Introduction
Risk factors
- Genetic eyesight problems
- High blood pressure family history
- Current low blood pressure
- Smoking (uses one pack of tobacco per day)
- Several surgeries, head trauma
Increased risk for developing a preventable disease
- Myopia, cataract, and glaucoma
- Hypertension
- Hypotension
- Lung cancer, diseases of heart and blood vessels
- Depression, continuous headache, muscle weakness
Short-term goals
- Elimination of the current pain
- Identification of cough cause for the future treatment
- Work with the emotional state of the patient
- A clear and specific explanation of potential consequences
- Establishment of trustful relationships with the patient
Long-term goals
- Consultation with cardiologist, ophthalmologist, and psychologist
- Timely examinations regarding lungs, heart, and eyesight
- The patient quits smoking
- The patient is happy with his working conditions
- The patient introduces preventative measures regarding the mentioned risks
Thus, this patient is prone to health problems associated with blood pressure, smoking, eyesight, and emotional condition. It is necessary to introduce a comprehensive treatment plan to address these challenges. In particular, the mentioned goals are to be achieved through proper communication with the patient. The latter is likely to increase the patient’s awareness of his health. However, the most dangerous risk relates to smoking that should be addressed first.
Intervention
Smoking cessation
- Health system changes
- Implementation of mHealth
- Acceptance of policies and strategies aimed at services
- Provision of success and affordability of programs
- Increasing awareness of the issue in the patient
Rational for support of the intervention
- “16 million Americans suffer from at least one disease caused by smoking” (“Tobacco use”, n.d., para. 7)
- 20 million Americans have died from smoking since 1964
- $300 billion spent each year in the US to treat smoking-related diseases
- Tobacco causes heart disease and stroke, cancer, reproductive effects
- Current policies and programs may prevent diseases
- The tobacco use epidemic needs to be prevented
Additional resources to present the patient
- Healthy People 2020
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Local community website devoted to smoking cessation
- Smokefree.gov
- Quit Smoking Community
Smoking cessation is a rather clear and relevant intervention that is also presented in Healthy People 2020 goals. The identified strategies and resources are likely to significantly help the patient to prevent smoking-related diseases. According to Ghorai, Akter, Khatun, and Ray (2014), “mobile messaging services have gained global acceptability for curing diseases” (p. 415). Therefore, mHealth, websites, and other programs should be used to help the patient quit smoking.
Evaluation
Intervention evaluation method one
- Self-reports via smartphone-based mindfulness training (Garrison et al., 2015)
- This method is innovative and convenient
- It may be used anytime and anywhere
- Treatment in-hand in real-world contexts
- Opportunity to share results with a nurse and correct treatment, if required
Intervention evaluation method two
- Activity logs
- This method will show smoking activity decrease
- To facilitate smoking, counseling strategies may be introduced
- Activity logs are cost-effective and increase motivation
- The emphasis will be directed to behavioral change
Desired outcomes
- Tobacco dependence reduction is expected
- Increase of awareness
- Transition to a healthy lifestyle in general
- Understanding of smoking damage to health
- Increased motivation to quit smoking
Additional steps to be implemented in case the plan proved to be unsuccessful
- Consideration of the transtheoretical model for smoking cessation
- Move into contemplation of smoking as a behavior problem
- Stimulus-control and counter-conditioning as a means to promote change
- Re-evaluation of the patient’s needs, personal characteristics, and other specifics
- Both environmental and internal stimuli are to be considered
It seems to be essential to measure the patent’s progress with the help of various strategies. For example, self-reports associated with mHealth and smartphone as well as activity logs are relevant and effective ways to monitor the effectiveness of the suggested interventions. More to the point, in case of their ineffectiveness, it is necessary to re-consider the current strategies along with the approach to the patient and introduce the transtheoretical model for smoking cessation that would focus on stimuli control, personal approach, and behavioral change. Such desired outcomes as the reduced dependence on tobacco and enhanced motivation and awareness will serve as indicators of the accomplishment of the goal.
Summary
Main points of the patient teaching plan
- Among such risks as blood pressure, eyesight problems, and depression, smoking prevails
- Short-term and long-term goals were identified
- Smoking cessation intervention
- Activity logs and self-report evaluation methods were suggested
- Reduced dependence on tobacco and increased awareness will signalize progress
- The transtheoretical model will be implemented in case of failure
The patient’s need and interventions to address it were identified based on evidence from Healthy People 2020. In addition, evaluation methods and the alternative plan of treatment were suggested, focusing on scholarly sources and official websites devoted to the struggle against smoking. It is essential to explain to the patient that only the collaborative work on the problem, motivation, and information sharing will be the most effective treatment option. The key purpose of this patient teaching plan is to collaborate with him regarding the improvement of his lifestyle, smoking cessation, awareness related to smoking damages, the potential diseases the latter may cause, and ways to prevent them.
References
Garrison, K. A., Pal, P., Rojiani, R., Dallery, J., O’Malley, S. S., & Brewer, J. A. (2015). A randomized controlled trial of smartphone-based mindfulness training for smoking cessation: A study protocol. BMC Psychiatry, 15(1), 83-90.
Ghorai, K., Akter, S., Khatun, F., & Ray, P. (2014). mHealth for smoking cessation programs: A systematic review. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 4(3), 412-423.
Tobacco use. (n.d.). Web.