Smoking Cessation Clinic Analysis Term Paper

Introduction

Cigarettes are smoked by over 1.1 billion people worldwide. Every year, the number of people smoking increases by 3.4%. Smoking is associated with many chronic diseases and also reduces the lifespan of the user. In the United States, one out of five deaths is caused by smoking related diseases. It is also estimated that 90% of all the lung cancer deaths are caused by smoking.

The organizers of this project are seeking to establish a clinic to guide smokers during the cessation process. The clinic is expected to offer advice to smokers and also help them quit the habit. The clinic will offer smoking counseling services to the youths in major towns and also through the social media. This sensitization exercise will enable smokers to make a decision to quit the habit. The youth will then be subjected to the cessation process where their progress will be well monitored. Unlike other clinics where those who want to smoke come to the clinic for advice; our clinic will focus on educating people on dangers of smoking, gather the people who actually want to stop smoking then take them through the cessation process.

Problem Statement

The worldwide rate of smoking is increasing at a very high rate. This is caused by lack of proper awareness programs on the heinous impact of smoking. Most of the cessation clinics around the world focus on those who want to stop smoking rather than creating awareness. It’s imperative for cessation clinics to first sensitive the people, solicit smokers and then take them through the smoking cessation process.

Goals

The main aim of this project is to establish a smoking cessation clinic that will guide smoker through the process of quitting smoking. It is expected that a total of 1000 people will be taken through the process for a period of 3 months. The number will continue rising as the organization become more popular.

Objectives

The main objectives of this project are:

• To develop awareness programs that will sensitize the people on the dangers of smoking
• To carry out awareness campaigns on a regularly basis
• To start a clinic that offers smoking cessation advice
• To carry out smoking cessation process to those willing to stop smoking
• To establish partners who will assist the clinic financially

Project Activities

Create awareness programs

The first step will be to develop programs that warn people about their smoking habits. Most of the smokers are not prepared to stop smoking. In this regard, it is necessary to warn people about the dangers of smoking and from this information; they will become prepared to change. These programs will be prepared to suit the young people and will be developed so as to appeal smokers. After the training programs, those willing to stop smoking will be asked to register for the cessation program.

Implement awareness programs

Most of the awareness programs that are available are only channeled through forums and community gathering. This clinic intends to carry out the awareness using the social media and the internet. Power point Presentations on the dangers of smoking will be transmitted among the young people through the social media and emails. The training presentations will have the address of the clinic so that, those willing to quit smoking can contact the clinic for help and advice. This method is cheap and inexpensive.

Smoking cessation program

The program will be carried out at the clinic. Once a smoker has enrolled, the nurses and other staff members will guide the smoker through the process and ensure that he/she stops smoking. The cessation program has five main parts.

• Pre-contemplation stage: one is thinking about quitting the habit
• Contemplation: at this stage, one is serious thinking about quitting the habit
• Preparation: at this level, the smoker is very serious and sets a deadline to stop the habit. This could be “I will stop smoking in the next 30 days”
• Action: at this stage, the smoker quits the habit
• Maintenance: at this stage, the smoker has stopped the habit but he has to be monitored so that he does not start smoking again

Office/building

The clinic must be located within the city. At this clinic, smokers may come physically for counseling and guidance or the services can be offered through the internet and video conferencing. This will help smokers access our services more easily.

Human Resource Requirement

For the clinic to operate effectively, workers and medical experts will be hired. In order to reduce the labor cost, students in nursing and other medical specializations will be asked to volunteer for a period of 6 months. They will be provided with upkeep but not entitled to a salary. The table 1 below shows the employees required.

Table 1: The employee required

Equipments Required

The equipments required are listed below:

1. Office stationery
2. Computers
3. Internet and video conferencing facilities
4. Telephones
5. Medical equipments
6. Furniture

Future Funding

Currently the clinic intends to start operations within the next four months. It will be a charitable nonprofit making organization. The clinic hopes that a government grant of US$ 400000 will assist in the initial preparation, starting and operation of the clinic for a period of one year. During the first year of operations, the organization will solicit funding from the following sponsors:

• The government
• The public: the members of the public will be asked to contribute on social media
• Seek support from established businessmen, politicians and those engaged in philanthropy and charity
• charge a small fee to those be treated ($50 per person)

Evaluation

The evaluation of the clinic was carried out so as to determine the strengths, weakness, opportunities and threats. The SWOT matrix is shown in table 2 below:

Table 2: the SWOT matrix

Strengths

From the SWOT analysis, it can be seen that our clinic will focus on offering innovative services through the use of internet and video conferencing. In order to increase the enrollment of smokers, the organization will carry out an extensive training through community awareness meetings and the social media. These programs will ensure that smokers know the dire consequences of smoking and consequently desire quitting the habit.

Weaknesses

The main weakness for the organization is lack of funding and low operating scale. It is expected that these weaknesses will be solved through adequate funding.

Threat

The main threat for this clinic is the lack of funds from government and other funding organizations in the future. To reduce the threat, the organization will rely on various funding organization as well as well wishers. The clinic will also charge the smokers a small fee for the treatment services.

Budget

The budget for the whole project is tabulated in table 3 below:

Table 3: The project cost and income

The remaining money will be used at the start of the second year