All assignments are to be submitted through Turnitin via word document. Submissions will be checked for word count and a 10% overall mark penalty will be applied if the word count is (+ / – 10%) (Excluding the list of references and appendices)
Format: Review formatting requirements excluding the appendixes that include the PICO and search strategy
One and a half line spacing
Size 12 Times New Roman, Calibri or Arial font
’Normal’ (2.54cm, bottom, top, left and right) margins
A header or footer containing my full student identification number
Spell and grammar check must be applied to the whole assignment.
Length: 1,000 words
Curriculum Mode: Literature Review
Rationale
The purpose of this assessment is as follows:
– For students to choose and engage in an innovative global or local contemporary public health topic they find
interesting and will ’specialise’ in for the purpose of this subject.
– To further develop student’s critical analytical skills and provide a summary of scientific literature and or policy
documentation relevant to chosen topic that investigates a specific contemporary public health question
– For students to continue to improve their standard of academic writing skills and use of report format, which
is an essential requirement for future employment in the public health arena.
Task
The task will be to develop a literature review that encompasses the following elements:
– Choose one innovative contemporary public health topic area that interests you (e.g. adolescent malnutrition,
sexual health, climate change and health, human trafficking, violence against women, migrant health etc.).
You will use this topic to build on for Assignments 2-4.
– Develop a question to investigate this topic using the PICOT method. Then identify PICOT terms to guide the
search strategy.
– Development of a search strategy using the PICOT terms identified above on the specific contemporary public
health topic or policy area chosen. Terms should include alternative terms, spellings, synonyms and medical
search headings with inclusion-exclusion criteria identified (example will be provided).
– Once the search strategy is developed students will conduct the search strategy in three databases (CINAHL
and two others of your choice that are applicable to the field of public health). The search is required to be
undertaken using advanced search methods including MeSH headings (more information will be provided for
this in your tutorial). Students are then required to summarise findings in a table of findings (example will be
provided). The process must follow these required steps:
1. Perform an advanced search in CINAHL Fulltext. This search should include all terms, symbols, correct use
of Boolean operators, MeSH and adjustment/ refinement if required. Provide evidence of this by copying and
pasting the search history (full strategy) into the assignment as an appendix.
2. Perform searches in another two databases of your choice that best suit your question. These search histories
do not need to be included in your assignment.
11
3. From your lists of retrieved articles or appropriate documentation (e.g. policy documenst), select articles that
have relevance for answering the question. Enter these articles with abbreviated referencing, for each database,
into the table. An example of how to do this will be provided. You do not need to include duplicates in the
table You do not need to provide full references for these articles. A minimum of 5 articles are required.
4. Students will then be required to use the summary of findings table to critically analyse the national and
international findings as provided on vUWS. This will allow students to identify ’gaps’ is the most current
scientific evidence available for their chosen question to allow students to draw conclusion and recommendations
from an evince based perspective on what is needed for intervention or policy in this area. A minimum of 5
articles are required.
5. Finally, you are expected to compile all information of your review into a literature review style publication (the
structure of the review will be provided in a template). The final document to be submitted will outline the
evidence which currently exists for your chosen topic and through critical appraisal make recommendations for
policy or action (intervention) in your chosen topic area.
Criteria
You will be assessed on the following:
– Understanding of an appropriate innovative contemporary public health issue
– Ability to develop a comprehensive research questions using PICO
– Ability to develop a comprehensive literature search strategy using advanced search methods in a variety of
databases
– Ability to synthesise evidence into an informative summary of findings table
– Ability to interpret related references and policy documents
– Ability to critically analyse written materials.
– Ability to critically apply various perspectives to the chosen topic
– Ability to make relevant recommendations to improve public health outcomes
– Academic writing skills
– Appropriate use of APA style and reference list
Resources:
Subject online resources; textbook and recommended readings.
Subject discussion board instruction about how to do the assignment.
University Library: peer-reviewed literature from Library databases, books and other online sources.
Government or non-government agency policy, programs and public health documents.