Assignment #1: Identify, Research, and Describe a Health Problem (50 points)
Due date: October 6, 2024
Assignment type: Short Paper
Length: 3-4 pages (plus cover page and list of references)
Style: APA, AMA, or standard academic style used in your major
References: You should include at minimum three references from reputable sources: peer-reviewed academic journals, health sector professional associations, professional research organizations/foundations/institutes, or public agencies
In this first of three papers, you will identify a health issue of concern at the community/regional/state/national level. You will then provide a full description of the health issue, including its background and history, scope, effect, context, and importance.
The health issue you select will be the topic of subsequent assignments in this class. It is strongly recommended you send your proposed topic to the instructor for feedback and approval before beginning this assignment.
For your topic, you can focus on a specific disease or health condition, a type of injury, an environmental hazard, a health behavior, or a risk factor/health outcome that interests you and offers opportunities for improvement (i.e., avoid selecting a rare disease or outcome, as this may make it more difficult to come up with possible interventions and/or solutions).
Sections of the Paper:
Introduction – Introduce your topic with a quick overview
Background – Provide a brief historical overview of your topic
Description – Describe your topic with regard to host/agent/environment. What are the causes of your topic, who does your topic affect, and in what context? Are their antecedent risk factors or subsequent diseases/health outcomes related to your topic?
Implications – What is the scope of the problem presented by your topic? Why is your topic important to understand? Why should health professionals, policymakers, and/or people in general care about this health issue?
Conclusion – Summarize the preceding sections and make the case for why it is important that we address the health issue you selected as a topic.
References – A full list of sources that informed your writing and are cited in the paper
In subsequent assignments, we will work to devise solutions to the problem. For this first assignment, you only need to focus on characterizing the problem, although you might find it helpful to start thinking about potential solutions.