As has been mentioned, specific barriers result in the fact that breast cancer significantly affects the at-risk population. That is why it is necessary to develop suitable health promotion activities that will improve public health and limit the spread of the condition under analysis. Part Three will comment on a health promotion theory, design evidence-based prevention, create an implementation plan, identify the evaluation program, and explain how the given recommendations will improve the at-risk population’s health.
Identifying Health Promotion Theory
Any prevention or health promotion activities should be based on a specific theory that is necessary to ensure that a theoretical framework supports the proposed intervention. This assignment draws attention to the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). This theory stipulates that individuals’ health behavior depends on their intentions and subjective norms. The TPB relies on a few aspects, including a person’s subjective attitude to a behavior, the third party’s attitude to this behavior, and a person’s ability to overcome their self-perceptions (Chin & Mansori, 2019). People are more likely to take action and make some decisions regarding their health if they have a positive attitude to this action course. In other words, individuals tend to refrain from following a health promotion behavior if it witnesses a negative perception either from them or from the third party.
One should admit that the TPB is appropriate for breast cancer because of the screening barriers that were described in Part Two. The typical barriers include negligence, the fear of diagnosis, and others. Each of these challenges denotes that women avoid regular screening, making it impossible to identify breast cancer at its early stages. Thus, the TPB is suitable here because this theoretical framework emphasizes the role of positive perceptions to shape people’s behavior. In particular, the given theory stipulates that screening adherence is high among those individuals who believe that this behavior will result in advantages for them. In addition to that, Chin and Mansori (2019) admit that this adherence is even higher when females are motivated by the third party, including relatives, healthcare providers, society, and others. It denotes that the TPB has the potential to overcome the existing barriers. In addition to that, the given framework is suitable to promote prevention activities among the at-risk population.
The rationale behind using the given theoretical framework to address patients with breast cancer refers to the fact that positive attitudes to breast cancer prevention behavior will increase its rates. Furthermore, it has been mentioned above that the TPB considers the issue from different perspectives, meaning that a multi-faceted approach will enhance the probability of achieving positive outcomes regarding patients’ health. It denotes that all the following recommendations and activities will rely on the TPB to ensure that breast cancer screening is connected with positive attitudes.
Evidence-Based Prevention and Health Promotion Activities
Multiple prevention and health promotion activities exist to address the issue of breast cancer. It is rational to achieve higher rates of breast cancer early detection. The possible options include increasing the frequency of breast examinations, subjecting women younger than 50 years old to radiologic screening, using MRI in addition to mammograms and ultrasound, and others (Padamsee et al., 2017). These measures will result in the fact that women will early identify whether they are subject to this health risk, which will allow them to make reasonable decisions regarding their future behavior.
Once the screening measures determine that a patient is at risk, it is suitable for them to be subject to specific medical procedures. On the one hand, bilateral prophylactic mastectomy is considered the most effective prevention method that “reduces breast cancer risk by about 90%” (Padamsee et al., 2017, para. 6). Irrespective of this high efficacy, many women tend to avoid this surgical intervention because it causes significant changes to their breasts. On the other hand, the US healthcare industry applies chemoprevention with two selective estrogen receptor modulators. Even though this method cuts the risk of developing breast cancer in half, it implies significant side effects, including venous thrombosis and an elevated probability of endometrial cancer (Padamsee et al., 2017). This information denotes that the methods above are useful, but it does not free them from accompanying threats.
As has been mentioned above, medical prevention methods imply significant drawbacks. That is why it is reasonable to draw attention to health promotion activities that would protect the at-risk population. This section is going to present scientific evidence that will justify the significance of health promotion behavior. Firstly, one can say that there is a correlation between regular physical activity and decreased breast cancer risk. Sauter (2018) stipulates that a study of more than 60,000 individuals identified a 12%-reduction in breast cancer risk for those people who exercised regularly (p. 65). Secondly, smoking and alcohol intake also increase the probability of developing breast cancer because these activities provide the organism with dangerous elements. According to Sauter (2018), smokers and alcohol drinkers are more subject to this condition compared to individuals who do not follow these behaviors. Finally, obesity is a typical cause of many cancers, and the one under consideration is among them (Sauter, 2018). It denotes that women who fail to keep a healthy diet are exposed to higher breast cancer risk.
It is possible to articulate evidence-based prevention and health promotion activities based on the details above. Firstly, the at-risk population should follow a healthy lifestyle, meaning that they should eliminate tobacco and alcohol, participate in regular physical activity, and keep a balanced diet. Secondly, women should involve in systematic screening procedures to identify this medical condition early. This point will allow women to take timely measures to protect their health. The proposed activities are realistic for the population because at-risk women can modify their behavior.
Implementation Plan
A specific implementation plan is necessary to put the recommended activities into action. The first goal is to increase adherence to screening among the at-risk population (Henderson et al., 2020). Part Two of the assignment has described that breast cancer prevention and management should involve many stakeholders, including genetic counselors, mammogram and ultrasound imaging operators, as well as appropriate organizations. These medical professionals and establishments have the potential to promote the required behavior in many ways. For example, these stakeholders can distribute specific brochures and place advertising. These materials are suitable because they emphasize the importance of regular screening for women. This approach should create a positive attitude toward screening procedures among the at-risk population. Increased screening rates are the expected outcome for the given implementation measure. It is reasonable to assume that the expected improvement will appear in six months.
As for the second objective, it refers to promoting a healthy lifestyle among the at-risk women. Clinicians bear the primary responsibility in implementing this recommendation into practice. It refers to the fact that these medical professionals regularly deal with representatives of the at-risk population. Thus, the doctors should advise their patients to quit smoking, stop drinking alcohol, exercise regularly, and follow a healthy and balanced diet. This approach can be practical because regular pieces of advice will remind the women of the necessity to modify their lifestyles. In other words, the patients who can be subject to breast cancer will receive motivation from the third party to involve in health promotion activities and avoid harmful habits. The expected outcomes include a reduced number of smokers, alcohol-addicts, and obese representatives of the at-risk population. It seems that it is possible to expect some positive changes in people’s behavior in six months.
Evaluation Program
This section will comment on the evaluation program that can be used to determine the efficacy of the proposed health promotion activities. One should admit at once that evaluation will focus on the statistical data across the United States. Firstly, the National Cancer Institute (n.d.a) states that “in 2018, 72.8% of women aged 50-74 years had a mammogram within the past two years” (para. 1). It denotes that more than a fourth part of the US female population did not regularly participate in breast screenings. Any increase in the percentage above will be considered successful results, but it will be better if the number of such women constitutes at least 80%. In this case, it will be possible to consider the intervention successful.
Secondly, obesity is the following measure of the offered evaluation program. According to the National Cancer Institute (n.d.c), 39.5% of adults were obese in the USA from 2015 to 2016 (para. 1). Simultaneously, Sauter (2018) admits that the prevalence of obesity-caused cancers increased by 7% in the US in 2005-2014 (p. 64). That is why it is rational to expect that the lower number of people with obesity will decrease breast cancer incidence. Thus, the proposed actions will be considered successful if the at-risk population starts losing weight. The ideal target is to achieve that no more than 30% of the population suffers from the given condition. This state of affairs will mean that the women under analysis actively engage in regular physical activity and follow healthy eating and drinking behaviors.
Finally, it will also be necessary to determine whether the efforts to quit smoking are working. In 2014-2015, approximately 70% of patients admitted that their doctors notified them of the necessity to quit smoking (National Cancer Institute, n.d.b, para. 1). The information above has already described the connection between smoking and breast cancer. It denotes that such a large portion of the at-risk population obtains recommendations from the third party to improve their lifestyle. However, some noticeable improvements are necessary to cover more patients because not all 70% follow the clinicians’ advice. It means that if at least 80% of the at-risk population receives such guidelines, the number of those who quit smoking will appropriately increase.
It is worth mentioning that the evaluation program will increase the recommended activities’ effectiveness and help individuals achieve the expected outcomes if it is available for the at-risk population. On the one hand, this program will emphasize the link between harmful behaviors and breast cancer rates. Consequently, people will obtain additional motivation to modify their lifestyles and avoid multiple health issues. On the other hand, the program will demonstrate that it is realistic to achieve the desired outcomes. It is so because slight percentage increases are described as successful results, and individuals will understand that they can cope with the task.
Meeting the Basic Needs of the At-Risk Population
This section will explain that the recommended prevention and health promotion activities will introduce significant benefits regarding the basic needs of the at-risk population. The idea refers to the fact that the intervention above has the potential to help people meet their basic needs. It is so because it allows them to avoid the severe medical condition by improving their lifestyles. Consequently, the reduced incidence of breast cancer will result in the fact that the population will be healthier. It relates to both physical and mental conditions, meaning that these people will be free of a significant challenge. In addition to that, the at-risk population will identify that they can meet their basic needs without harmful habits, including smoking and alcohol intake.
At the same time, the offered intervention will contribute to the common good of the individual, community, and society. It refers to the fact that if breast cancer prevalence decreases, people’s health conditions and well-being will improve. As a result, these individuals will witness some enhancements in their physical, emotional, and even economic domains. The financial aspect is mentioned because every disease results in essential expenditure. Furthermore, the disease’s reduced rates will lead to significant advantages for the whole society. It is so because the reduced incidence of breast cancer will improve the population’s public health. Consequently, there will be a lower number of sick individuals, the healthcare industry will face fewer challenges, and the government will be able to reduce healthcare spending. It means that both the individual and community will face essential benefits if the recommended prevention and health promotion interventions are implemented.
Conclusion
Part Three of the given assignment has offered an effective way to address the issue of breast cancer in the United States. The paper has identified that the Theory of Planned Behavior is suitable in this case. The given theoretical framework stipulates that people’s behavior is shaped by their subjective attitude to a phenomenon, the third party’s attitude to this phenomenon, and a person’s ability to overcome their self-perceptions. Evidence-based prevention and health promotion activities have been offered, and they include promoting healthy lifestyles and motivating the at-risk population to participate in regular breast screenings. Various scholarly articles demonstrate the effectiveness of these measures to prevent breast cancer.
Furthermore, the assignment has offered a specifically developed implementation plan that relies on genetic counselors, medical organizations, clinicians, and others. It means that these medical professionals and establishments should provide the at-risk population with the required information to make them follow the proposed intervention. The evaluation program focuses on statistical data and states that a certain reduction in the number of smokers, alcohol abusers, and obese people will be considered successful outcomes. The paper also concludes that the proposed interventions are worth considering because they can contribute to the common good of the individual, community, and society in a number of ways.
References
Chin, J. H., & Mansori, S. (2019). Theory of Planned Behavior and Health Belief Model: Females’ intention on breast cancer. Cogen Psychology, 6(1), 1-12.
Henderson, V., Tossas-Milligan, K., Martinez, E., Williams, B., Torres, P., Mannan, N., Green, L., Thompson, B., Winn, R., & Watson, K. S. (2020). Implementation of an integrated framework for a breast cancer screening and navigation program for women from underresourced communities. Cancer, 126(S10), 2481-2493.
National Cancer Institute. (n.d.a). Breast cancer screening. Web.
National Cancer Institute. (n.d.b). Clinicians’ advice to quit smoking. Web.
National Cancer Institute. (n.d.c). Weight. Web.
Padamsee, T. J., Wills, C. E., Yee, L. D., & Paskett, E. D. (2017). Decision making for breast cancer prevention among women at elevated risk. Breast Cancer Research, 19(34).
Sauter, E. R. (2018). Breast cancer prevention: Current approaches and future directions. European Journal of Breast Health, 14(2), 64-71.