Conduct a health needs assessment on a defined population – this definition can be geographical, cultural, generational or any other clearly defining demographic – and identify their key health needs and priorities. Following this needs assessment, identify a specific health priority for action and critically discuss potential interventions that could be utilised to address this priority.
General Guidance
Your assignment should be word processed (handwritten assignments are not accepted), using time new roman size 12 font, double spaced, with numbered pages and your student number printed as a footer on every page.
The word limits stated for this assignment excludes the reference list at the end of the assignment but includes all text in the main body of the assignment (including direct quotations, in-text citations, footnotes, tables, diagrams and graphs).
Please be aware that exceeding the word count limit will affect the academic judgement of the piece of work and may result in the award of a lower mark.
Appendices are not considered a supplement, and thus, will not be assessed as part of the content of the assignment. As such, they will not contribute to the grade awarded, however it may be appropriate to use an Appendices section for any material which is a useful reference for the reader. Please note that appendices are not included in the word count.
The majority of references should come from primary sources (e.g., journal articles, conference papers, reports, etc.) although you can also utilise area specific textbooks.
Please indicate the word count length at the end of your assignment.
Marking and assessment
This assignment will be marked out of 100%
This assignment contributes 50% of the total module marks.
Learning outcomes assessed in this assessment
3. Discuss and critically appraise the role of local, national and international publichealth programmes, health directives and health initiatives.
4. Demonstrate a critical understanding, knowledge and ability to conduct a healthneeds assessment in supporting evidence-based public health practice.
Assessment Guidelines
Conduct a health needs assessment on a defined population – this definition can be geographical, cultural, generational or any other clearly defining demographic – and identify their key health needs and priorities. Following this needs assessment, identify a specific health priority for action and critically discuss potential interventions that could be utilised to address this priority.
Your work should include and cover the following sections/aspects and content (as shown and stated in the table below). The specific percentage marks allocated to each section/aspect of your work is stated below. Please also note that the Level 7 marking criteria (located towards the end of this assessment brief) will also be used to reflect this overall grade. Please remember that achievement and demonstration of both learning outcomes (3 and 4) is being assessed in this assessment.
Section/aspect Content to cover Marks available
Introduction An introduction to the assignment that establishes the importance of health needs assessment. Relevant information should aim to provide an overview regarding the relationship between health needs assessment and public health action. 15 Marks
Discussion Definition of the population under investigation, profiling of the population and identification of key health needs and priorities using an appropriate health needs assessment method. 30 Marks
Implications Identification of a particular health priority for action and critical discussion of evidencebased interventions that could be used to direct public health actions aiming to address the particular health priority. 30 Marks
Conclusion Effective summary of key points. 10 Marks
Presentation and Referencing High quality presentation that conforms to principles of academic writing and contains minimal errors in sentence construction, grammar and punctuation. The assignment followed appropriate academic conventions regarding in-text citations and referencing. 15 Marks
