6HL006 Assessment Guidelines

6HL006 Assessment Guidelines

ASSESSMENT TASK

You are required to submit a 2500 word paper which will explore and examine the evidence and values that underpin a selected policy or strategy (or one particular component of a policy or strategy).

The paper should demonstrate your achievement of the following learning outcomes;Critically analyse the key features of health policy. Include discussion on how to influence policy giving examples.

Critically discuss the key features of health practice. Explore barriers to practice and evaluate the quality monitoring processes

Give examples from practice which result in improving practice.

Background

You are working in the Health and Social Care field and have been asked to conduct an appraisal of current health policy in the context of how the social determinants of health are being addressed.

Task

Step 1: Identify a current public health policy that addresses a current health issue. Give a rationale for why this policy has been selected and clearly indicate how it relates to research and evidence.

Step 2: Critically examine how the policy problem has been constructed and consider the social perspectives and 'drivers' that have influenced the policy:

Step 3: Using an appropriate policy analysis framework, provide a critical analysis of the policy (e.g. Bardach)

Step 4: Propose an alternative approach or amendments to the existing policy, evaluating the potential benefit of these alternative views or approaches.

Step 5: Drawing on your findings from the policy analysis, discuss the strategy you would employ in order to influence policy makers.

Your work will be graded using the University level 6 grade descriptors; you can find a copy of these in the assignment brief folder in Wolf. You MUST submit your assignment through the electronic submission gateway in CANVAS. The submission deadline is 2pm UK time on Thursday 12th January 2023. Late submissions will receive a F0 grade.

This assessment will account for 100% of your overall mark.

General guidance

The paper is expected to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of health policy and strategy;

The concepts and terms described in the paper should be well defined with appropriate reference to the literature as well as your own understanding;

There should be a balance between theoretical presentation of the topic (i.e. drawing on the necessary theoretical perspectives) and practical implications for health (i.e. providing specific and practical examples);

A range of literature sources providing contrasting and/or contradictory opinions should be provided, correctly referenced and discussed within the context of the paper. (NB. Only cited items should be included on the reference list)

The references should include academic books and textbooks; peer reviewed publications from the academic journals; and reports by national and international organizations;Internet sources can be used (in addition to books, articles and policy reports), but these should be reliable and evidence-based sources, correctly referenced with the website address and date (NOTE: web links alone are not acceptable and Wikipedia (and other sites as such) ARE NOT appropriate references)

Formatting and presentation of the assignment

The word limit for this assessment is 3000. If your work is 10% over or under this word count your grade will be reduced. (Reference lists and appendices are not included in the word count)

You should include the module code, your student number, and the name of your iteration leader on the front page

All referencing should be in line with the Harvard style of referencing (NOTE: papers that are not appropriately referenced will fail)

Work must be proof read for grammar, spelling and formatting mistakes before handing in

You should follow all additional advice in the Fit to Submit guidelines and the Level 6 marking criteria, both of which can be found in the CANVAS topic

An electronic Word version of your paper should be submitted online via CANVAS BEFORE the DEADLINE. If you fail to submit your electronic copy to CANVAS by the deadline your work will be considered late and penalized.

Health issue

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO)(2023), being overweight or obese is characterised by abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that poses a threat to one's health. A Body Mass Index (BMI) of over 25 is considered overweight, and over 30 is considered obese. Unfortunately, this issue has reached epidemic proportions, with more than 4 million people succumbing to the condition in 2017, as stated by the Global Burden of Disease report(Keaver et al., 2020). Living overweight or obese can have a significant impact on your quality of life and can lead to mental health issues, such as depression and a decrease in self-esteem. Moreover, it can increase the risk of severe health problems such as stroke, type 2 diabetes and some types of cancer (National Health Service,2023)(NHS). It was found that almost two-thirds of adults (63%) in England had a body mass index (BMI) of over 25, which is classed as being overweight or obese (BMI of over 30) in 2015(Brooks, 2023). The proportion of people categorised as obese increased from 13.2% of men in 1993 to 26.9% in 2015 and from 16.4% of women in 1993 to 26.8% in 2015. Although the trend is still upward, the increase rate has slowed since 2001. The prevalence of obesity is similar among men and women; however, men are more likely to be overweight(Gov. UK, 2017).

Rates of overweight and obesity are increasing in adults and children. The prevalence of overweight or obese children and adolescents aged 5-19 years globally increased more than four-fold from 4% to 18% between 1975 and 2016(WHO, 2023). It is concerning to note that a significant proportion of adults in England are either overweight or obese. As of 2019, 64% of adults in England were classified as heavy, with 28% being obese and 3% being morbidly obese (King's Fund,2021). Moreover, there is a growing disparity between obesity rates among women from the most and least socioeconomically deprived areas. The gap has increased from 11 percentage points in 2014 to 17 percentage points in 2019. Similarly, for men, the deprivation gap has risen from 2 points in 2014 to 8 points in 2019(ibid). Many individuals who are overweight or living with obesity desire to lose weight but find it challenging. Despite their efforts, they struggle to resist the constant reminders to eat - from TV advertisements to high-street stores. Supermarkets also complicate it by enticing customers with special offers and promotions for foods that are not on their shopping list but are hard to resist(Gov. UK, 2020). Rates of obesity are increasing, leading to more significant costs for the NHS. The NHS spent 6.1 billion in 2014/15 on obesity-related ill health, with projections estimating an increase to 9.7 billion annually by 2050(King's Fund, 2021).

SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH.

According to Gov.UK 2017, Many people struggle to eat healthily due to an environment that encourages unhealthy choices, leading to weight gain and obesity; maintaining a healthy lifestyle has become increasingly difficult due to the environment, especially the easy access to calorie-dense food. The rise in obesity rates can be attributed to the growing consumption of cheap out-of-home meals, which are available at all times of the day. According to PHE's 2014 estimates, there are over 50,000 fast food and takeaway outlets and fish and chip shops in England (Gov.UK, 2017). According to Traka et al. (2020), Over a quarter (27.1%) of adults and one-fifth of children consume food from out-of-home outlets at least once a week. These meals are usually linked to higher energy intake, greater fat levels, saturated fats, sugar, and salt, and lower levels of micronutrients. Access to affordable healthy food, like fresh fruits and vegetables, is unavailable in some areas where people live. Additionally, food advertisements promote unhealthy options such as high-fat snacks and sugary drinks. Limited access to recreational areas such as parks, sidewalks, and affordable gyms makes engaging in physical activities challenging. (National Institute of Child Health and Development, 2021)(NIH). Marti et al. 2004, state that Both genetics and environmental factors contribute to the obesity pandemic, including cultural and social influences on food intake, as well as decreased physical activity in daily life. It is believed that genes can play a role in a person's tendency to gain weight. While some scientists suggest that specific genes may make a person more susceptible to obesity, it is also thought that external factors such as a high-calorie diet and low physical activity are necessary for a person to gain excess weight (NIH, 2021).

POLICY: Tackling obesity). The Government invented this policy in July 2020, with seven(7) main proposals for tackling obesity.

Bardach method

Step 1: Define the context

The policy is tackling obesity: empowering adults and children to live healthier lives (gov. UK,2020). The policy seeks to find the

State the problem:

Most adults and children aged 2 to 15 are living with obesity in the UK, and the Government came up with 14 obesity strategies in the past 30 years. However, the amount of people living with obesity has not decreased (Theis & White, 2021). In the UK, most people who are obese are more likely to be from deprived areas; the number of adults living with obesity has increased from 15% in 1993 to 27% in 2015 (Rutter, 2018).

Path 3

Introducing a new campaign to encourage individuals who are overweight to take steps towards a healthier weight. Evidence-based tools and apps are available to advise on losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight.2. More people will receive weight management services through the NHS to support their weight loss goals. 3. Conduct a public consultation across four nations to gather feedback and evidence on our current 'traffic light' labels to help individuals make healthy food choices.4 Legislation is being introduced to require calorie labelling in out-of-home food businesses with over 250 employees.5 and consulting on our intention to make companies provide calorie labelling on alcohol.6 The government plans to introduce a law prohibiting the promotion of foods high in fat, sugar, or salt (HFSS) through volume-based discounts like buy-one-get-one-free. Additionally, such foods will not be allowed to be placed in strategic locations intended to encourage their purchase, whether in physical stores or online, in England.7. Ban advertising of HFSS products on TV and online before 9 pm. Consult on total online restriction.

.

Brooks, R. (2023) 'The changes in BMI and obesity prevalence for adults in England since the early 1990s', .32wd231qw

National Health Service(NHS)(2023) Obesity. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/obesity/ (Accessed 30 October 2023).

Keaver, L., Xu, B., Jaccard, A. and Webber, L. (2020). 'Morbid obesity in the UK: A modelling projection study to 2035',Scandinavian Journal of Public Health,48(4), pp. 422427.

Rutter, H. (2018). 'The Obesity Problem and its Relationship', Core Topics in Anaesthesia and Perioperative Care of the Morbidly Obese Surgical Patient, 1.

Theis, D.R. and White, M. (2021) 'Is obesity policy in England fit for purpose? Analysis of government strategies and policies, 19922020',The Milbank Quarterly,99(1), pp. 126-170.

Traka, M.H., Plumb, J., Berry, R., Pinchen, H. and Finglas, P.M. (2020) 'No title',Maintaining and updating food composition datasets for multiple users and novel technologies: Current challenges from a UK perspective.

World Health Organisation (WHO)(2023) Tobacco. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tobacco (Accessed 30 November 2023).