Introduction to Health and Illness: Concepts, Policies, and Impacts

Key Concepts of Health and Illness

The aims of the module are:

The aim of this module is to introduce key concepts of health and illness and the influences that impact on individual, family and population health and wellbeing.

The following content will be included:

·Definitions of health and wellness

·Social, economic and political theories explaining population and individual experience of health and illness

·Introduction to health legislation (for example; Mental Capacity Act 2006, Human Rights Act 1998, Children’s Act 2004)

·Introduction to health economics

·Introduction to health

·Introduction to social care policy (for example; Making Life Better - A Whole System Strategic Framework for Public Health 2013 – 2023; Public Health England strategic plan for next 4 years) Factors that impact health and wellbeing in society.

·Interrogation demographic and epidemiological data

·Definitions and concepts of health promotion and public health.

1.2Learning outcomes to be assessed

On successful completion of this module you will be expected to be able to:

1.Demonstrate an understanding of the aims and principles of health promotion, protection and improvement and the prevention of ill health when engaging with people across the lifespan.

2.Define social determinants of health and inequalities in health.

3.Compare patterns of morbidity, behavioural risk factors and health and wellbeing outcomes across the lifespan

4.Apply this knowledge to create a health profile of a family, group or community.

a. What? The introduction needs to introduce the reader to the family, group or community that you have profiled. You need to give a rationale for your choice of the group (family, group or community) you have decided to profile.

b. How? This section of the introduction needs to outline how the essay will be structured.

c. Why? An introduction needs to articulate the significance of the topic to be discussed. This should make clear why you have chosen the group (community, group, family) and how the health profile illustrates factors which can impact on individuals and groups experience of health and illness.

Provide a brief discussion of your understanding of definitions of health and illness and health promotion (200 words) (LO1) In this section define the concept of health and wellbeing, and an outline of the principles of health promotion and the importance of health promoting activity to promote good health and preventing ill health across the lifespan.

Health profile of a family, group or community (2000 words excluding graphs and tables) (LO1, 2, 3, 4)

a. The health profile will form the main body of your assignment and its purpose is to explore the health status of your chosen family, group or community.  You can base your profile on your formative activity if you wish. The profile can be written in a form of a report with subtitles, and can use photographs, statistical graphs and charts to help support your discussion. Please ensure any photographs are not of individuals, and graphs and tables should be referenced.

b. Start by introducing your chosen family, group or community, proving a brief description– for example;

·For a family, make up of family, ages, where they live, employment, social class, do they rent or own house

·For a group – for example is it defined by age range, ethnicity, sexuality or people with a common health issue

·For a community – the geographical location of a community, the type of environment, facilities available to them

c.   In your profile you need to identify key health needs of your chosen family, group or community. You should do this through the use of your own observations, and through examining epidemiological and demographic data to provide explanations for their health and wellbeing status.  The sorts of data you can use to support your discussion are as follows;

·Epidemiological data on patterns of morbidity

·National and local health reports

·Information from government and non- governmental organisations

·Articles from journals and newspapers

Your work will be tested against the following learning outcomes:

1.Demonstrate an understanding of the aims and principles of health promotion, protection and improvement and the prevention of ill health when engaging with people across the lifespan.

2.Define social determinants of health and inequalities in health

3.Compare patterns of morbidity, behavioural risk factors and health and wellbeing outcomes across the lifespan

4.Apply this knowledge to create a health profile of a family, group or community