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On this module you will learn about contemporary current public health issues within and beyond the UK and consider the potential role of sports/exercise professionals in the field of health promotion. In order to build an understanding of major health issues you will examine the many factors which influence public health and well-being. At a societal level, these factors will include, social class, culture, environmental deprivation and factors such as age, gender, genetics and government and social policies. You’ll also examine public health in relation to smoking, diet, alcohol and exercise and activity-initially by examining how these issues are handled and presented in the media.

At an individual level, you’ll consider psychological and behavioural coping strategies and learn about health assessment, using some assessment tools, and their relationship to national health screening initiatives. You will build an understanding of how to engage with people in a professional context as a promoter of health and well-being. This will be based on an understanding of behaviour change theory and opportunities to develop your abilities in relation to communication and interpersonal skills in a supervised manner during workshops facilitated by the module teaching team

The themes of this module will be explored through a ‘virtual family’ which is based on the experiences of real service users and carers. Factors influencing health and well-being: genetic inheritance; ageing process; gender; spirituality; psychological factors, for example personality; loss & bereavement; mental health and wellbeing; coping strategies – psychological & behavioural; environmental factors; cultural factors; nutrition; food groups; food labelling; exercise (effects of, and lack of); smoking and alcohol.

Key public health issues and priorities: such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, inactivity, sexual health, mental health, drug & alcohol use; screening programmes (for example breast, cervical and bowel cancer. Health assessment and promotion: assessing health and use of assessment tools (for example BMI, diabetes risk score); communication skills (for example. assessing values and attitudes, negotiating, empowering, motivating); stages of change model; support strategies and inter-professional working

Upon completion of this module you will be able to
LO1: Explore understanding of contemporary public health issues.
LO2: Discuss health promotion theory and how that contributes to an understanding of health and well-being of clients.
LO3: Explore current health assessment strategies, including health assessment tools.
LO4: Discuss how knowledge of behaviour change theory serves to enhance professional understanding of client choices in relation to health behaviours.
LO5: Demonstrate a range of therapeutic communication skills and knowledge of how they might be applied to the empowerment of clients.