This week will explore the foundational concepts of public health, including its definitions, key players, and current debates that shape the field. You'll dive into the core sciences, with a special focus on epidemiology, learning essential terms and testing your knowledge through a quiz. The week also introduces you to definitions of health and wellbeing, the “sick role,” and provides a brief history that leads into the sociology of health. Key social determinants of health will be discussed, alongside health inequalities and landmark studies like the Marmot Review and the Black Report. You’ll also receive guidance on APA referencing and explore practical public health career insights.

Where should I be?

At this point in the module, you should understand the fundamental purpose and scope of public health, the basics of epidemiology, and how health and wellbeing are defined in the context of social determinants and inequalities. You should also be familiar with using APA referencing in your work and have a preliminary understanding of public health roles in practice.

This week will build on your foundational knowledge of public health by delving into health definitions, health beliefs, and social theories related to health. You'll start with a quiz to recap health definitions, followed by an introduction to the sociology of health and a timeline on how power struggles and health beliefs shape health outcomes. This section will introduce health models, including the Biomedical, Biopsychosocial, Recovery, Personal Behaviour (with an introduction to the BCT Taxonomy), and Health Belief Models. Through these models, you’ll gain insight into personal behaviours, person-centred care, and how to apply these concepts to your assessment report.

In terms of practical skills, you’ll work on paraphrasing techniques and report writing, guided by AWS sessions. You’ll also receive an overview of assessment expectations and participate in a quiz to solidify your understanding of health models and their applications.

Where should I be?

At this point within the module, you should be able to:

• Differentiate between various health models and apply them to real-world examples.

• Understand foundational social theories and health beliefs that influence health behaviors.

• Begin applying paraphrasing and report writing skills to construct well-supported arguments for your assessment.

• Identify how the discussed health models can be applied to your chosen health behavior for the report.

This week, you’ll focus on health promotion, including its role in sustainability (with connections to the Sustainable Development Goals). Activities will include evaluating health promotion materials, such as posters and media, and examining risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and healthy lifestyle approaches. You'll look into diet, smoking, exercise, and the influence of genetics on health, along with methods for promoting physical and mental well-being. Additionally, you’ll identify strategies and challenges in health promotion, linking these to social determinants and health inequalities. A session on finding statistics for your report will also guide you in using relevant data sources.

Where should I be?

By the end of this week, you should be able to:

• Critically evaluate health promotion strategies, including media use and posters.

• Discuss key risk factors and healthy lifestyle approaches for CVD prevention.

• Understand the challenges in health promotion and the influence of social determinants on health inequalities.

• Locate and interpret relevant statistics to strengthen arguments in your report.

This week introduces you to health promotion campaigns, educational and community-based interventions, and using epidemiology to assess public health challenges. You’ll explore health statistics through resources like ONS, IMD, and WHO, and assess major health challenges such as obesity, diabetes, CVD, and maternal health. Practical activities include a simulation on outbreak management and further discussions on public health issues like smoking, mental health, and sexual health.

Where should I be?

By now, you should be able to:

• Apply epidemiological and statistical data to evaluate public health challenges.

• Compare different intervention strategies for lifestyle and health improvements.

• Understand specific health issues (e.g., CVD, obesity) and connect these to broader social health challenges.

• Assess the role of health promotion campaigns in supporting lifestyle changes.

This week covers global public health, focusing on the role of health professionals, infection control, and health protection measures. You'll examine antimicrobial resistance, infection control activities, and engage in a hands-on activity with UV light and handwashing to understand best practices in hygiene. Additionally, there’s an opportunity to attend a session with a former WHO employee, providing insights into global health careers and initiatives.

Where should I be?

By the end of this week, you should be able to:

• Explain the importance of infection control and health protection in public health.

• Recognize antimicrobial resistance as a critical issue and identify prevention strategies.

• Reflect on the role of health professionals in promoting global public health.

• Apply practical infection control techniques and understand their impact on health.

You must submit your final Percentage Grade (Applied Core) assessment by the end of week 6. For more information, please visit the 'Assessment' section of Aula.

Assessment Support:

Remember, additional assessment support sessions are available. Details of these can be found on Week 6 Aula page.

Extenuating Circumstances (Extensions)

If you are unable to submit on time, please check Aula for information on extenuating circumstances, including extension and deferral requests.