Investigate a health and wellbeing issue
This subtopic focuses on systematically investigating a specific health and wellbeing issue affecting a local population, from initial scoping to proposing a targeted intervention. Learners apply practical research skills to assess local needs and evidence, then determine an appropriate local-level approach to reduce harm. The culminating task requires presenting findings clearly and persuasively to a relevant audience, mirroring real-world public health communication.
Assessment criteria
Topic Overview
The RSPH Level 2 Award in Improving the Public's Health introduces you to the key principles of public health, focusing on how to promote health and prevent disease at a population level. You'll explore the determinants of health—such as income, education, and environment—and learn how these factors create health inequalities. This qualification is essential for anyone working in health and social care, as it equips you with the knowledge to support individuals and communities in making healthier choices, ultimately reducing the burden on healthcare services.
You'll study the main causes of ill health in the UK, including lifestyle-related conditions like obesity, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes. The course covers effective health promotion strategies, such as behaviour change models (e.g., the Health Belief Model) and national campaigns (e.g., Change4Life). Understanding how to plan, deliver, and evaluate health promotion activities is a core skill, enabling you to contribute to improving public health outcomes in your role.
This award fits within the broader Health & Social Care curriculum by linking to topics like safeguarding, communication, and person-centred care. It emphasises the importance of partnership working—with local authorities, NHS, and voluntary organisations—to address public health challenges. By the end, you'll appreciate how public health initiatives can empower individuals and communities, making it a vital component of modern healthcare.
Key Concepts
Core ideas you must understand for this topic
- →Determinants of health: Factors like housing, income, education, and social support that influence health outcomes and create inequalities.
- →Health promotion models: The Health Belief Model and the Stages of Change Model help explain how people adopt healthier behaviours.
- →Epidemiology: The study of how diseases occur in populations, used to identify risk factors and target interventions.
- →Health inequalities: Systematic differences in health between different groups, often linked to social and economic disadvantage.
- →Behaviour change: Techniques such as goal setting, motivational interviewing, and social support to encourage healthier lifestyles.
Learning Objectives
What you need to know and understand
- Carry out preliminary procedures in order to investigate a health and wellbeing issue Determine an approach at local level to reduce the harmful effect of the identified health and wellbeing issue on the local populationPresent the findings of the investigation in an appropriate format to an audience
Assessment Criteria
Key criteria assessors look for in your portfolio
- Award credit for demonstrating a clear rationale for the chosen health issue, supported by local data or credible sources.
- Look for evidence of a planned investigation process, including methods such as surveys, interviews, or secondary data analysis.
- Expect the proposed local approach to be specific, feasible, and directly linked to the identified causes or risk factors of the issue.
- Credit should be given for presenting findings in a structured, audience-appropriate format (e.g., report, presentation) with clear recommendations.
Assessment Guidance
Guidance for achieving higher grades
- 💡Start by clearly defining the local population and scope of your investigation to keep your work focused.
- 💡Use a mix of local statistics, national data, and original insights to strengthen your evidence base.
- 💡When proposing an approach, include practical details like resources, stakeholders, and potential barriers to show thorough planning.
- 💡Tailor your final presentation to the specified audience—check their level of knowledge and what they need to act on your findings.
- 💡Use real-world examples: When discussing health promotion, refer to specific UK campaigns (e.g., Stoptober, Change4Life) and explain why they succeeded or failed. This shows applied knowledge.
- 💡Link theory to practice: For behaviour change models, describe how you would use them in a care setting—e.g., using the Stages of Change Model to support a patient trying to quit smoking.
- 💡Define key terms precisely: Examiners expect clear definitions of terms like 'health inequality', 'determinant', and 'epidemiology'. Avoid vague language and always relate back to public health.
Common Mistakes
Common errors to avoid in your coursework
- Choosing a health issue without justifying its relevance or prevalence in the local area.
- Proposing a broad awareness campaign without tailoring it to the local population's specific needs or barriers.
- Failing to consider ethical issues when collecting primary data from individuals.
- Presenting findings in an overly complex style unsuited to the target audience, such as using excessive jargon for a community group.
- Misconception: Public health is only about treating illness. Correction: Public health focuses on prevention—promoting health and preventing disease before it occurs, through vaccination, education, and policy changes.
- Misconception: Health inequalities are solely due to individual choices. Correction: While lifestyle matters, inequalities are largely driven by social determinants like poverty, education, and access to healthcare, which are beyond individual control.
- Misconception: Health promotion campaigns always work. Correction: Campaigns can be ineffective if not tailored to the target audience, lack clear messaging, or fail to address underlying barriers like cost or accessibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions students ask about this topic
Pass / Merit / Distinction Evidence Checklist
How your portfolio evidence is graded for ROYAL SOCIETY FOR PUBLIC HEALTH Investigate a health and wellbeing issue
Every vocational unit is marked against named criteria rather than an exam percentage. Your tutor's brief lists the exact codes for this unit — here is what each band is asking you to do.
Demonstrate baseline knowledge, accurate terminology, and core practical application.
Provide detailed analysis, structured explanations, and clear workplace reasoning.
Deliver thorough evaluation, original problem solving, and fully justified recommendations.
Before You Start
Prior knowledge that will help with this topic
- •Basic understanding of health and social care values, such as dignity and respect.
- •Familiarity with the structure of the UK health system (NHS, local authorities).
- •Knowledge of common lifestyle-related diseases (e.g., obesity, diabetes) is helpful but not essential.
Coursework AI Review
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Key Terminology
Essential terms to know
- Carry out preliminary procedures in order to investigate a health and wellbeing issue Determine an approach at local level to reduce the harmful effect of the identified health and wellbeing issue on the local populationPresent the findings of the investigation in an appropriate format to an audience
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