Final Project Submission: Analysis and Recommendations Paper

Overview of PHE 340 Final Project

Final Project Submission: Analysis and Recommendations Paper Instructions Submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. For additional details, please refer to the Final Project Guidelines And Rubric document.PHE 340 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric Overview The final project for this course is the creation of an analysis and recommendations paper. Contemporary public health issues addressed by the social and behavioral sciences include the prevention and treatment of alcohol and drug abuse, tobacco control, injury control, mental health, domestic violence, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV, adolescent health, communications, and grassroots political and community organizing. Effective solutions to widespread public health problems require the ability to plan, implement, and administer programs that take into account the actual factors that influence individual behaviors and reduce existing disparities. Both quantitative and qualitative research is used to inform program planning and evaluation. For this project, you will analyze a public health issue that affects a community or population of your choice. You will also analyze the social and behavioral factors associated with the issue and make recommendations for specific changes in social and behavioral factors that will help improve the issue. You will use social or behavioral theories, concepts, or models to substantiate your claims. The project is divided into four milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules One, Two, Four, and Five. The final project submission occurs in Module Seven. This assignment will address the following course outcomes: • PHE-340-01: Analyze the impact of social and behavioral factors on individual and population health for improving overall population health • PHE-340-02: Analyze the impact of community interventions on population health in identifying the efficacy of health programs • PHE-340-03: Apply appropriate public health theories, concepts, or models in examining behavioral, social, and cultural factors associated with health issues • PHE-340-04: Recommend evidence-based strategies for effecting changes in social and behavioral issues Prompt For this assignment, consider yourself an employee of an actual healthcare organization of your choosing, in which your role is to research the social and behavioral aspects of public health issues and make recommendations about changes in social and behavioral factors that will lead to a decrease in public health issues. You will choose a public health issue with your instructor’s approval for the basis of this project, analyze the issue for its social and behavioral factors, and make specific recommendations for changes that will lead to a measurable improvement of that issue. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed: I. Introduction A. Summarize your public health issue with respect to the community or state to which it is pertinent. B. Discuss why it is considered a public health issue. Be sure to support your claims with research. C. Identify the population that is most at risk for this issue. Be sure to support your claims with research. II. Analysis A. Describe the social, behavioral, and cultural factors associated with this public health issue. Be sure to substantiate your claims with relevant evidence-based research. B. Assess the impact of local initiatives that may exist on your selected issue. In other words, what has been done in the community, including organizational support, initiatives, or programs, in response to this issue? Be sure to substantiate your claims with specific examples and research. C. Assess the impact of state-sponsored programs or interventions that may exist to address your selected public health issue. Be sure to substantiate your claims with specific examples and research. D. Analyze the efficacy of local and state initiatives and programs that address your selected public health issue. In other words, are those initiatives or programs working? Be sure to justify your reasoning with relevant evidence-based research. E. Bearing in mind that there may be several, identify a healthcare disparity (that is, a gap in care that is typically experienced by an underserved population) associated with this public health issue. F. What efforts have been made toward reducing the disparity you identified? Be sure to substantiate your claims with relevant evidence-based research. III. Theoretical Support A. Bearing in mind that there may be several, choose a social, behavioral, or cultural factor associated with your selected public health issue that needs to change in order to improve the issue. Be sure to explain why you chose this particular factor. B. Select the public health theory, model, or concept that most appropriately applies to the social, behavioral, or cultural factor you chose in the above step. C. Describe the strengths of the theory, model, or concept you selected for addressing your chosen social, behavioral, or cultural factor. Be sure to substantiate your claims with specific examples and research. D. Describe the weaknesses of the theory, model, or concept you selected for addressing your chosen social, behavioral, or cultural factor. Be sure to substantiate your claims with specific examples and research. IV. Recommendations A. Make specific evidence-based recommendations for community-level stakeholders for positively impacting the social, behavioral, or cultural factor you selected. Be sure to justify the rationale behind your recommendations. B. Make specific evidence-based recommendations for the relevant state agency (or agencies) for promoting positive change in your selected factor. Be sure to justify the rationale behind your recommendations. C. Make specific evidence-based recommendations for reducing the healthcare disparity you previously identified. Be sure to justify the rationale behind your recommendations. D. Make general recommendations for improving the overall public health issue you selected. Be sure to justify the rationale behind your recommendations. V. Reflection A. Summarize the public health issue you selected and the social, behavioral, or cultural changes that would need to be made to bring about improvement. B. Discuss how your recommendations would support such change. Be sure to substantiate your claims with evidence. Milestone One: Topic Approval and Draft of Introduction Milestones In Module One, you will submit your final project topic for approval and include a draft of the introduction portion of the final project (Section I). This assignment should contain an overview of the public health issue and target population you will be addressing in your final project. You should frame the impact that your selected public health issue had (or is having) on your target populations at a national and/or international level. At least two sources should be used for this assignment. This milestone provides the foundation for your entire final project. With future milestones, you will build upon the work you submit in this milestone. This milestone is graded with the Milestone One Rubric. Milestone Two: Draft of Analysis In Module Two, you will submit a draft of the analysis portion of the final project (Section II). This milestone requires you to expand your understanding of the public health issue you have chosen for your final project. You will demonstrate your deepened understanding of the issue by considering the cultural factors, local initiatives, state initiatives, and healthcare disparities associated with your topic. The milestone will help you establish a strong background of the issue so you can assess the theoretical framework that you will use as the basis for the rest of your final project work. It will also help you prepare for Milestone Three. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Two Rubric. Milestone Three: Draft of Theoretical Support In Module Four, you will submit a draft of the theoretical support portion of the final project (Section III). This assignment builds on the work you did in Milestone Two, as you will choose the theoretical framework you will use to guide the recommendations and reflection sections of the final project. In this milestone, you will determine and justify a factor to be considered for your analysis and recommendations. You will rationalize your choice by pulling in other research and support. In addition, you will address both the strengths and limitations of your chosen theory as it pertains to the issue you chose. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Three Rubric. Milestone Four: Draft of Recommendations and Reflection In Module Five, you will submit your draft of the recommendations and reflection portions of the final project (Sections IV and V). This assignment allows you to advocate for the health disparities you discovered in your analysis by providing a potential solution for the issue you discovered. The recommendations you put forth in this milestone will be substantiated with solid evidence. This milestone is graded with the Milestone Four Rubric. Final Project Submission: Analysis and Recommendations Paper In Module Seven, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission is graded using the Final Project Rubric. Deliverables Milestone Deliverable Module Due Grading 1 Topic Approval and Draft of Introduction One Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric 2 Draft of Analysis Two Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric 3 Draft of Theoretical Support Four Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric 4 Draft of Recommendations and Reflection Five Graded separately; Milestone Four Rubric Final Project Submission: Analysis and Recommendations Paper Seven Graded separately; Final Project Rubric Final Project Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Your paper should be 8–10 pages in length (plus a cover page and references) and should use double spacing, 12-point Times New Roman font, and one-inch margins. Include at least three sources, which should be cited according to APA style. Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value Introduction Meets “Proficient” criteria and uses industry-specific language to establish expertise Comprehensively introduces public health issue and supports claims with research Introduces public health issue but with gaps in detail, or does not support claims with research Does not introduce public health issue 3 Analysis: Factors Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides an in-depth, detailed overview of factors associated with chosen public health issue Accurately describes social, behavioral, and cultural factors associated with chosen public health issue and substantiates claims with relevant, evidencebased research Describessocial, behavioral, and cultural factors associated with chosen public health issue but with gaps in accuracy, or research is not relevant or evidence-based Does not describe social, behavioral, and cultural factors associated with chosen public health issue 6 Analysis: Local Initiatives Meets “Proficient” criteria and draws nuanced, well-informed connections between concepts Comprehensively assessesimpact of local initiatives on selected issue and substantiates claims with specific examples and research Assessesimpact of local initiatives on selected issue but with gaps in detail, or does not substantiate claims with specific examples and research Does not assess impact of local initiatives on selected issue 6 Analysis: StateSponsored Programs or Interventions Meets “Proficient” criteria and draws nuanced, well-informed connections between concepts Comprehensively assessesimpact of state-sponsored programs or interventions on selected issue and substantiates claims with specific examples and research Assessesimpact of statesponsored programs or interventions on selected issue but with gaps in detail, or does not substantiate claims with specific examples and research Does not assess impact of statesponsored programs or interventions on selected issue 6 Analysis: Efficacy Meets “Proficient” criteria and draws nuanced, well-informed connections between concepts Accurately analyzes efficacy of local and state initiatives and programsthat addressselected issue and justifiesreasoning with relevant, evidence-based research Analyzes efficacy of local and state initiatives and programs but without regard to selected issue, or research is not relevant or evidence-based Does not discuss efficacy of local and state initiatives and programs 6 Analysis: Disparity Meets “Proficient” criteria, and description evidences keen consideration of social responsibility Accurately identifies a healthcare disparity associated with chosen public health issue Identifies a healthcare disparity that is not associated with chosen public health issue, or there are gaps in accuracy Does not describe a healthcare disparity associated with chosen public health issue 6 Analysis: Reducing the Disparity Meets “Proficient” criteria, and description evidences keen consideration of social responsibility Describes efforts that have been made to reduce identified disparity and substantiates claims with specific examples and research Describes efforts that have been made to reduce disparities but not the identified disparity, or does not substantiate claims with specific examples and research Does not describe effortsthat have been made to reduce identified disparity 6 Theoretical Support: Choice Meets “Proficient” criteria, and articulation is exceptionally clear and logical Chooses a social, behavioral, or cultural factor associated with chosen issue that needs to change to improve the issue, and explains why the factor was chosen Chooses a social, behavioral, or cultural factor that is not associated with the chosen issue or that does not need to be changed to improve the issue, or does not explain why the factor was chosen Does not choose a social, behavioral, or cultural factor 6 Theoretical Support: Theory Meets “Proficient” criteria and draws nuanced, well-informed connections between concepts Selectsthe theory, model, or concept that most appropriately appliesto the chosen social, behavioral, or cultural factor Selects a theory, model, or concept that is not appropriately applied to the chosen social, behavioral, or cultural factor Does not select a theory, model, or concept to apply to the chosen social, behavioral, or cultural factor 6 Theoretical Support: Strengths Meets “Proficient” criteria and draws nuanced, well-informed connections between concepts Accurately describesthe strengths of the theory, model, or concept and substantiates claims with specific examples and research Describesthe strengths of the theory, model, or concept but with gaps in accuracy, or does not substantiate claims with specific examples and research Does not describe the strengths of the theory, model, or concept 6 Theoretical Support: Weaknesses Meets “Proficient” criteria and draws nuanced, well-informed connections between concepts Accurately describesthe weaknesses of the theory, model, or concept and substantiates claims with specific examples and research Describesthe weaknesses of the theory, model, or concept but with gaps in accuracy, or does not substantiate claims with specific examples and research Does not describe the weaknesses of the theory, model, or concept 6 Recommendations: Community-Level Stakeholders Meets “Proficient” criteria, and recommendationsintegrate relevant theories and research Makes appropriate evidencebased recommendationsfor community-levelstakeholders and justifiesrationale behind recommendations Makes recommendationsthat are not appropriate or are not evidence-based for communitylevel stakeholders, or does not justify rationale behind recommendations Does not make evidence-based recommendationsfor community-levelstakeholders 6 Recommendations: State Agency Meets “Proficient” criteria, and recommendationsintegrate relevant theories and research Makes appropriate evidencebased recommendationsfor state agency or agencies and justifies rationale behind recommendations Makes recommendationsthat are not appropriate or are not evidence-based for state agency or agencies, or does not justify rationale behind recommendations Does not make evidence-based recommendationsfor state agency 6 Recommendations: Reducing the Healthcare Disparity Meets “Proficient” criteria, and recommendationsintegrate relevant theories and research Makes appropriate evidencebased recommendationsfor reducing identified healthcare disparity, and justifiesrationale behind recommendations Makes recommendationsthat are not appropriate or are not evidence-based for reducing identified healthcare disparity, or does not justify rationale behind recommendations Does not make evidence-based recommendations for reducing identified healthcare disparity 6 Recommendations: Overall Public Health Issue Meets “Proficient” criteria, and recommendationsintegrate relevant theories and research Makes appropriate general recommendationsfor improving overall public health issue and justifiesrationale behind recommendations Makes recommendationsthat are not appropriate for improving overall public health issue, or does not justify rationale behind recommendations Does not make recommendations for improving overall public health issue 6 Reflection: Summarize Meets “Proficient” criteria, and summary is exceptionally clear and concise Summarizesselected public health issue and social, behavioral, or cultural changes required for improving issue Summarizesselected public health issue but does not address social, behavioral, or cultural changesrequired for improving issue, or changes noted are not appropriate for improving issue Does not summarize selected public health issue 3 Reflection: Support Meets “Proficient” criteria and provides detailed examples of how recommendationsfill gaps in current initiatives and programs Accurately discusses how recommendations would support change and substantiates claims with evidence Discusses how recommendations might support change, but with gaps in accuracy, or does not substantiate claims with evidence Does not discuss how recommendations would support change 6 Articulation of Response Submission is free of errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, and organization and is presented in a professional and easy to read format Submission has no major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization Submission has major errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that negatively impact readability and articulation of main ideas Submission has critical errors related to citations, grammar, spelling, syntax, or organization that preve