Page 14 - 8-Windhoek AFTERNOON SESSION e-BOOK (27 April 2023)

School of Nursing and Public Health
FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES &
VETERINARY MEDICINE

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN
PUBLIC HEALTH

CANDIDATE: MAHOTO Sylvia K

CANDIDATE’S DISSERTATION
DEVELOPMENT OF A SMOKING CESSATION
COUNSELLING ALGORITHM FOR HEALTH CARE
WORKERS IN ZAMBEZI REGION, NAMIBIA
This study was carried out under the supervision of Prof. Honoré
Kabwebwe Mitonga (University of Namibia) as main Supervisor and
Prof. Olanrewaju Oladimeji (Walter Sisulu University) as Co-Supervisor.
The study aimed to develop and present a culturally targeted
evidence-based algorithm founded on theoretically grounded
guidelines such as 5-A model which is intended to assist health care
professionals to implement and offer an effective smoking cessation
intervention for quit smoking to patients during hospital visits and has
strong potential for dissemination in health care settings in Namibia.

The study revealed that individual decision making can be influenced
by different stages before quitting smoking. Using the theories of trans-
theoretical model, planned behaviour and reasoned action, the study
offers stages of pre-contemplation, contemplation, the preparation,
action and maintenance stage as fundamental for smoking cessation.
The findings are critical as they raise awareness of training and
education for both health care workers and non-healthcare workers.
The findings are vital for policy makers since they are tailored to the
Zambezi region and come from practitioners and people located
within this region.
Lastly, this study showed that smoking cessation delivery from HCWs
in Zambezi region is inadequate. It presented that best practice
models, modified to the specific individualities of the target group and
environment can be effectively transferred to the Zambezi region. A
step-by-step smoking cessation algorithm, a smoking cessation leaflet
and smoking cessation training manual were developed, which
formed the foundation of the study. Lastly, the study revealed the
crucial need to improve Healthcare workers skills and knowledge in
providing smoking cessation intervention and to ensure affordability
and accessibility of smoking cessation interventions in Zambezi region.

14