following factors associated with tobacco. These are:
“How to impact cognitively on non smokers in such a way that they realise empowerment by not starting: how to bring smokers to the point at which they find quitting is more self enhancing than is continuing. Conventional health education, with its well referenced and thoroughly rational, scientific arguments against tobacco use by people, can serve to undermine empowerment and render attempts at health promotion counter productive”(Macdonald, H T p.147, 1998).
The client centred approach looks at working with individuals, on their terms. The client centre approach enables the client to be in control it empowers the client. It works upon the issues the client has identified. The important value to this approach is that the client has the right to set the agenda he is equal, it is all about self-empowerment. If the client decides that there is a concern with him then anti smoking issues are dealt with. If the client wants anything doing about it and is happy then it is taken further.
The societal change approach looks at the healthier lifestyle angle from the physical and social environment. The health promoters in this approach promote through physical and social action to change physical social environment. The values that are perceived in this approach are focused on the right and need to enhance health and environment. If this approach is applied to smoking it will aim to make smoking not acceptable socially. This would mean it is easier not to smoke rather than smoking. The activity associated with this approach is to make no smoking policies in all public places. Children no longer see smoking has a norm, accessibility to buying cigarettes become harder and to ban advertising of tobacco.
The medical approach is concerned with medical intervention. It seeks to persuade the client, in compliance using medical procedures. The aim and activity of the medical approach is to bring awareness to individuals, and to promote freedom from any smoke related disorders.
The behaviour change approach is concerned with individual’s behaviour. It wants the individuals’ behaviour to contribute to the freedom from ill health. The health promotion element is to have a positive attitude and behaviour to opt for a healthier lifestyle. The important value of the approach is healthy lifestyle defined by the health promoter. The aim of the approach is to change the individual’s behaviour from smoking to quitting. The activity is to persuade smokers not to smoke and also to help non-smokers from starting through persuasion and education.
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