Write a report on the influence of digital health information and technology on the health and wellbeing of a defined population. Use the assessment brief (marking criteria) to inform the structure and contents of this report.

2025-04-14 12:38:58

Module title:

Infodemiology & Digital Health

Module code:

5HW083

Deadline for assessment 1 submission:

2.00pm on 7/05/25

Assessment 1 Resubmission date:

2.00pm on 7/07/25

Markers/Assessors:

 

Date of expected feedback:

4 weeks after the deadline

Marking/Moderating Team:

TBC

 

 

Module Description

This module will provide you with a critical introduction to infodemiology and the role of technology in health and wellbeing. It is a relatively new area which has significant application in the field of Public Health.

The module examines online health information and digital health from a public health perspective in order to equip you with the critical knowledge and skills to appraise the potentials, risks and implications of using technology and its impact on wellbeing at the individual, community, organisational and public levels. The module will help you to examine the abundance of health information in the cyberspace, which might be harmful or not evidence based. Such information can be misleading, it worsens inequalities and influences the public perceptions of health and wellbeing.

The module will help to build working knowledge on how to mitigate misinformation, manage infodemics and evaluate innovative approaches with technology to promote equality and wellbeing at several levels. In particular, this module will expand and broaden your understanding of public health in the information age and the role of cyberspace to undermine or promote wellbeing.

Module Learning Outcomes:

LO1: Describe online health information, their sources, patterns of spread and how these influence public perceptions of health and wellbeing.

LO2: Appraise research evidence underlying online health information and the use of technology to address diversity and promote wellbeing.

LO3: Evaluate the use of technology in a specific digital health context and use relevant theories to assess its ethical and health implication at individual, specific groups or public levels.

Formative Assessment (0% weighting)

Provide a plan of your summative coursework assessment. Will not exceed 750 words and will include bullet points within the subsections outlined within the marking criteria. 

750 words maximum. Module Award Weighting - 0%

Deadline – 13th March 2025 (2.00pm) 

Summative Assessment (Assessment 1) : Coursework (100% weighting)

Write a report on the influence of digital health information and technology on the health and wellbeing of a defined population. Use the assessment brief (marking criteria) to inform the structure and contents of this report.

2,500 words.  Module Award Weighting - 100%

Deadline – 7th May 2025 (2.00pm)

Signposting to academic support:

 

  • This must be supported by sound academic sources with full Harvard Referencing.
  • Your grade will be affected if you do not remain within 10% below or above the specified word limit (2,500 words).
  • Core teaching materials and learning resources are available via the Canvas module page
  • Additional support with academic skills can be found via this link: https://www.wlv.ac.uk/lib/skills-for-learning/
  • Please use this study guide when writing your research plan assignment: https://www.wlv.ac.uk/lib/skills-for-learning/study-guides/

 

 

FEHW EMA disclaimer statement

IMPORTANT NOTE:

It is solely the student’s responsibility to ensure that:

- the correct (e.g. latest or final, finished) version of the file is uploaded;

- the file submitted is uploaded to the correct Module and assignment link;

- the file is in a format that can be opened on university computers, e.g.  .doc, .docx, .rtf, .odt - NOT PAGES format.

Any file submitted to an incorrect link or in a file format that cannot be opened on a university computer will count as a non-submission, even if it has been uploaded before the deadline. 

5HW083 Marking Criteria

The Marking Criteria below outlines all of the sections that you must include in your research plan. Please note that in order to pass the assessment, you must ensure that your assessment submission meets all of the learning outcomes of the module.

By addressing the marking criteria below, this will assist you in meeting the learning outcomes. Please use the headings in the marking criteria as a structure for your coursework.

Marking Criteria

Part 1 – Introduction (Background and selecting a Public Health topic).

Define key terms and outline the specific health condition or behaviour that your coursework will focus on. Provide a brief, evidence-based justification for selecting your chosen health condition/behaviour and target population (LO1; 300 words).

In this section consider addressing the following questions:

What is digital health and infodemiology?

What’s your topic area?

Use academic evidence to outline why this is an important public health issue?

 

Part 2 – Examine health-related information on the cyber space related to your chosen public health topic.

Explore and discuss the information, its sources, patterns of spread and the underlying research evidence. You must use evidence to discuss how it potentially influences perceptions on health and wellbeing (LO1; 700 words). 

In this section consider addressing the following questions:

What information exists in cyberspace related to your topic area?

What are the types, volumes, and patterns of information?

How can this information influence people’s knowledge, attitudes and beliefs in relation to your chosen public health issue?

Does this information impact everyone in the same way?

 

Part 3 – Choose a specific medium of information or technology (e.g. such as social media, online health forums, or specific digital health applications) and appraise the health implications of using this medium of information or technology in your public health topic.

This includes evaluating the risks and benefits, managing information and using theories to examine the impact on a diverse audience and their health at an individual, specific   community or population level (LO2, LO3; 750 words). 

In this section consider addressing the following questions:

What specific medium of information or technology have you chosen?

How does this medium of information or technology address the diverse needs of a population and promote wellbeing?

Use academic evidence to explore what are the implications of using this medium or technology on the health of individuals, communities or the broader public?

Use academic theory and evidence to investigate what are the advantages and risks?

How can risks and the information be managed?

 

Part 4 –Propose innovative approaches or strategies (using the same technology or medium) to promote health and wellbeing, addressing the public health issue at an individual, specific group or public level.

This should be based on research evidence, and informed by the evaluation of risk, potential ethical issues, and supported by relevant frameworks (LO3; 700). 

In this section consider addressing the following questions:

Moving forwards what does evidence indicate may work in terms of effective strategies in your chosen public health area?

How are these strategies informed by evidence and theory?

How can such approaches promote equity in health?

How might these strategies manage risks and potential ethical issues?

 

Part 5 – Conclusion.

 Briefly summarise the key outcomes of the assessment (100 words)

Presentation - Harvard referencing correctly used throughout.      

A good academic writing style with few typographical, spelling or grammatical errors

The work is logically organised according to the marking criteria. LO 1; LO 2; LO 3 

Your work will assessed against the marking criteria and your mark will be calculated according to the level 5 mark descriptors: University of Wolverhampton Level and Mark Descriptors (wlv.ac.uk)

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