Description

Prompt

NURS-FPX FP6026

This position paper covers cigarette smoking/tobacco dependence in the target vulnerable population of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations. It includes an analysis of existing evidence and position papers on using social media to tackle the public health issue. The analysis also presents and responds to opposing viewpoints.

Solution

Social Media Interventions for Tobacco Cessation in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Populations: A Review of Position Papers and Public Health Strategies

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations face a heightened risk of tobacco dependence, as their disproportionately high rates of cigarette smoking reflect. The percentage of AI/AN adults who smoke is more than twice that of the general U.S. adult population (Sinicrope et al., 2022). Although tobacco dependence constitutes a chronic condition, healthcare providers can facilitate cessation through evidence-based treatments.

Despite the availability of proven interventions, AI/AN individuals continue to quit smoking at a slower rate than other racial and ethnic groups (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2024). Research indicates that conventional public health campaigns often fail to effectively address tobacco use within these communities, underscoring the need to explore social media-based strategies for greater impact.

Despite ongoing efforts to tackle tobacco addiction among AI/AN populations, conventional public health approaches have been insufficient, which necessitates the consideration of culturally tailored, interdisciplinary social media-based interventions offering a promising and scalable solution to boost tobacco cessation.

Structural Barriers to Traditional Public Health Interventions

Efforts to combat tobacco dependence in AI/AN populations remains particularly challenging due to multiple structural and geographic barriers. The remote locations where many AI/AN communities reside hinder the delivery of traditional, in-person cessation interventions. High travel costs and adverse weather often obstruct treatment access (Sinicrope et al., 2022). As a result, cigarette smoking continues to contribute significantly to preventable disease and premature death within these populations, fueled by persistent barriers to effective cessation.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services identifies several opportunities to enhance smoking cessation efforts among AI/AN populations. The department emphasizes the importance of implementing prevention and control strategies that ensure equitable access to cessation treatments and support services for disadvantaged groups. Current healthcare infrastructure includes quitlines, mass media campaigns, and digital cessation services as key components of smoking cessation support (VanFrank et al., 2024).

While quitlines offer a cost-effective method for expanding access to evidence-based interventions, Yuan et al. (2020) observed that these services often fall short of their potential in effectively supporting tobacco control within AI/AN communities. To improve outcomes, they advocate for the development and evaluation of culturally tailored strategies and protocols designed specifically for minority populations.

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