Reference no: EM133664983
Health Promotion - Paradigms
Aim
The aim of this unit is to explore the underpinnings of conceptual paradigms, applied concepts and frameworks and the evidence base of the discipline of health promotion.
Learning Outcome 1: Identify important historical milestones that have shaped health promotion as an effective practice to improve population health
Learning Outcome 2: Critically analyse and synthesise current and relevant evidence for health promotion and the political tensions associated with prioritising prevention
Learning Outcome 3: Identify and analyse frameworks and strategies underpinning effective health promotion practice and cross-sectoral collaboration to achieve better population health outcomes
Learning Outcome 4: Analyse and interpret how identified needs of target population groups inform the development of responsive health promotion programs and interventions
Learning Outcome 5: Critically analyse real world health promotion programs and their effectiveness in addressing behavioural risk factors negatively impacting population health
Content
The unit covers the foundational principles and fundamental paradigms of health promotion nationally and internationally, the evidence for health promotion as a public health tool and its influence on policy, new developments in health promotion policy and practice perspectives, and the impact of social, economic, and political trends.
To begin with, this unit will 'set the scene' by considering the evolution of health promotion practice, and what has developed in the years since The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion (1986).
From here, you will explore a range of contemporary approaches to health promotion, including life stage and life course approaches, behavioural change, cross-sectoral action and partnerships, and settings-based approaches. You will consider health promotion in the context of the upstream/downstream model of public health and community development.
Next, you will explore the art and science of social marketing and advocacy as tools in the health promotion suite as well as practice paradigms, such as methodologies and ethics.
Finally, you will consider the scope of applying health promotion thinking to solving real-world problems from a local to global scale.
Assessment ONE: Behavioural Risk Factor ReportAs a student working in a Non-Government Organisation, you are to write a report for your manager who has asked for an evidence update on a behavioural risk factor that is impacting the health of the population and that could be effectively addressed through health promotion intervention. The report is to include the following:
1. Health issues, impacts. Describe and discuss the impact of your selected behavioural risk factor on the health of the population. Your discussion will show the link between the behavioural risk factor and health issues (e.g., heart disease, cancer). Your discussion will need to be supported and substantiated with relevant evidence and data, which must be referenced appropriately.
2. Prevalence in Specific Populations. Identify and discuss the evidence of yourbehavioural risk factor being more prevalent in specific population groups. Include comparisons between population groups based on National &/or State data. Propose and analyse possible causes associated with any disparities and discuss associated health equity issues.
3. Government Policies, Priorities. Identify any government policies &/or priorities which could support investment in modifying this behavioural risk factor and thereby in reducing the prevalence of the associated health issues in the population, particularly for high-risk population groups.
4. Tensions: Prevention/Promotion vs Treatment. Identify and analyse the tensions that exist between the prevention/promotion and treatment agendas in relation to addressing your chosen behavioural risk factor. Comment on resourcing for the prevention/promotion agenda.
5. Settings. Recommend and justify suitable settings in which effective health promotion interventions could be delivered to positively modify this behavioural risk factor in high-risk population groups.
6. Ongoing Investment. Conclude by providing a convincing argument supporting the need for investment in prevention for your selectedbehavioural risk factor, thereby reducing the incidence of corresponding health issues in the population.
Use APA 7th edition.
Assessment TWO: Program Critique
Building on your report in Assessment 1, in this assignment, you will continue with your selected behavioural risk factor and provide a program critique report to your manager, on a real world health promotion program/intervention that has been developed, implemented, and evaluated to address your selected risk factor in a target population. The report will be used by the Non-Government Organisation you are working for to learn from the findings for future health promotion programs/interventions.
Journals such as the Australian Health Promotion Journalhave reports on such programs and associated evaluations. If unsure about a program's suitability, ask the lecturer.
In this assessment, you are required to analysethe specific program/intervention in terms of the following:
1. Introduction. The introduction should enable the reader to become familiar with your selected program. Briefly describe the program/intervention in terms of the goal/s of the program in relation to your selectedbehavioural risk factor. Include how the program is addressing health issues associated with your risk factor and relevant details about the program's target population. This section should also include contextual details (e.g., social, cultural and environmental characteristics), so the reader understands the context the program is operating in.
2. Target Population Needs. Discuss the needs of the specific target population. This section will make the link about why the program is important in addressing your selected behavioural risk factor and thereby reducingthe prevalence of associated health issues. Ensure you consider health equity and high risk population groups. Relevant and substantiated evidence and data (with appropriate referencing) is required to support your discussion in this section.
3. Ottawa Charter. Identify and discuss which action areas of the Ottawa Charter have informed the design and implementation of thisprogram/intervention. Critique any gaps. In relation to each action area of the Ottawa Charter identified, describe the corresponding specific strategiesthat are being used in the program. Analyse the effectiveness of each of these strategies in terms of contributing to risk behaviour modification in the target population and the outcomes of your selected program/intervention.
4. Partnership Approach. Discuss any evidence that this program/intervention has adopted a partnership approach in its planning and implementation. Comment on the extent to which the program has adhered to the principles underpinning the partnership approach to health promotion. If the program/intervention that you are critiquing has not adopted a partnership approach, propose whether this approach had the potential to enhance the program/intervention's delivery, and outcomes. Provide an evidence-based argument.
5. Recommendations. Conclude by succinctly summarising your key findings and provide recommendations on how future programs/interventionscould be designed or implemented more effectively.