Report on Contemporary Issues in Health and Social Care: Analysis

This report delves into contemporary issues within Health and Social Care (HSC), emphasizing the critical role of information dissemination and the influence of media on public perception and behavior. It explores the methods and sources used to convey HSC information, including mass media, social media, and various government initiatives. The report examines the impact of information on attitudes, behaviors, and the importance of tailoring information to diverse audiences. It further analyzes the validity and reliability of HSC information, emphasizing the significance of credible sources. The report also investigates how media shapes public attitudes toward HSC, its potential for both positive and negative impacts, and the need for critical evaluation of media content. The report is structured in two tasks, the first one focusing on the dissemination of information and the second one on the role of media and the validity of information. Overall, the report highlights the importance of accurate, reliable, and well-presented information in promoting effective health and social care outcomes.

Contemporary Issues on Health and Social Care 1
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES ON HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE
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Contemporary Issues on Health and Social Care 2
Contemporary Issues on Health and Social Care
Introduction
Information is a vital element, which has the capacity to promote positive transformations
in a manner that citizens live their lives. The health and social care (HSC) is an instrumental
health approach towards offering efficient healthcare to people with different diseases. In order
to offer the information that are related to HSC, media plays a central role towards disseminating
information to the public. This report purposes to examine the importance of disseminating
accurate information, as well as correct HSC information to the public to prevent confusion
along with misunderstanding because of inaccurate information. In addition, the report will
explore ways and methods that may be utilized to disseminate health and social care information
to the people. It will further examine the various means and outlets of the media. Furthermore,
the report will investigate the impact of the information on the attitudes along with the behaviour
of individuals and assess the validity and reliability of the HSC information. Finally, the report
will examine the contemporary issues in HSC towards the development of appropriate care.
TASK 1
Task 1.1
The dissemination of information can be defined as communicating successfully
information that is related to HSC to the general public. In order to disseminate information to
the public, related to the health issues, such as diabetes and smoking, the sources and means of
this information is crucial. Unreliable and invalid information regarding health and social care

Contemporary Issues on Health and Social Care 3
issues will result in ineffective dissemination of the information to the public1. It exist a number
of methods and resources that may be utilized to disseminate information to the public. Mass
media avenues, like television, radio, the internet, magazines and newspapers have been eminent
in disseminating information towards solving health public problem like cancer and have been
successful in bridging the information gap of the public2. Social media (Twitter, MySpace,
Facebook among others) has too played a leading role in disseminating information that is
pertinent to the public. The UK government has been very instrumental in helping the
community in the contemporary health along with social care issues that include financial
immobility concerns, growing HSC outcome, and the growing costs of health and social care.
Newspapers, such as the Mirror and the Sun are important media outlets towards informing the
society on HSC issues3. For example, if any novel vaccine has been discovered and introduced
relating to cancer, then the mass media and social media will collaborate to disseminate
information to individuals affected by cancer and the general public all around the United
Kingdom4.
Task 1.2
Disseminating information is defined as the spread out or transmission of information
regarding HSC to people in the society. Information may be disseminated to the public via
1 McSherry, R. & Warr, J. An introduction to excellence in practice development in health and social care.
Maidenhead, England: Open University Press, 2008.
2 Munn-Giddings, C & Winter.R. A handbook for action research in health and social care.
Routledge, 2013.
3 Glasby, J. Understanding health and social care. Policy Press, 2012.
4 Cooper, C., Rogers, M., Bethel, A., Briscoe, S., & Lowe, J. A mapping review of the literature on UK-
focused health and social care databases. Health Information & Libraries Journal, 32(1), 2015; 5-22.

Contemporary Issues on Health and Social Care 4
posters, pamphlets, visual posts, newspapers, television, radio, health websites and social media.
Thus, these sources play a primary role in fashioning responsiveness to the public on important
HSC matters. The use of report cards in addition to accreditation is two approaches are the most
widespread methods used to disseminate data concerned with HSC issues5. With the assistance
of the tabloid newspapers, such as the Mirror and Sun; television and the internet, particularly
the health sites and social media sites main information may be easily disseminated to the public.
For instance, data concerning preventative measures from the swine flue was disseminated via
newspapers, TV, as well as social media sites when the pandemic of the illness broke out in the
world. The internet has transformed the world and the HSC may broadcast information
concerning diseases, like diabetes via presenting a small video ad to the social network through
the internet to promote individuals’ awareness regarding the signs of diabetes6. These techniques
of spreading information are effective; however, the information disseminated may cause panic
situations among the publics through exaggerating the figures along with facts plus promote fear
in the people. The information can be meant to sponsor website or sell of newspapers; however,
have damaging effects on individuals7.
In addition, a small video may be provided through TV ad to promote awareness of the
people regarding diseases. However, pamphlets have been effective methods in dissemination of
HSC issues in the UK when compared to other methods, such as television, radio, and
newspapers.
5 Daniel, B, & Julie T. Engaging with Fathers: Practice Issues for Health and Social Care. London: Jessica
Kingsley, 2001.
6 Kivits, J. Informed patients and the internet: a mediated context for consultations with health
professionals. Journal of Health Psychology. 11(2), 2006: 269 282.
7 Alterman , E. What Liberal Media?: The Truth About Bias and the News . Basic Books, 2003.

Contemporary Issues on Health and Social Care 5
Task 1.3
Disseminating health and social care information is crucial; however, more vital is the
means in which the information is presented and disseminated to the general public. The method
of disseminating information may exert a primary impact on the attitude, behaviour, as well as
thoughts of individuals and thus, the important information should be disseminated utilizing
suitable source and proper way based on preference plus needs of diverse audience. Thus, the
needs along with the favoured layout changes with demographics, such as gender, age, class
among others8. For example, older people could prefer television, radio, pamphlets and
newspapers, whilst to target youthful persons; social networking sites, such as Facebook,
MySpace, and Twitter should be utilized to influence their attitudes and behaviours. For offering
information to parents; leaflets, posters and pamphlets should be utilized on locations, such as
early childcare centres, educational centres, paediatricians ‘ clinic and in order to target women,
information can be presented in magazine, television or via the assistance of midwives of
gynaecologists. Another important component is style of presentation that includes colours,
fonts, pictures and size9. Children’s’ behaviours, and attitudes can be influenced through bright
colours, animated photos, or via cartoon videos that contain visual along with sound effects. In
order to target aged persons, the font along with magnitude of the content should be offered
using simple English to be easily interpreted by everybody. According to Carpenter (2010), the
8 Brownson, R C., Graham A. C, & Enola K. P. Dissemination and implementation research in health:
translating science to practice. Oxford University Press, 2017.
9 Glasby, J. & Dickinson, H. Partnership working in health and social care: what is integrated care and how
can we deliver it?. Policy Press, 2014.

Contemporary Issues on Health and Social Care 6
content should not be too detailed or lengthy that will make the main points to be missed, as well
as individuals targeted may be misinterpreted where they might get confused10.
In my view, my attitudes have greatly changed in many occasions on the manner the
content regarding HSC issues are communicated in the media. I have positive attitudes on
precise and short messages on contemporary issues, like HIV disease in the UK11.
TASK 2
Task 2.1
The media plays a leading role to provide information related to HSC issues. In several
instances, the significance of the information to the public relies on the way the media present
news to the public. There are many means along with the sources of media, which are readily
accessible to disseminate information on health in addition to social care to people. The local
along with national newspapers, television channels, ads, short videos, documentaries, , health
websites, and social networking sites are widely utilized media sources. The media majorly
shape the attitude along with the behaviour of individuals12. The media sources primarily
influence the opinion along with the views of people and affect their behaviour and attitudes13.
10 Carpenter, J. A meta-analysis of the effectiveness of health belief model variables in predicting
behaviour. Health Communication. 25 (8), 2010: 661–669.
11 Hudson B. Dealing with market failure: A new dilemma in UK health and social care policy?. Critical
Social Policy. 35(2), 2015:281-292.
12Katsuno, T. Dementia from the inside how people with early-stage dementia evaluate their 1uality of
life. Aging and Scoiety, 25 (2), 2005; 197-214.
13 McClimens, A., Bosworth, D., Brewster, J. & Nutting, C. Contemporary issues in the training of UK health
and social care professionals—looking after people with a learning disability. Nurse education today, 32(7),
2012,817-821.

Contemporary Issues on Health and Social Care 7
Media plus information play an important role in influencing public attitude health and
social care issues. The media can either positively shape a behaviour and attitude of individuals
towards educating them, fashioning responsiveness, assisting them to manage any disease state
through embracing healthy lifestyle practices. Contrarily, the media may too negatively affect
individuals’ behaviour along with attitudes and fashion a negative public view regarding some
health and social care matters. In addition, it might result in moral panic, stereotyping, or
sensationalize a specific issue on health. This may too change the manner the public perceive
specific state or action. For example, by displaying pictures of patients with last part phase oral
cancers, as well as explaining their devastating stage, fear may be produced against behaviours,
such as smoking. Exaggeration of figures along with facts can cause moral panic in the society,
which is an emotion of fear in individuals14.
Consequently, it may be claimed that the media have a primary influence on persons,
which cannot be easily described. It is apparent that the media exerts a mixed effect on persons
plus the manner individuals interrelate with the mass media, it influences changes consequently.
Furthermore, there are a small number of individuals who are vulnerable in the community,
which can be simply attacked by information plus mass media, like kids, females, along with the
aged persons. Thus, it is comparatively simple to modify their opinions, view, as well as attitude
than other members of the society. The media individuals are conscious of this issue and so, they
modify their ads, as well as promotional actions in a manner that it appeals to many people
through directly hitting individuals’ through process. The media outlets, like TV and newspapers
spice their content to increases sales of their paper or amplify TRP. consequently, individuals
14 Santandrea, M., Stephen B., & Giorgino, M. Value for money in UK healthcare public–private
partnerships: A fragility perspective. Public Policy and Administration. 31 (3), 2016: 260-279.

Contemporary Issues on Health and Social Care 8
should made aware of these strategies by the media and should only believe in valid, as well as
reliable information and content15.
Task 2.2
The aspect of reliability and validity are two primary elements that are important during
the transmission of information pertinent to modern issues on HSC. Validity is defined is a
process where ingenuous information is received while reliability entails the accuracy along with
the uniformity of presenting data to the general public. Analyzing the reliability and validity of
the information disseminated to the public is not complex, especially when it deals with HSC
issues. The validity and reliability of the HSC information may be assessed through putting into
consideration of the source of the information and the person responsible for offering such
information. Government and non-government websites, political groups, society health groups
and religious in the UK are best source of information16.
It is not very difficult to analyze the reliability and validity of HSC information. It can be
evaluated by considering the place from where the data is generated and the person who is
providing that data. In the UK, there are various sources of health care information such as
government and non-government organization’s websites, political and religious groups,
community welfare groups17.
15 Roh, K.A. Challenges to policy implementation: An examination of an integrated health care delivery
system demonstration project, 2012.
16 Cribb, A. Healthcare in transition: Understanding key ideas and tensions in health policy. Bristol, UK
Policy Press, 2017.
17 Bywaters, P., McLeod, E., Fisher, J., Cooke, M., & Swann, G. Good intentions, increased inequities:
developing social care services in Emergency Departments in the UK. Health & Social Care In The Community,

Contemporary Issues on Health and Social Care 9
There are many instances when media can communicate non-reliable and invalid
communication to the public. For instance, health and social care reports that are published by
governmental agencies or pressure groups can need them to distribute information that depicts
government praiseful actions. Hence, the media owners have a huge influence on the validity
plus reliability of information18. Additionally, the political programmes, like presented and held
by socialists, liberals, and nationalists wield their influence on the data. Furthermore, the
religious agenda, such as Islamic, Buddhist, and Christian too change the manner content is
spread out. Consequently, the media owner source, its ideology, political viewpoints, as well as
other pressure of other media houses, together influences the content along with dissemination of
information to the public. Furthermore, this relies on personal perception or viewpoint of looking
at some things and comprehending them. Accordingly, information is impacted by perception of
writers along with editors and photographers too. Through reflecting all these elements together,
it may be argued that individuals should attempt to perceive a health and social care issue or
information from different perspectives, effectively judging through reading it from diverse
media outlets and then only consider the information19.
TASK 3
Task 3.1
19(5),2011; 460-467.
18 Gulliford, M. A & Morgan, M. (2013). Access to health care. Routledge, 2013.
19 Benelli, E. The role of the media in steering public opinion on healthcare issues. Health policy. 63 (2),
2003: 179-186.

Contemporary Issues on Health and Social Care 10
BMJ (2014) argues that there are several issues concerning HSC in the United Kingdom.
These HSC issues expand the diverse perspectives of health along with social care issues.
Diverse perspectives include national bodies, like service providers, national media, regulatory
agencies, as well as local organizations-practitioners, action groups, service users, as well as the
local media (BMJ, 2014). The specific issues affecting the HSC include increasing demand for
the healthcare services. It is evident each government globally is tightening their budgets towards
promoting HSC. This stiff budget by governments around the world is increasing restriction,
where the some jobs are growing at a very slow. Hardill et al (2005) claim that another
viewpoint is the declining interest of students in health and social care sector that affects their
careers. Consequently, students in different learning institutions in the UK are not paying the
necessary attention and focus in this field that is too a grave issue. For instance, it is hard to
secure employment in the HSC sector right away after graduating20.
Task 3.2
Diabetes has become a widespread chronic condition globally affecting both the young
and older individuals because of the weight gain attributed to high sugar content in food and
drinks. The decline in the volume in the blood of the person has been cited das the common
cause of diabetes. However, the perspectives regarding diabetes have been linked to the constant
changes. Therefore, diverse perspectives of HSC have been focusing on constant changes in
attitudes along with the behaviours of the public. The primary symptoms of diabetes include
weight loss, smell of acetone, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, blurred vision, hyper-
ventilation among others. In addition, abuse in care homes has been seen as a specific issue that
20 Hardill, I.. Spradbery, L., Arnold-Boakes, J. & Marrugate, M.L. Severe and health and social care issues
among British migrants who retire to Spain. Ageing and Society. 25(5), 2005, 769-784.

Contemporary Issues on Health and Social Care 11
affects individuals with diabetes. Therefore, it is important to consider three perspectives
regarding how issues have changed over time21.
These diverse perspectives have emanated from the HSC issues, which are changing in
the course of time. One important subject from the service user viewpoint is that there is a
growing demand of healthcare service among people with diabetes. Individuals with diabetes
have recognized the severity of the disease and are seeking healthcare service in huge numbers;
thus, growing demand for services. Another element that changes the perspective diabetes as
health and social care issue is the budget restriction, jobs that are not interesting, and lower
employment prospects. Many governments are restricting their budget meant for health and
social care to assist individuals with diabetes22. Thus, the rise of social service is too a portion of
this change as individuals are becoming more concerned on child day care, as well as residential
care. Also, still a different change is the growth of the private sector in the HSC segment. For
instance, individuals are currently getting busier in their daily activities and these results in
amplified demand for HSC services. Apparently, the rise of the social service has an encouraging
inter relationship with the standard of living23.
Task 3.3
The changes in the global change in the HSC sector have resulted in the local changes in
perspectives regarding issues of health as well as social care sector. In the United Kingdom,
21 Cameron, A., Rachel L., Lisa B., & Caroline C. Factors that promote and hinder joint and integrated
working between health and social care services: a review of research literature." Health & social care in the
community . 2293), 2014: 225-233.
22 Blais, K. Professional nursing practice: Concepts and perspectives. Pearson, 2015.
23 Lloyd, C. E, & Heller, T. Long-Term Conditions Challenges in Health & Social Care. Sage Pubns Ltd, 2011.

Contemporary Issues on Health and Social Care 12
there exist a huge health and social care sector. The health and social care setting plays a leading
role in offering medical services to people diabetes nationwide24. Now, the physicians of the
health and social care service can easily detect serious and chronic diseases, such diabetes and
offer the necessary treatment and medicine. For instance, physicians in the UK may invent the
vaccines for diabetes through the advancement of the contemporary technologies25. Thus, the
standard of services in the HSC sector, particularly for the elderly individuals is the most modern
issue in the HSC sector. The modern issues of the health and social care sector are crucially
impacted by the media. Because of the local transformations, the global HSC services have been
significantly improved in an encouraging manner. In developing nations, such as India, Sri
Lanka plus Bangladesh, they have been positive changes in the HSC sector. For instance, it is
mandatory in India to have life insurance for each individual similar to the United States.
Through the development in modern technology, the health and social care organizations may
offer better medical services unlike the past. Many medical types of equipment have been
introduced through the modern advancements in technologies in the latest years26.
Task 3.4
There are many factors that play a leading function in the growth of the health plus social
care sector in last few years. In the HSC settings, various individuals come from diverse cultures
and religions. Their beliefs along with the attitudes of the people in the health and social care
24 Benelli, E. The role of the media in steering public opinion on healthcare issues. Health policy. 63 (2),
2003: 179-186.
25 Ogden, J. Health Psychology. McGHraw-Hill Education (UK), 2012.
26 Aveyard, H. Doing a literature review in health and social care: A practical guide. McGraw-Hill Education
(UK), 2014.