A proposed program theory for a smoke-free hospital property

Health promotion includes a broad range of interventions, often informed by various theories to influence individuals and their social settings; however, few studies fully document their theoretical foundations or explain their rationale for their theory selection and application. This article examines four commonly used health promotion theories/models including the Social Ecology Model, Health Belief Model, Transtheoretical Model, and Social Cognitive Theory to inform intervention and activities in the development of a program theory for a smoke-free hospital property. Drawing on these theories, a program theory by way of a logic model is presented to illumine the underlying assumptions used to develop an initiative that would accomplish health promotion goals. This article emphasizes the identification, consideration, and application of the key strategies in health promotion together with the theoretical underpinnings of commonly used ecology and health behavior theories to develop a more robust and informed program theory to inform program implementation in the area of smoke-free properties.