Demonstrate critical awareness of the key debates in contemporary public health.

SHN6502: Contemporary Issues in Public Health and Individual Wellbeing

Due on: 23 January 2026

Assessment Pack contents:

Short introduction to the task.

Key terms

Key resources

Template to outline structure and content

Rubric to understand marking criteria

Video to explain it.

Short introduction to the task:

You must pick a current public health issue, which is apparent in the UK. This must be supported by data and statistics from reliable, valid sources. You must be able to use this information to identify a target group.

You must follow the template to ensure that you meet the learning outcomes for this module.

You have 2,000 words to cover the areas, and this component is worth 50% of your overall grade.

This assessment covers learning objectives 1, 2, 3 and 4:

1. Demonstrate critical awareness of the key debates in contemporary public health.
2. Engage with the practical, moral and ethical issues that drive public health in a contemporary context that is dynamic and impacted by issues such as funding and liberty.
3. Evaluate the application of various approaches to securing positive public health outcomes relative to issues of age, race, class, education and geographical location.
4. Demonstrate high levels of communication skills, using a variety of media to deliver and secure positive public health outcomes.

Key terms:

Economical, Education, Health Literacy, Equity, Social Justice, Ethics, Principality, Law, Governance, Liberty, Awareness, Theories, Positive Public Health, Digital, Promotion, Campaign

Key Resources:

Reading List:

Core texts

Berridge, V. (2016). Public Health: A Very Short Introduction. Oxford University Press. 

Corrigan, PW. (2014). The stigma of disease and disability: Understanding causes and overcoming injustices. Washington DC: American Psychological Association.

HM Government, (2011). No Health Without Mental Health: A cross government mental health outcomes strategy for people of all ages. Her Majesty’s Government/Department of Health.

Schenker, MB. (2014). Migration and Health: a research methods handbook. University of California Press.

Tulchinsky T. & Varavikova E. (2000). The New Public Health: An introduction for the 21^st Century. (Chapters: 1, 2, 4, 5, 9)

World Health Organization, (2015). World Report on Ageing and Health. WHO.

Recommended texts

Brown, GW., Yamey, G., Wamala, S., and Afshin, A. (Eds) (2014). The handbook of global health policy. Wiley-Blackwell.

Falge, C., Ruzza, C., and Schmidtke, O. (Eds). (2012). Migrants and health: political and institutional responses to cultural diversity in health systems. Burlington, VT: Ashgate

Green, J., Tones, K., Cross, K., and Woodall, J. (Eds) (2015). Health promotion, planning and strategies.  SAGE Publications.

Rosenberg, S. J., & Rosenberg, J. (2013). Community mental health: Challenges for the 21st century. Routledge.

Schutt, RK. (2015). Investigating the social world: The process and practice of research. University of Massachusetts Boston. SAGE. 

Sharma, M., Branscum, P., and Atri, A. (Eds) (2014). Introduction to community and public health. San Francisco, California: Jossey-Bass.

Buse K, Mays N, Walt G. Making Health Policy.

Clinton C & Sridhar D. Governing Global Health: who runs the world and why.

Crisp N. One World Health.

Deaton A. The Great Escape: Health, Wealth and the Origins of Inequality.

Farmer P. Pathologies of Power: Health, Human Rights and the New War on the Poor.

Freire P. Pedagogy of the Oppressed.

Hickel J. The Divide.

Marmot M. The Health Gap: The Challenge of an Unequal World.

McMichael, Woodward A, Muir C. Climate change and the health of nations: famines, fevers, and the fate of populations.

Missoni E, Pacileo G, Tediosi F. Global Health Governance and policy: an introduction.

Sen A. Development as Freedom.

Sontag S. Illness as Metaphor and AIDS and its Metaphors.

Wilkinson D & Pickett K. The Spirit Level: why greater equality makes societies stronger.

Journals

American Journal of Public Health: AJPH

Annual review of public health

BMC Public Health

Critical Public Health

European Journal of Public Health

Global Public Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice

Health Education and Behaviour: The Official Publication of the Society for Public Health Education

Journal of Public Health

Journal of Public Health Research

Journal of School of Public Health and Institute of Public Health Research

Perspectives in Public Health: Formerly Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health

Quality of Life: A Multi-Disciplinary Journal of Food Science, Environmental Science and Public Health

Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in this module

This module maintains a policy that you may not use generative AI to assist you in the process of undertaking the assessment.

Websites

www.parliament.uk

www.ons.gov.uk

www.ageuk.org.uk in particular the ‘Later in Life in the UK’ report, 2016.

DFID Health: https://www.gov.uk/international/health-in-developing-countriesLinks to an external site.

Gapminder: https://www.gapminder.orgLinks to an external site.

Global Fund: https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/Links to an external site.

IHME: http://www.healthdata.orgLinks to an external site.

Lancet Global Health Portal https://www.thelancet.com/global-healthLinks to an external site.

Our World in Data: https://ourworldindata.orgLinks to an external site.

SDGs: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgsLinks to an external site.

UNDP: https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/Links to an external site.

UNDP: What does it mean to leave no one behind?

 https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/librarypage/poverty-reduction/what-does-it-mean-to-leave-no-one-behind-.htmlLinks to an external site.

UNICEF: https://www.unicef.orgLinks to an external site.

WHO: https://www.who.int/en/Links to an external site.

World Bank: http://www.worldbank.orgLinks to an external site.

Worldmapper: http://worldmapper.org/index.html

Template:

Assessment 1: Rationale for Poster campaign (50%)

Please include the following sections:

Background (15%): Here you should describe the public health issue at hand, supported by data and recent statistics as figures if available on specific target groups that are most affected. You must cover the last five year or less history of the issue, making sure that you include political, social and economic perspectives. These may be made into subheadings in your rationale.

Literature review (20%):

Here you should critically review examples of previous (last 5 years) or current public health interventions with images; addressing the issue among the selected target population(s). You must consider the findings of these and impact? Contemplate the strengths and weaknesses of the interventions and discuss how successful they were.  (2 or 3 interventions). Look for articles/reports that reviewed these interventions

Please go on to discuss what effects are generally achieved by a poster campaigns.  What media may be used and why may this make it more successful e.g., QR codes.

• What are poster campaigns
• How effective are they
• What media outlets can be used and what are the benefits and disadvantages

Rationale for poster (35%): Considering a poster as main delivery mode for your intervention, define what it should entail:

• what are the campaign goals and objectives (e.g., changes in knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, behaviours, skills, social environment, policies, etc.)?
• who is the desired target audience and why? rationale
• what are the communication objectives of the poster ? What would you want the poster to achieve
• how would it reach the desired audience and how would it prompt to action? Communication medium- social media, etc
• what key message should the poster have, what arguments should it include? What would you want your poster to communicate- background, statistics, benefits, etc
• How would you consider your poster effective? Evaluation?
• What are the barriers in this mode of promotion campaign and how to overcome these barriers? Barriers to poster campaign? how to overcome
• What would be your underpinning behavioural theory

Ethics (20%) What ethical considerations should you make when designing such a poster. Can you mention some theories/concepts in ethics. (covered in teaching materials or (e.g., readability, functional and health literacy, accessibility) to maximise social justice and equity?

Academic literature and referencing (10%). Use of academic literature and accurate referencing style. APA 7^TH Edition

Element of Assessment

Criteria

Outstanding 1^st Class

100, 95, 92

Excellent 1^st Class

88, 85, 82

1^st Class

78, 75, 72

2:1

68, 65, 62

2:2

58, 55, 52

3^rd Class

48, 45, 42

Fail

38, 35, 32

Abject Fail

25, 20, 10, 0

Background (15%)

Describe the public health issue at hand, supported by data and recent statistics on specific target groups that are most affected.

Outstanding description of the public health issue with recent, relevant, and up-to-date data, citing credible sources.

Outstanding and detailed description of specific target groups that are most affected by the issue. The description includes an excellent summary of relevant statistics and critical review of relevant research literature about why and how these groups are affected.

Excellent description of the public health issue showing a very good selection of available evidence, with relevant and up-to-date data.

Excellent description of specific target groups, showing very good understanding of subgroup differences and engagement with the data.

The description of the target group shows strong engagement with the literature base.

Excellent description of the public health issue showing a good selection of available evidence, with relevant and up-to-date data.

Very good description of specific target groups most affected by the issue, showing good understanding of subgroup differences and engagement with the data.

The description of the target group shows strong engagement with the literature base.

A very good description of the public health issue. Evidence is broad and relevant, showing discernment in selection.

The description of specific target groups most affected by the issue is well elaborated but could be enhanced by more relevant and updated statistics, data, and literature.

Good rationale was provided for public health issue, with a good selection of relevant evidence.

The description of specific target groups most affected by the issue is well developed but includes enough resources including statistics, data, and literature.

Public health sufficiently described, using some evidence.

The description of the target groups most affected by the issue is superficial but backed up by some relevant and updated evidence.

Some attempt at providing a justification for the focus and the target group but lacking in supporting evidence.

The description of the target groups most affected by the issue is superficial and not supported by relevant and updated evidence.

The public health issue is described with very little if any supporting evidence.

There is very little to no description of the specific target groups most affected by the issue.

The summary includes little to no statistics and literature about the issue related to the target groups.

Literature review (20%)

Critically review the literature on public health interventions addressing the issue among the selected target population(s).

An outstanding synthesis of the literature on public health interventions, including a thorough comparison and contrast of findings clearly related to the selected issue, with more than 2 systematic reviews/meta-analyses and more than 4 relevant primary research studies of good quality.

Focus is on research findings rather than research methods. Study limitations that might have led to different findings are discussed.

Gaps and controversies that exist in the literature are clearly and thoroughly discussed.

An excellent synthesis of the literature on public health interventions, including a thorough comparison and contrast of findings clearly related to the selected issue, with 1-2 systematic reviews/meta-analyses and 2-3 primary research studies of good quality.

Focus is on research findings rather than research methods. Study limitations that might have led to different findings are discussed.

Gaps and controversies that exist in the literature are discussed.

An excellent synthesis of the literature on public health interventions, including a thorough comparison and contrast of findings clearly related to the selected issue, with at least one systematic review/meta-analysis and at least 2 primary research studies of good quality.

Focus is on research findings rather than research methods. Study limitations that might have led to different findings are highlighted.

Gaps and controversies that exist in the literature are discussed.

A very good synthesis of the literature on public health interventions, including a thorough comparison and contrast of findings clearly related to the selected issue, with at least one systematic review/meta-analysis and one primary research study of good quality.

Focus is on research findings rather than research methods. Study limitations that might have led to different findings are mentioned.

Gaps and controversies that exist in the literature are briefly discussed.

A good synthesis of the literature on public health interventions, including a good comparison and contrast of findings with at least one systematic review/meta-analysis and one primary research study of good quality; however, this comparison lacks thoroughness.

Study limitations are discussed, but possible connections to differences in findings are not clearly identified.

Gaps and controversies in the literature are discussed, but clarity could be enhanced.

A sufficient synthesis of the literature on public health interventions, including some comparison and contrast of findings but superficially.

Study limitations are discussed, but possible connections to differences in findings are not clearly identified.

Gaps and controversies in the literature are discussed, but clarity could be enhanced.

An insufficient synthesis of the literature on public health interventions, with no comparison and contrast of findings are lacking.

Study limitations are not mentioned.

Gaps (what is unknown and needs to be researched) and controversies that exist in the literature are not discussed.

No synthesis of the literature on public health interventions, including no systematic reviews nor primary research studies of good quality.

Study limitations are not mentioned.

Gaps and controversies that exist in the literature are not discussed.

Rationale for poster (35%)

Justification of the use of a poster for a campaign targeting the specific target groups most affected by the public health issue

Outstanding rationale for a poster for a campaign, showing a clear understanding of the issue and of the choice of the mode of delivery.

The discussion includes a thorough elaboration on and justification for ALL the following elements: 1) the campaign goals and objectives, 2) desired target audience, 3) communication objectives, 4) promotion strategies, 5) key messages, and 6) expected impact.

Excellent  rationale for a poster for a campaign, showing a clear understanding of the issue and the choice of the mode of delivery.

The discussion includes an excellent elaboration and justification for most (5/6) elements: 1) the campaign goals and objectives, 2) desired target audience, 3) communication objectives, 4) promotion strategies, 5) key messages, and 6) expected impact.

Excellent  rationale for a poster for a campaign, showing a good understanding of the issue  and the choice of the mode of delivery.

The discussion includes an excellent elaboration and justification for most (4/6) elements: 1) the campaign goals and objectives, 2) desired target audience, 3) communication objectives, 4) promotion strategies, 5) key messages, and 6) expected impact.

Very good  rationale for a poster for a campaign, showing a good understanding of the issue  and the choice of the mode of delivery.

The discussion includes a very good elaboration and some good justification  for most (4/6) elements: 1) the campaign goals and objectives, 2) desired target audience, 3) communication objectives, 4) promotion strategies, 5) key messages, and 6) expected impact.

Good rationale for a poster for a campaign, showing a good understanding of the issue  and the choice of the mode of delivery.

The discussion includes a good elaboration and some good justification  for most (4/6) elements: 1) the campaign goals and objectives, 2) desired target audience, 3) communication objectives, 4) promotion strategies, 5) key messages, and 6) expected impact.

Sufficient rationale for a poster campaign showing some understanding of the issue and the choice of the mode of delivery.

The discussion includes some elaboration and some justification  for most (3/6) elements: 1) the campaign goals and objectives, 2) desired target audience, 3) communication objectives, 4) promotion strategies, 5) key messages, and 6) expected impact.

Insufficient rationale for a poster campaign showing limited understanding of the issue and the choice of the mode of delivery.

The discussion includes brief and superficial elaboration and little justification  for less than half of the following elements: 1) the campaign goals and objectives, 2) desired target audience, 3) communication objectives, 4) promotion strategies, 5) key messages, and 6) expected impact.

No rationale for a poster campaign showing insufficient understanding of the issue and the choice of the mode of delivery.

The discussion includes no elaboration and no justification  for any of the following elements: 1) the campaign goals and objectives, 2) desired target audience, 3) communication objectives, 4) promotion strategies, 5) key messages, and 6) expected impact.

Ethics (20%)

Level of understanding and integration of ethical principles in the choice and design of the poster

Outstanding and nuanced consideration and integration of ethical considerations into the choice for and design of a poster campaign, including elaboration of

readability, functional and health literacy, accessibility.

Where ethical principles are breached, strong and clear justification for this is provided and limitations are discussed.

Very strong integration of ethics across all aspects of poster design, including elaboration of

readability, functional and health literacy, accessibility.

Where ethical principles are breached, a good, clear justification for this is provided and limitations are discussed.

Strong, consistent and robust integration of ethics in the choice of poster and its design,  including elaboration of

readability, functional and health literacy, accessibility.

Where ethical principles are breached, a good justification for this is provided and limitations are discussed.

Ethics firmly embedded in the poster choice and design.

Some emerging evaluation of merits and drawbacks of adoption of different choices with ethical consequences is discussed.

Ethics considered in the poster design.

Accurate identification of key ethical issues, some analysis and discussion of how consideration of these has shaped the poster design.

Some consideration of ethics in poster design, including description of key ethical principles, and some attempt at application of these to the poster campaign.

Limited consideration of ethics within the poster design. Mainly descriptive and little application to the specific poster campaign.

Very little to no consideration of ethical principles in poster campaign design. Some mention of ethics but not applied in relation to the poster campaign.

Academic Writing (10%)

Report structure and flow, use and breadth of sources, referencing and citations.

The writing is professional, clear, with concise sentences.

No grammatical errors or spelling mistakes.

Reading is appropriate, up to date and discerning. Referencing is flawless.

The report has excellent structure and has very good academic fluency and flow throughout.

Writing is grammatically correct and sentence construction shows fluency and flow. Broadly analytical, with some description.

Reading shows consistent discernment. Referencing is accurate.

The report is well structured and shows very good academic fluency and flow.

Writing is grammatically correct and sentence construction shows fluency and flow. Broadly analytical, with some description.

Reading shows good discernment.

Referencing is accurate.

The report is well structured, and writing shows good academic fluency and flow.

Writing is grammatically correct and sentence construction shows fluency and flow. Broadly analytical, with some description.

Referencing is accurate.

The report is clearly structured with appropriate headings and sub-headings.

Writing is grammatically correct and sentence construction shows fluency and flow. Mostly descriptive.

Reading is relevant and up to date but could be broader. Referencing is mostly accurate and consistent.

The report is clearly structured, with appropriate headings and sub-headings.

Spelling, sentence construction and grammar are broadly correct.

Writing is analytical in places, but has a tendency towards description.

Referencing is present throughout with some errors. Evidence base may be limited.

The report is structured with headings and sub-headings but may lack organisation.

Spelling, sentence construction and grammatical errors may be common.

Writing is predominantly descriptive with only occasional analysis.

Referencing is present but with errors and very limited evidence used to support the report.

The report is poorly structured. Headings and subheadings may be present but lack organisation.

Frequent spelling, sentence construction or grammatical errors. Writing is descriptive, with little if any analysis.

Referencing is absent or inconsistent and contains errors, and reading is extremely limited.