1. Critically evaluate the elements that influence the psychology of health beliefs, attitudes and behaviours in health and illness.
2. Discuss inequalities in health and appraise the role of the social determinants of health as a key aspect.
3. Identify and evaluate policy interventions that impact upon public health, and place them in their historical, political and social context.
Public health work deals with complex and dynamic issues, determined and influenced by a range of social, cultural, economic, environmental, political and individual factors. Public health work is seen as being most effective when it acknowledges the complexity of the type and range, and the interaction between these factors, and develops its interventions accordingly. Increasingly, improving the health of the population will require increasing equality within the population.
Brief: Critically discuss the importance of the social context for promoting public health
