Assessment 3: Written Report Public Health Issue Scoping Paper

Learning Outcomes (SILOs)

• Analyse and explain the defining characteristics of public health (SILO 1).

• Critique, compare, and contrast approaches in public health and their roles in relation to ongoing and emerging public health issues (SILO 2).

• Critique potential evidence-based interventions to address public health problems (SILO 3).

• Select and apply criteria to prioritise public health problems and their possible solutions (SILO 4).

• Analyse public health successes in terms of enabling conditions, public health approaches and intervention methods used, and measures of success (SILO 5).

Task Details

This assessment requires you to prepare a public health scoping paper on an emerging public health issue. Scoping papers are frequently prepared by public health professionals to assist in decision-making for funding and intervention choices.

You are working as a Public Health Officer for a public health organisation. Your Manager has asked you to prepare a public health scoping paper on an emerging public health issue (select one issue from the provided list). Your paper will form the basis for the development of future public health interventions to improve the health and wellbeing of the population.

Your paper must present a clear, concise, and accurate picture of the emerging public health problem based on the available evidence.

Instructions

Your task is to use evidence to:

• Identify the significance of the emerging issue.

• Analyse the underlying determinants, inequalities, and inequities relevant to the emerging issue.

• Identify and appraise evidence-based public health approaches to address the underlying determinants, inequalities, and inequities, including a mix of interventions.

• Identify and discuss contextual factors that may influence, enable, or hinder public health interventions (e.g., political, social, cultural context, stakeholder priorities, governance, advocacy, capacity, and information).

• Recommend the next steps for your organisation.

Topic Selection

Select one of the following issues:

• Environmental health

• Population ageing

• Workplace health

• Mental health

Once you have selected your topic, narrow down the focus to a specific issue and select a country or area to focus on. Examples:

• If focusing on Australia, you may narrow down to Victoria or regional Victoria.

• Evidence from other countries (India, Europe, etc.) can be used but must clearly indicate the relevance to your selected area.

Purpose of Scoping Paper

Scoping papers identify all aspects of a public health problem to help decision-makers set priorities and consider intervention options. A key skill for public health professionals is to unpack emerging public health issues and scope the problem fully before considering solutions.

Your scoping paper should:

• Place the needs of the population central.

• Appraise evidence-based public health approaches.

• Consider contextual factors that may impact intervention delivery.

A successful scoping report ensures the issue is well understood with defined parameters, forming the first step to selecting the most appropriate interventions.

Report Structure & Guidelines

Title Page

• Provide a short heading (title) describing the focus of the scoping paper.

• Include your name and student number.

Executive Summary

• High-level summary for senior-level decision-makers.

• Highlight the main messages and recommendations.

• Write last, ensure it reflects only content in the report.

• In-text references are not required.

Table of Contents

• List all sections of the report including page numbers.

Introduction

• Set up the context of the emerging issue.

• Provide a brief summary including:

  • What the emerging public health issue is.

  • The country or area of focus.

  • Significance of the issue (extent and impacted populations).

  • Outline what the rest of the scoping paper includes.

Body of the Report

• Include relevant headings and sub-headings.

• Synthesize available evidence about the issue.

• Include:

  • Determinants of health, inequalities, and inequities.

  • Appraisal of evidence-based public health approaches to address the above.

  • Contextual factors influencing or hindering interventions (political, cultural, social, stakeholder priorities).

Conclusions and Recommendations

• Summarise the take-home message (2–3 sentences).

• Recommend next steps for your organisation, such as:

  • Collecting stakeholder and community input.

  • Identifying strategic points for intervention.

  • Targeting “low-hanging fruit” for easier or quicker impact.

• Do not introduce new evidence in this section.

Evidence

• Draw on a diversity of sources:

  • Research evidence (peer-reviewed journals, population data, registries).

  • Organisational evidence (reports, grey literature).

• Minimum requirement: research evidence.

• Use in-text citations for all information presented.

Assessment Criteria

The assessment will measure your ability to:

• Develop an effective executive summary (10%).

• Introduce your topic clearly (10%).

• Demonstrate the determinants of health, inequalities, and inequities using relevant evidence (50%).

• Make conclusions and recommendations (20%).

• Use appropriate referencing (10%).

Refer to the Assessment 3: Marking Criteria and Rubric for detailed marking and feedback.

Assessment 3: Public Health Issue Scoping Paper Summary of Requirements

Objective:
Students are required to prepare a public health scoping paper on an emerging public health issue. The purpose of the scoping paper is to provide decision-makers with a clear, evidence-based understanding of the issue and inform future interventions to improve population health.

Learning Outcomes (SILOs) Covered:

1. Analyse and explain the defining characteristics of public health.

2. Critique, compare, and contrast approaches in public health and their roles in ongoing and emerging public health issues.

3. Critique potential evidence-based interventions for public health problems.

4. Apply criteria to prioritise public health problems and their possible solutions.

5. Analyse public health successes in terms of approaches, interventions, and measures of success.

Key Assessment Requirements

• Topic Selection: Select a broad area (Environmental health, Population ageing, Workplace health, Mental health), narrow to a specific issue, and focus on a country/area.

• Evidence-based Approach: Use research and organisational evidence to analyse determinants, inequalities, inequities, and potential interventions.

• Contextual Analysis: Consider political, social, cultural, and stakeholder factors influencing intervention success.

• Report Structure:

  1. Title Page – Title, student name, and ID.

  2. Executive Summary – High-level summary of key messages and recommendations.

  3. Table of Contents – Include page numbers.

  4. Introduction – Outline issue, significance, focus area, and report contents.

  5. Body of Report – Include determinants, inequalities, evidence-based interventions, and contextual analysis.

  6. Conclusions & Recommendations – Summarise key points and propose actionable next steps.

  7. References – APA 7 format.

  8. Appendices (Optional) – Supporting data, calculations, or diagrams.

Approach Guided by Academic Mentor

The Academic mentor guided the student step-by-step, ensuring each section met assessment criteria while remaining evidence-based and analytical.

1. Topic Selection and Scoping:

   • Mentor helped the student choose a focused emerging public health issue, e.g., workplace mental health in Victoria, Australia.

   • Guidance included narrowing the topic to a manageable scope and defining the geographic and demographic focus.

2. Research and Evidence Collection:

   • Mentor advised on using peer-reviewed journals, population data, and organisational reports.

   • Emphasis on relevance and currency of evidence.

   • Student collected data on health determinants, inequalities, and inequities.

3. Structuring the Report:

   • Mentor outlined the recommended report sections.

   • Student drafted Introduction, Body, Conclusions, and Recommendations following logical progression.

4. Analysis of Determinants and Interventions:

   • Mentor guided critical appraisal of evidence-based interventions.

   • Focus on addressing underlying health inequalities and contextual factors.

   • Student applied analytical skills to evaluate effectiveness and feasibility.

5. Executive Summary Preparation:

   • Mentor suggested writing this last, ensuring it highlights key messages, findings, and recommendations for decision-makers.

6. Conclusions and Recommendations:

   • Mentor emphasized conciseness and actionable insights.

   • Student recommended practical next steps such as stakeholder engagement, strategic points for intervention, and feasible short-term actions.

7. Referencing and Compliance:

   • Mentor ensured proper APA 7 referencing and disclosure of any AI-assisted research.

   • Student checked Turnitin similarity to comply with plagiarism policies.

Outcome & Learning Objectives Achieved

• Outcome:

  • A structured, evidence-based scoping paper covering determinants, inequalities, interventions, and contextual factors.

  • Clear, actionable recommendations for public health interventions.

  • Adherence to assessment requirements and word count.

• Learning Objectives Covered:

  • Analytical thinking in public health problem scoping (SILO 1, 2).

  • Evidence-based evaluation of interventions (SILO 3).

  • Prioritisation and solution-focused recommendations (SILO 4).

  • Understanding public health successes and metrics for evaluation (SILO 5).

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