Category: Public Health

In Module 5, you created an outline and annotated bibliography for your final paper.

Based on the outline submitted in Module 5:4

Prepare a paper between 1250-1500 words. This paper should use all of the scholarly sources from the bibliography you submitted in Module 5. This paper should be in American Psychological Association (APA) format. This paper will be due at the end of Module 8.

You cannot just do a Google search for the topic! Academic sources are required.

Excelsior Library Materials on locating and identifying research sources can be found at:

APA style guidelines for your in-text citations and for your references at the end:

Researching your topic:

Use the EC Library One Search directly or go to advanced Search to be more precise and targeted in the sources you would like to find.

The EC Library provides research guides, which will give you an overview help you quickly find commonly used resources for many topics.

PLEASE CHECK ATTACHMENT

The stages of change model is a commonly used model of treatment that can be applied to the field of addiction. In this module, you discussed how this model applies to the field of addiction and offered some examples. In this activity, you will apply the stage of change model to a behavioral addiction.

• Choose a behavior (such as overeating, shopping, Internet use, etc.)
• Identify examples of each of the stages of changepre-contemplation through maintenanceusing the behavior you selected as the focus.
• Review at least two of your classmates postings, identifying at least one possible strategy to assist the individual to move forward to the next level in each of the stages described.

Your initial post should be at least 250 words

Most of the readings have been focused on substance abuse and alcohol addictions. However, these treatment approaches can easily be utilized in the other behavioral addictions as well.

In this activity, you are to discuss the application of these approaches to behavioral addictions and utilize academic references to support this application.

After reviewing the disease and harm reduction models for use with alcohol or substance abuse, answer the following questions:

• Choose another behavioral addiction (such as pornography, eating, shopping, etc.).
• Discuss how the harm reduction model and the abstinence-based models may be appropriate for use with the behavioral addiction you have chosen.
• Add to the discussion of your classmates using the guidelines below.

In this activity, you will apply your understanding of the various treatment approaches to a particular scenario.You will be expected to build on each posting, citing academic research supporting your post.

Review the following website as well as the class readings:

Websites:

• Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. (1999).
• . In Treatment of Adolescents with Substance Use Disorders. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (U.S.). (Treatment Improvement Protocol (TIP) Series, No. 32.) Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK64351/

Review the following scenario:

Tom is a 33-year-old, single male. He was in a significant relationship for three years, but it ended about six months ago. He is a shy, reserved individual who has difficulty meeting new people. He has turned to the internet and has begun to frequent chat rooms on a regular basis. There are times when he spends all evening into the early morning on these sites. He has had difficulty getting up for work and, on occasion, has had to leave work early due to fatigue. However, when he gets home and sees his computer, he goes back to the chat rooms. He is beginning to become aware that this is fast becoming a problem for him.

After reviewing the module notes, the suggested readings, and the scenario, answer the following questions:

• What model of treatment do you think is most appropriate for Tom, given the information you have?
• Discuss the disease or abstinence model versus the harm reduction model using Toms situation as an example.
• What are the pros and cons of using each type of model?
• What therapies might show promise (Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Contingency Management, Psychotherapy, Medication, etc.) for Tom?

Evaluation Criteria

Your initial post should be at least 250 words and must substantively integrate the assigned readings in the instructions with proper

style formatting.

For this assignment, consider yourself an employee of an actual healthcare organization of your choosing in which your role is to disseminate information to the general population about public health issues. Develop a proposal that discusses a media campaign your organization would use in responding to an emergent public health issue.

Specifically, the following elements must be addressed, and your proposal should follow this general outline:

1. Introduction (Module One)Identify your organization and briefly describe its function.
2. Describe your role within the organization and how it relates to the dissemination of public health information.
3. Discuss the programs and/or departments within your organization that are currently or could be used to:
4. Improve access to care.
5. Disseminate public health information.
6. Promote overall health of the population.
7. Public Health Issue (Module Three)Provide a brief overview of your chosen public health issue or concern.
8. Identify the population(s) at risk and substantiate your claims with research.
9. Identify other parties that need to be made aware of the problem and explain why.
10. What healthcare disparities are related to your selected issue, and how might they affect health outcomes in the identified at-risk population? Be sure to substantiate your claims with research.
11. What might be done to reduce these disparities? Be sure to justify your reasoning with research.
12. Communications (Module Five)Provide the most critical information about the issue that you need to disseminate to the population at risk.
13. How will you ensure the information you present is appropriate for the target audience? Be sure to justify your rationale.
14. What communications tool do you feel will be most effective for disseminating the information, and why? In other words, will you use, for example, social media, a newspaper article, or a PSA? Be sure to provide evidence to support your claims.
15. What legal and ethical standards and policies must you consider in developing your media campaign, and why?
16. Conclusion (Module Seven)What role will reducing the health disparities you identified above play in promoting social justice in terms of improving population health? Be sure to substantiate your claims with research.
17. What impact will the dissemination of this specific public health information have on overall health outcomes? In other words, considering the health education your proposed campaign will provide, would you expect health outcomes to improve, stay the same, or get worse? Be sure to explain your reasoning.
18. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using your chosen communications tool? Be sure to justify your reasoning with specific examples and research.
19. How might you adapt your proposed media campaign for use with a different communications tool? In other words, if you have chosen social media as your preferred tool, what changes would you need to make to your campaign for it to be compatible with another tool, such as a newspaper or television ad? Be sure to explain your reasoning.
20. How might the legal and ethical standards and policies you identified above enhance or limit your ability to disseminate the necessary information? Be sure to justify your reasoning.

It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final product. Synthesize the previous work completed in Milestones One, Two, and Three into your strategic health communication plan. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. Please note the following: You will need to develop a conclusion section for your proposal including the impact your public health media campaign will have on reducing health disparities and promoting social justice and the impact on overall health outcomes in your targeted population.

Ive included the 3 milestone documents as well for the pre-work for this finals paper.

Preliminary Review of Literature (7 10 pages) The Literature Review for the Proposal is not expected to be as extensive as final but it should sufficient to show surveyed the relevant research and understands the core issues in the topic area. This section should include the following: Theoretical perspective/foundation for the study Thematic organization of relevant research Concluding statement of Knowledge gaps Literature Review Themes (Draft) *Structural inequities and adverse pregnancy outcomes for Black women/Racial Disparities *Prenatal care, health literacy, and birth preparedness *Intersectionality and Structural Determinants in Black Maternal Health *Effects of childbirth education on outcomes and experiences/ Importance and Impact *Barriers to childbirth education participation/attendance *Cultural relevance, trust, and safety in childbirth education *Perspectives of childbirth educators and doulas *Conceptual/theoretical frameworks linking childbirth education to adverse outcomes-(Andersens Behavioral Model of Health Service Use and the Socioecological Model) no less than 20 sources

Compose a mock letter to a senator/representative about the importance of a One Health approach in opioid misuse and drug development using the prompts below. Be prepared to present your letter and talk about your points during the in-class discussion. Your written submission should be a minimum of 350 words. Reflect on the potential benefits of applying a One Health perspective to the opioid crisis, considering its multifaceted nature and interconnected impacts. Draft a letter to a senator, advocating for the adoption of a One Health approach in addressing the opioid epidemic. Your letter should: Introduce yourself and your background/interest in public health. Provide an overview of the One Health concept and its relevance to the opioid crisis. Highlight the interconnected impacts of opioid misuse and addiction on human health, animal health, and the environment. Recommend specific actions or policies that the senator can support to address the opioid crisis from a One Health perspective. Conclude with a respectful call to action, urging the senator to prioritize initiatives that take a comprehensive approach to combating the opioid epidemic. Ensure that your letter is well-organized, concise, and persuasive. Use clear and compelling language to convey your message effectively. AI is permitted for this assignment if used in alignment with the parameters defined in the syllabus. If any amount of AI is detected without proper citation and reference, points will be deducted. Some helpful sites: to an external site. to an external site. to an external site.

Essay Prompt: As a Tier-1 research institution, every day, our faculty, staff, and students work to address unanswered questions, unresolved challenges, and problems that impact a wide variety of populations. In the Honors College, you’ll have opportunities to do this sort of work — and maybe even answer questions and solve problems that matter to you. Tell us about one question, challenge, or problem that you’d like to work to better understand or address during your time. Introduce this issue, and then explain why it matters to you and why it might matter to others. Feel free to be creative – research and inquiry can exist in unlikely places.

A. Purpose of the Essay

This essay must demonstrate that the applicant is:

• Research-minded
• Curious about complex, real-world problems
• Interested in using inquiry and interdisciplinary research to understand and address those problems

The essay should clearly align the applicants interests with a research-focused university environment and an honors program that emphasizes inquiry, ethics, and social impact.

B. Central Issue & Research Framing

Core Issue (must remain central throughout):

Oral health inequities as a public health and access issue, viewed through the lens of dentistry.

Conceptual Research Question (do not quote directly):

Why does oral health remain neglected and inaccessible for many populations despite its strong connection to overall health, and how can research-driven, preventive approaches address this gap?

The essay must frame dentistry as:

• Preventive healthcare
• Interconnected with systemic issues (access, immigration, education, policy)
• A valid subject of public health and social research, not just clinical practice

C. Required Personal Case Study (Anchor Evidence)

Context:

The essay must include a specific, factual anecdote from a pediatric dental internship.

Required details (must be accurate):

• Pediatric dental office internship
• Patient:
• Age: 5
• Recently immigrated from Afghanistan
• Dental condition:
• Multiple cavities
• Tooth infection
• Abscess causing discomfort
• Immediate treatment:
• Laughing gas used
• Planned future treatment:
• Extractions
• Crowns
• Spacers
• General anesthesia at a later visit

Framing rules:

• No names or identifying details
• No emotional exaggeration or pity
• The child is not the problem; the system is
• Use this moment as evidence of a larger pattern, not a standalone story

Purpose of this anecdote:

To show how real clinical encounters raise researchable questions about access, prevention, and health systems.

D. Personal Motivation (How to Explain Why This Matters to Me)

The essay should explain that this experience:

• Changed how the applicant understands dentistry
• Revealed how oral health outcomes depend on:
• Timing
• Access
• Preventive infrastructure
• Sparked curiosity about why care often occurs too late

Important framing guidance:

• Do not frame motivation as this made me want to be a dentist
• Frame it as this made me want to understand the system behind the outcome

E. Broader Significance (Why It Matters to Others)

This section must clearly scale the issue beyond the individual patient.

Include:

• Oral healths connection to:
• Chronic disease
• Nutrition
• Mental health
• School attendance and work productivity
• Disproportionate impact on:
• Immigrant families
• Low-income communities
• Children
• Structural issue:
• Separation of dental care from primary healthcare systems

This section should read like a public health problem statement, not a moral argument.

F. Explicit Connection to a Research-Driven Academic Environment ( I will give university name after selection)

This section is critical.

The essay must show why a research-oriented university and honors program are well-suited to exploring this issue.

Required elements to emphasize:

• Commitment to solving real-world problems through research
• Emphasis on:
• Applied research
• Community-engaged scholarship
• Interdisciplinary inquiry
• Relevance of combining:
• Dentistry
• Public health
• Sociology
• Health policy

Honors program framing:

The honors environment should be described as:

• A space to ask complex, ethical questions
• A place where research is connected to social impact
• An environment that encourages inquiry across disciplines rather than narrow specialization

Avoid:

• Overpraising prestige
• Listing specific faculty or labs unless required
• Claiming guaranteed solutions

Correct framing:

The applicant seeks the institution not for ready-made answers, but for the tools to investigate the problem responsibly through research.

G. Structure Checklist (Must Follow)

Paragraph 1 Introduce oral health as a neglected but essential health issue

Paragraph 2 Internship case study as the moment that raised the question

Paragraph 3 Expansion to systemic and public health implications

Paragraph 4 Why a research-driven honors environment is the right place to explore this issue

H. Tone, Style, and Constraints

• Length: ~500 or less
• Tone: Analytical, reflective, grounded
• Language level: First-year undergraduate honors (not graduate-level, not casual)

Avoid:

• Buzzwords
• Overly complex sentences
• I will fix or I will solve claims

Preferred verbs:

• Explore
• Examine
• Investigate
• Understand
• Question

I. Final Outcome Goal

By the end of the essay, the reader should clearly understand that the applicant:

• Thinks critically about dentistry as a research and equity issue
• Understands oral health as part of broader healthcare systems
• Is motivated by curiosity and social responsibility
• Is well aligned with a research-focused honors programs values

Please look at the instruction screenshots I put below, as well as use the information from part 1 of the assignment as this is part 2.