Clarification details
Updated December 2017. This document has been updated to address issues that have arisen from moderation.
A matter of public concern and criticality
A New Zealand health issue is one affecting well-being, and is a matter of current public concern. Students need to provide an analysis of the issue as it exists in an identified population, as supported by current evidence from sources relevant to New Zealand.
At all levels, a critical perspective is needed. This means that students might: identify and challenge taken-for-granted assumptions, explore who is advantaged and disadvantaged by aspects of the health issue, focus on the ‘key’ aspects of the issue, and/or make explicit links to the underlying concepts of the learning area.
Conceptual understanding
Students need to demonstrate understanding of determinants of health, implications for well-being and health promotion. At this level, understanding is needed that:
major determinants of health (cultural, political, economic and/or social) contribute to the health issue in the specified population
the health issue has implications for people and society (including relationships between people) which may be positive or negative; short-term or long-term
health promoting strategies are needed that connect back to the influencing factors, reflect effective health promotion practice, and lead to equitable health outcomes (reflect the values of social justice).
Analyse the health issue
Students will explain how relevant determinants of health contribute to the health issue by describing what each determinant is (in relation to the health issue) and how and why each determinant contributes to the issue. Implications of the issue for the well-being of people and society will be explained.
Strategies will be recommended to bring about more equitable health outcomes in relation to the health issue, as linked to the previously explained implications and determinants. This will include an account of what each strategy involves, how each relates to the previously discussed determinants/implications, and how and why each would bring about more equitable health outcomes.
Analyse, in depth, the health issue
Students will explain in depth the contributing factors, implications and strategies, with detailed supporting evidence.
Analyse, perceptively, the health issue
Students will consider the more crucial aspects of the issue with thoughtful connections to the underlying concepts. Supporting evidence needs to be used coherently and consistently.