alveoli
Abstract
The community of Clyde Texas consist of approximately 4,000 diverse individuals, whom aid in shaping the city. In this population, vaping is becoming more of a concern, because not only are adults beginning to vape, but the number of young adults, under the age of 18, whom are participating in vaping is rapidly increasing. To prevent the number of people vaping from continuously rising the community can implement the use of short films, promotional items, and personal testimonies throughout the year to spread information about vaping. The more these educational items or demonstrations are used, the more likely community members will retain the information, as well as begin to implement change into daily life. The goal of implementing these changes into the community of Clyde Texas is to teach the negative effects vaping can have on ones’ health, which will then decrease the number of people vaping in this population.
Community-Based Learning Project
The community and focus population (Assessment?)
Clyde Texas is the proud home of approximately 4,000 people. Clyde is located in Callahan county in between Abilene and Baird Texas. When interviewing different community members and leaders one issue seemed to surface. The issue of vaping among the high school and junior high kids was of greatest concern to the community. Vaping is growing in prevalence nation wide and Clyde Texas is no exception. It is against Texas State law for a child under the age of 18 to purchase a vape or e-cigarette. It is also considered criminal negligence for a person to buy a vape and give it to a minor. With this law in affect all across Texas no kids in junior high or high school should be using vapes. The local PAO officer emphatically stated that the junior high and high school kids are the future and we need to be doing our part to educate them on the negative health effects of vaping. Education is needed for this population within the community because vapes are confiscated almost daily between junior high and high school. Selekman, 2019 states “Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable death in America, and it usually begins during adolescence, making this a crucial time for primary and secondary prevention efforts.”.
Learning need for the population (Diagnosis)
Vaping is becoming more popular in our society but not many people using these products understand the health risks that come with it. The main nursing diagnosis focus would be knowledge deficit related to the effects of vaping as evidenced by increased use of vaping products. The junior high and high school students need increased health literacy on the effects of vaping. Key points that would be included in the negative effects of vaping campaign would be as follows. Vapes use flavored cartridges that contain nicotine to be vaporized. These cartridges are labeled by the manufacturer as “safe” but these standards are for ingestion, not specifically for inhalation (Selekman, 2019). Vaping market their product as being a healthier option to cigarette smoking but “less toxic is still toxic” (Selekman, 2019). The heating mechanism used to vaporize the cartridge release metals and can cause lung tissue damage such as popcorn lung (Selekman, 2019). Arnold (2018) shows the link of the actual flavoring in the vaporizing cartridges, diacetyl, to popcorn lung. Popcorn is when the alveoli in the lungs become damaged and can not function properly. Currently there is no cure for popcorn lung (O’Neill, 2019).
Resources Needed for the learning project (Planning)
To successfully implement the education campaign a proper setting is needed. A place familiar and comfortable to the students would be preferred, some place like the school gym. Visually appealing educational pamphlets would be needed. Promotional items could be helpful in gaining the students attention. Promotional items would include stickers, magnets, bracelets, and social media campaigns. Proper technology would be needed to show any short films to aid in the education of the effects of vaping. It would be most beneficial to have a year long campaign instead of a one time event.
Implementation (Interventions)
The more time the educational material is presented the higher likelihood of students retaining the information and implementing it in their lives. To begin the year long campaign an event would be hosted in the school gym for all students. A video on the negative effects of vaping would be shown and guided reflection questions will be given. At half time of every football game time could be taken to highlight a negative effect of vaping throughout the year. Students respond well to their peers. If a student who had a personal experience with the negative effects of vaping could come and share their story it would have a more substantial impact on the student’s peers.
Desired outcome (Goals)
