HLSC120: Society, Culture and Health

HLSC120: Society, Culture and Health; Semester 2 2017 Assessment Task 1: Reflective Writing Proforma Weighting of unit = 40% Word limit 1750 words Due Date: 2100 hours Wednesday 6 th September, 2017 Follow this proforma to organise your response to the reflective writing assessment task (this is not an academic essay). Use the steps as headings and write in paragraphs below the headings. Check the following link to online Academic Skills Unit resources and/or see an Academic Skills Advisor for assistance with reflective writing: Writing at ACU: Reflective writing https://leo.acu.edu.au/mod/book/view.php?id=785432&chapterid=10064 All sources should be referenced using APA style. Ensure that you use all the factors from the sociological imagination (SI) template to complete this reflective writing task. Step 1 Carefully choose one topic from the Reflective Writing Topic 1 or 2 below to guide your reflection. Write the topic chosen here: Step 2 Use the sociological imagination (SI) template to reflect on your feelings, thoughts and behaviours in response to knowledge, experiences and observations in relation to your chosen question from Step 1. (500 words) Step 3 Continue reflective writing using the SI template to answer the original question you identified in Step 1, using Germov (2104) and a minimum of at least six other academic sources (e.g. journal articles, research reports from the HLSC120 e Modules) to support your answer. Locate these academic sources through your own information search. Analyse how these resources helped you to expand and deepen your original reflections on this topic. (1000 words) Step 4 Finally, explain how answering this question has helped you to achieve one of the four ACU Graduate attributes aligned with HLSC120 by reflecting and critically analysing your thoughts and feelings about the original question based on your research. (250 words) HLSC 120 Reflective Assignment Topics 2017 Topic 1 Australia is recognised as one of the most culturally diverse nations. Discuss the origins of Australian cultural diversity and how the Australian health care system meets the needs of such a diverse population base. Reflect on a significant health issue that is specific to a cultural group of your choosing, address the discussion using the SI template as the guide. Topic 2 Medicalization of health has been linked to the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs, the intensification of this medical dependence can results in addiction and self-medication. Reflect on the social model of health in being able to address these health issues. Use SI template as the guide for your discussion. The two illustrative tables below are provided to assist your inquiry into the topics and are provided as a guide. It is in not a requirement that these should be used critically. They serve to assist your reflective processes and analysis. HLSC120 Topic 1 STEP 2 STEP 3 References SI Template Reflection and SI template Introduce the SI template (briefly). What were your first thoughts/feelings when you read the topic? Reflection, SI template with academic sources. Introduce the SI template (more detail). What is it? Why do we use it? Who developed it? Following your research have your thoughts and feelings on the topic changed or not? Germov (2014) Chapter 1 Historical factors: Example questions What is your cultural background? Do you speak a second language? Have cultural activities or events played a significant part in your life? Have you had much interaction with people from different cultural backgrounds? Why is Australia such a multicultural country? What historical events occurred to make this happen? How have Australian health care systems and Australian society evolved over time to cater for such a diverse population? What was the White Australian Policy? Germov (2014) Chapters 8 & 9 and a minimum of at least two academic sources Cultural Factors: Example questions Do you think that cultural beliefs have influenced your views of health? Do you think that cultural beliefs have influenced your views on what is important in society? Do you think different cultural values and beliefs are respected in Australian society? What does culture mean? Is there a single Australian culture? How would you describe Australian culture? Do Australians share common beliefs and values? How do cultural values link to concepts of health and illness? Germov (2014) Chapters 3, 9, 19 and 20 and a minimum of at least two academic sources Structural Factors: Example questions Do you think that cultural beliefs have influenced how you act and interact with social structures such as school, health Are all health care systems the same? Why are they different? What is Primary health care? What is the social model of health care? Germov (2014) Chapters 19 and 20 systems, government agencies, the media or legal systems? Do you think that cultural beliefs have influenced how you interact with society or your family life? Who decides how health care is designed and delivered? What models of care are most dominant? How has the biomedical model influenced Australia’s health care system? Has the health care system developed systems to account for cultural differences? What are they? and a minimum of at least two academic sources Critical Factors: Example questions Do you think cultural values and beliefs have made your life better or more difficult? Do you think that your social groups or Australia accepts differences between peoples? Are there things you think we could do better? Has the Australian health care system delivered culturally appropriate care? What programs or initiatives have been implemented? Have these programs been successful? What models of care would be best suited to deliver culturally appropriate care/ What improvements can be made to current programs? Do you have any ideas about new or untried initiatives? Germov (2014) Chapters 2, 3 and 19 and a minimum of at least two academic sources HLSC Topic 2: STEP 2: STEP 3: References SI Template Reflection and SI template Introduce the SI template (briefly). What were your first thoughts/feelings when you read the topic? Reflection, SI template with academic sources. Introduce the SI template (more detail). What is it? Why do we use it? Who developed it? Following your research have your thoughts and feelings on the topic changed? Germov (2014) Chapter 1 Historical factors: Example questions What are my reactions to knowing there are problems confronting society regarding medicalization of health and prescription drugs? What do I know about historical factors that have led to the problem? How have my past feelings influenced my understanding of these problems? e) How has the historical rise of biomedicine since 1878 been linked to medicalization and prescription drug misuse? How did the World Health Organisation (WHO) show the limits of biomedicine in 1946? What insights can be gained from rediscovering the social origins of health and illness? (p.14) Germov Chapter 1, 12 & 15 (2014) and a minimum of at least two academic sources Cultural Factors: Example questions Do I take prescription drugs as part of my own cultural practices? Do other ethnic communities use prescription drugs? How do I feel about the firmly established use of prescription drugs in Australia? What is my personal perspective of prescription drug use and abuse? Do I attach stigma to groups of people who use or misuse prescription drugs? f) What are some culturally acceptable practices which can lead to prescription drug misuse? Does the culture of different communities influence use and misuse of prescription drugs in Australia? What are interventions based on harm minimization? Germov (2014) and a minimum of at least two academic sources Structural Factors: Example questions What social structures have influenced my beliefs and those of my peers on the use and abuse of prescription drugs? What do I understand about the role of social structures in medicalization such as: government, schools, health care institutions, the medical profession, nursing and allied health professions, and alternative health care industry? g) How can ‘Social Constructionism ‘(p.226) explain challenges to medicalisation? What is the role of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in relation to Big Pharma and medicalisation? (p.291). What harm-minimisation strategies could reduce the problems of prescription drug misuse? (p.287) Germov (2014) and a minimum of at least two academic sources Critical Factors: Example questions Do I understand why drugs are prescribed? What do I know now about alternatives to medicalization of health? h) Has ‘Big Pharma’ (p.291) as part of medicalization of health raised concerns of placing profit above health in Australia? What alternatives are there? Is improving primary health care the answer? Germov (2014) and a minimum of at least two academic sources