Contemporary Issues in Health and Social Care: Report and Evaluation

This report examines contemporary issues in health and social care, focusing on how information reaches the public domain and influences attitudes. Task 1 analyzes various dissemination methods, including government standards, financial analysis, and political contexts, along with techniques like promotional campaigns and leaflet distribution. Task 2 presents a case study on media-created moral panic, specifically the Ebola outbreak, and its impact on public behavior and attitudes. The report assesses the reliability and validity of media information. Task 4 explores how local attitudes reflect national trends, evaluates the validity of public perceptions, and discusses the consequences of contemporary thinking on health and social care provisions, with a focus on East London and the impact of media in shaping public opinion and behaviors regarding health crises.

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES IN HSC

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
TASK 1............................................................................................................................................1
Analysing various means by which information relating to health and social care reaches the
public domain..............................................................................................................................1
Techniques for disseminating information relating to health and social care.............................2
Different ways in which HSC information is presented and can influence attitudes, thoughts
and behaviour of people...............................................................................................................3
TASK 2............................................................................................................................................3
Case study where the media created a moral panic.....................................................................3
The use of media in influencing attitude and behaviour of people in the case in relation to
health and social care...................................................................................................................4
Assessment of reliability and validity of media information about health and social care issues
.....................................................................................................................................................5
TASK 4............................................................................................................................................5
Analyse the extent to which local attitude reflect those found at national level.........................5
Evaluating the validity of public attitudes and behaviour in relation to specific issue...............6
Possible consequences of contemporary thinking for health and social care provisions............6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
Health and safety of people within the workplace and country is becoming one of the
most important concerns. In contemporary scenario of Great Britain there are many types of
service users who use health and social care services. In this regard, the present study is based on
the contemporary issues with respect to health and social care. Here, all the service workers are
required to have a good grasp of contemporary issues within the particular area of HSC.
However, different viewpoint of public also subsequently influence the development of health
and social care (Entwistle and Quick, 2006). Due to this, it is essential to maintain authenticity of
information so that people can create effective changes with economy. By incorporating
effective source and means of dissemination of information, it supports in understanding the
influence of same on public. Further, this study gives brief information about the use of media
which may influence attitude and behaviour of people in relation with HSC.
TASK 1
Analysing various means by which information relating to health and social care reaches the
public domain
It is quite essential to provide right information to right customers in a health and social
care sector. Due to the gap in communication, organization might have to face several issues.
East London faces high rate of inequalities as well as proper surveillance of the same (Griffith
and Tengnah, 2011). As per the present issues, manager and care workers can adopt various
ways through which the information regarding HSC reaches to public domain such as:
Government standard: It is considered as the most important way in which government has
placed several standards through which people can easily identify the needs and preferences of
health care standards. With the help of these standards, companies can easily reach out the
several practices they can undertake for better and effective services. It helps them in providing
appropriate health and safety assurance to all the people and staff members as per the set
government standards.
Financial analysis: In order to provide appropriate information to public domain, it is quite
essential to go through the proper financial analysis. It helps in identifying the standards of
people as well as their living conditions (Conrad and Leiter, 2003). The overall access of HSC
services highly depends upon the financial conditions of people. For the low income group
people, their standard of living is also low. Due to this, there access to medical services is low.
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East London is not a developed country with respect to living condition of people. Further, with
the help of financial analysis survey, health and social care organizations can reach out the public
domain and analyse their needs. Through this, services can be provided to them as per their
financial condition as well as status.
Political context: There is various health inequalities exists within the UK economy (Wait
and Nolte, 2005). Due to this, government undertakes various surveys just to analyse the gap
between the needs and actual services within various parts of the country. After analysing this
process, appropriate information about the patient safety can be easily promoted by service
providers.
Techniques for disseminating information relating to health and social care
In health and social care, providing right information is a key concern. An individual must
have appropriate information regarding equality, safety policies and various HSC practices.
Dissemination of appropriate health care information helps in developing actual understanding
within people about the effect of the problem. There are various ways through which information
can be disseminating in a right way such as:
Promotional healthcare campaign: It is the best way to raise awareness about various
HSC practices as well as its affects (Online media, 2014). It provides information to people
about all the equality practices that can be accessed by them.
Customer support services within health and social care organization: There must be a
customer support section within every health care organization. Here, people can easily take any
type of support and information regarding HSC practices. It also helps them in raising their
knowledge about any specific issue regarding healthcare service. Service providers of different
sections can provide proper support to patients about their safety.
Leaflet distribution: It can also be define as an information and communication system
which provides a detail explanation of every health care issue existing within the economy as
well as proper safety measures that they can undertake (Coreil, 2010).
Billboard display: Under this technique, broadcasting of information can be made by using
images of visual clips. It can be placed at any populated area or the most visited place of public
where information can be reach out to the more number of people. Through this, people can get
to know more about health and social care practices.
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Different ways in which HSC information is presented and can influence attitudes, thoughts and
behaviour of people
It is essential that the information provided to people must influence their attitude and
behaviour in a positive way. However, the level of impression depends on the mentality and
beliefs of individuals. Changing their thought process is becoming quite difficult most of the
times. In order to gain maximum attention of people, it is necessary to distribute information in
an efficient way. Within the East London, information relating to health and social care gives
rise to issues of concern to the public (Entwistle and Quick, 2006). Further, appropriate
presentation and media may have different impact on the thought process of public such as: Panic and anger: The presented information of HSC might leads to create anger and
divergence among people about the prevailing discriminating practices. At this time, they
seek organizational support for all these unethical practices and change their attitude
towards it in a positive aspect. Creating wide awareness: By providing right information about the HSC practices,
patient’s safety as well as various equality practices among people can be carried out
easily. It creates a wide awareness among the almost population and change their insights
about the on-going practices of health and social care (How culture influences health
beliefs, 2014). It is the best way to seek the equality among the population and provide
them several measures for their safety.
TASK 2
Case study where the media created a moral panic
With the help of internet and other sources of computers, it is becoming easier to circulate
any type of information. Through these sources, people can easily get any type of information
worldwide.
Moral panic is a threatening situation for the society and it is highly faced by the health
and social care practices. One of the major sources for this type of panic is media which is
considerable source of information. Due to outbreak of the news about Ebola situation of moral
panic has been created for several people (Stewart and MacIntyre, 2013). However, some people
are still not aware about this disease. Due to this media has become the most effective source for
the outbreak of this information. This has also created distress among the people of USA and
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they have also created definite opinion about a society. Moreover, this same information has
comparatively low impact on the population of UK as media has used effective mode of
communication about vaccination and cures. With the help of this, in some cases situation is in
the control. Further, Moral panic is a term which has created an alarming situation.
The use of media in influencing attitude and behaviour of people in the case in relation to health
and social care
Media is a considerable source through which right information can provided to right
person. Through the use of media people can easily enhance their knowledge about recent
happenings around them. Through this, they can get aware about the various health and social
care policies as well as procedures (Polit and Beck, 2010). It also develops the opinion of people
for the same. There are various ways through which media affects the attitude of people such as:
Shaping change: Media is a very powerful source which might leads to shape the society
by changing the opinion of people. Over the past 5 years, The Guardian, Times newspaper as
well as BBC news have highlighted several issues in health and social care. This case assessment
helps in making appropriate comparative analysis about the different opinion developed within
the society. As per the case of EBOLA that is the most famous epidemic virus disease, US
population has created a negative opinion while UK population was tolerant for the same.
Developing relationships: With the help of necessary information from media various
authorities as well as people can make appropriate relationship. Ebola virus disease is a serious
illness that originated in Africa (Coreil, 2010). Recently it is outbreak and developed high level
of fear and threat among people. Due to this, all the political and health care organizations have
given their effective reaction towards it and provide them appropriate solution to deal with it. It
is another best way to develop better relationship among people as well as health and social care
organizations.
Influencing change: Media is a source which is highly responsible for changing attitude
as well as perception of people. There are different living standards of people as per their income
level. With the help of gaining appropriate information about EBOLA through the wide media
sources people have changed their diets as well as lifestyles in certain extent (Ghosh, 2007). It is
the most effective way through which they are able to take several measures and fight against
this disease as well.
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Assessment of reliability and validity of media information about health and social care issues
In order to make any perception about the media information it is essential for the people
of society to find out the validity as well as reliability of it. There are several ways through
which public can make the assessment such as:
Validity of information: It can be easily accessed through the comparative analysis. Here,
people can check the validity of any particular information and by comparing it on other news
channels as well as newspapers.
Reputation of the source: Brand image is the most effective way to get right information.
Some of the highly liked sources and news channels develop an effective impression (Lethard
and McLaren, 2007). Public uses to go through the highlights of different news and information
and trust them as per the reputation of source. Any news must be cross checked before believing.
TASK 4
Analyse the extent to which local attitude reflect those found at national level
There are several discriminating practices takes place within the health and social care unit
which have created the effective impact at national level. This has highly affected the attitude of
local people within the country. There are several contemporary perspectives which are having
likely influence on the health and social care issues (Griffith and Tengnah, 2011). In this regard,
the news of issues regarding health and social care discrimination has led to subsequent impact.
Due to this, both national and local organizations have affected. Local attitude reflect those
found at national level and the reaction or the same resulted in the regulatory practices within the
nation. There is an assertion about the various unauthorized practices as well as stealing
information and several other criminal activities.
The debate has taken into consideration on a top extent and majority of people have
participated in this from different parts of countries. In this debate a major point which have raise
by every party is related to the cultural discrimination (Frost, 2009). It has resultant in high level
of offences as well as reactions. It clearly shows the difference between the attitude as well as
perception of people and also developed a dual impact on majority and minority within the
population. In order to make more awareness various campaigns were organized. In these
campaigns people can easily overcome with the existing situation as well as control this.
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Evaluating the validity of public attitudes and behaviour in relation to specific issue
There are different issues with regards to health and social care and people has given
their different reactions about its validity. The outbreak information and news about the EBOLA
has created a significant impact on the society (Ebola virus, 2014). The situation leads to create a
moral panic within the society and also created a highly critical situation in the whole country.
Majority of people have dispersed and found it very difficult situation to overcome as well.
There are several questioning which have to be faced by the media sources that they are flaming
the ashes of the current situation. The whole interrogations were proven to be the authentic and
reliable which clearly represented the validity of existing information.
Several debates take place which have presented subjective evidence within the society
and shows crucial results about the health and social care issues (Wait and Nolte, 2005). With the
help of appropriate questioning all the information has reach out the final conclusion.
Possible consequences of contemporary thinking for health and social care provisions
Public of different countries are having different mentality about the various health and
social care provisions. Due to this contemporary thinking there are several possible
consequences which are as follows:
Government has developed appropriate measures in order to entail the legislative
framework within various organizations. Through this, they can easily minimize the health and
social care issues regarding discrimination. Another possible concern is the partnership of public
as well as private sector firms. It helps in dealing with different situations and following
appropriate provisions within their firms. Here, the whole contemporary thinking might leads to
possess negative as well as positive impact (Conrad and Leiter, 2003). For the same, expert
opinion are also taken into consideration for the contemporary thinking for health and social care
provisions. In order to create positive impact on the society it is essential for media to follow the
regulatory framework. All the media sources are required to access with authenticity. In addition
to this, government is taking proper measures just to minimize the discrimination. For this,
political brassiness is minimized and equal chance is being provided to every individual within
the country.
CONCLUSION
From this whole study it has been articulated that it is essential for health and social care
organizations to develop and effective understanding about the specific issues as well as
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measures that can be taken into consideration. Through various measures country can easily deal
with the specific issues. Moreover, it has been concluded that there is a huge impact of media
within the changing perception as well as attitude of people within the countries. Further,
discussion about Ebola and discrimination has also taken into consideration.
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REFERENCES
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Health Organization and Management. 20(5). pp. 397–416.
Frost, N., 2009. Leading children's services: some contemporary issues and challenges. Journal
of Children's Services. 4(3). pp. 49–57.
Ghosh, M., 2007. ICT and AIDS literacy: a challenge for information professionals in India.
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Griffith, R., and Tengnah, C., 2011. Law and Professional Issues in Nursing. Learning Matters.
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Stewart, A. and MacIntyre, G., 2013. Care management in the twenty-first century: Persistent
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Wait, S., and Nolte, E., 2005. Benchmarking health systems: trends, conceptual issues and future
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Online
Ebola virus. 2014. [online]. Available through:
<http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs103/en/>. [Accessed 25th January 2016].
How culture influences health beliefs. 2014. [Online]. Available through:
<http://www.euromedinfo.eu/how-culture-influences-health-beliefs.html/>. [Accessed 25th
January 2016].
Online media. 2014. [online]. Available through: < http://www.omln.org/>. [Accessed 25th
January 2016].
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