Elective: Current Issues of Health and Social Care - Your Ultimate Study Guide!

Hey everyone! Welcome to one of the most exciting parts of the HMSC course. This is where you get to be a real-world health detective! In this elective, you'll pick a current health or social care issue that interests you and investigate it from all angles. It's all about applying what you've learned in the compulsory part to understand the big picture of a real, happening-now issue.

Why is this so important? Because health issues aren't simple! An outbreak of a new disease, the rise of mental health challenges, or the problem of an ageing population isn't just a medical problem. It affects everything from global politics to how you and your family live your daily lives. This chapter teaches you a powerful way to think, analyse, and see the connections that others might miss. Ready to get started?


Part 1: The Detective's First Step - Choosing Your Case (Your Topic)

First, you need to choose a "current issue" to study. Think of this as your big case file. A good topic is one that is relevant, has enough information available, and, most importantly, interests you!

What makes a great topic?
  • It's current: It should be something happening now or in the recent past. Examples: The global impact of long-COVID, mental health challenges among teenagers after the pandemic, the rise of vaping, or food security issues due to climate change.
  • It connects to the compulsory part: Can you see links to topics like health promotion, social care services, or personal development?
  • It's debatable: There are different opinions and no single easy answer.

Quick Review Box: Choosing a Topic

Pick something you're curious about! Your study will be much more fun and engaging. For our notes today, we will use a general example: "The impact of a new infectious disease, Disease X" to show you how the analysis works.


Part 2: The Analytical Framework - Your Magnifying Glass!

Okay, detective, you have your case file (your topic). Now you need the right tools to examine the evidence. Your main tool is the "Levels of Analysis" framework. This just means looking at the issue from different "zoom levels," from the whole world down to a single person.

Imagine you have a super-powered camera. You can zoom all the way out to see the Earth, then zoom in on a country, a city, a school, a family, and finally, one student. That's what we're going to do with our health issue!

The levels are:

  1. Global
  2. National
  3. Society
  4. Community
  5. Institutional / Organisational
  6. Peer
  7. Family
  8. Individual

Don't worry if this seems like a long list! We'll go through them one by one. Think of it as a checklist for your investigation.

1. The Global Level (The View from Space)

Here, we zoom all the way out. How does this issue affect the entire world? What are international organisations doing?

Questions to ask:
  • How does the issue cross country borders? (e.g., Disease X spreads through international travel.)
  • What is the role of global organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO) or the United Nations (UN)? (e.g., The WHO declares Disease X a pandemic, issues guidelines for testing, and coordinates vaccine research.)
  • Are there global inequalities? Does the issue affect richer and poorer countries differently? (e.g., Wealthy nations buy up most of the vaccines for Disease X, leaving developing nations vulnerable.)
  • How does it impact the global economy? (e.g., Supply chains are disrupted, and tourism stops.)
Key Takeaway:

The global level is about international cooperation, large-scale patterns, and global inequalities. It sets the worldwide context for the problem.

2. The National Level (The Country View)

Now, we zoom in on one country, like Hong Kong. How does the government respond? What are the nationwide impacts?

Questions to ask:
  • What are the government's policies and legislation to deal with the issue? (e.g., The Hong Kong government implements mandatory mask-wearing, social distancing rules, and border controls for Disease X.)
  • How are national resources (money, healthcare staff) allocated? (e.g., The government builds new quarantine facilities and pours money into the healthcare system.)
  • What is the impact on the national economy? (e.g., The unemployment rate rises as businesses close.)
  • How does the national media report on the issue?
Key Takeaway:

The national level focuses on government action, laws, and the overall impact on a country's population and economy.

3. The Society Level (The Big Picture of People)

This level is about the whole society within a country. It's about culture, social norms, and the impact on large groups of people.

Questions to ask:
  • How does the issue affect social structures and norms? (e.g., Shaking hands is no longer a common greeting; working from home becomes the new norm.)
  • Are certain groups in society more vulnerable? (e.g., The elderly, low-income families, and ethnic minorities are hit hardest by Disease X due to poorer living conditions or less access to healthcare.)
  • Are there cultural disagreements on how to handle the issue? (This links to Compulsory Part 3D: Cultural and political disagreements.) (e.g., Debates between using Traditional Chinese Medicine vs. Western medicine to treat Disease X.)
  • Does it lead to stigma or discrimination? (e.g., People who have recovered from Disease X are avoided by others.)
Key Takeaway:

The society level examines cultural shifts, social inequality, and the impact on different demographic groups.

Analogy Check! Think of it this way: The National level is the government making the rules for a big football game. The Society level is how the crowd behaves, whether they cheer for different teams, and if some fans in cheaper seats can't see the game properly.

4. The Community Level (The Neighbourhood View)

Let's zoom in closer to a specific district or neighbourhood. What's happening on the ground?

Questions to ask:
  • How are community resources being used? (e.g., Community centres are turned into vaccination sites; local NGOs distribute food packs to families in lockdown.)
  • How do people in the community support each other? (This links to Compulsory Part 1E: The role of social care.) (e.g., Neighbours help each other buy groceries; online groups are formed to share information.)
  • Are there different impacts in different communities? (e.g., A densely populated area like Mong Kok might have a faster spread of Disease X than a less dense area.)
Key Takeaway:

The community level is about local resources, neighbourhood support systems, and grassroots actions.

5. The Institutional / Organisational Level (The School or Hospital View)

This level looks at specific organisations like schools, hospitals, workplaces, or NGOs.

Questions to ask:
  • How do these organisations change their rules and operations? (e.g., Schools switch to online learning; hospitals implement strict infection control procedures; offices require staff to work from home.)
  • What challenges do they face? (e.g., Hospitals are overwhelmed with patients; small businesses struggle to survive.)
  • What is the role of professionals within these institutions? (This links to Compulsory Part 5A: Professionals in health and social services.) (e.g., Doctors and nurses work long hours; social workers provide emotional support to affected families.)
Key Takeaway:

This level is about the practical, day-to-day responses and challenges within specific organisations.

6. The Peer Level (The Friends' View)

Now we're getting personal. This is about how the issue affects you and your friends.

Questions to ask:
  • How does peer pressure influence behaviour related to the issue? (e.g., A teenager might feel pressured by friends to ignore social distancing rules to attend a party.)
  • How do friend groups provide support? (e.g., Friends check in on each other's mental health through video calls.)
  • Does the issue create conflicts among friends? (e.g., Arguments over whether to get vaccinated for Disease X.)
Key Takeaway:

The peer level focuses on social influence and support systems among people of a similar age or status.

7. The Family Level (The Home View)

Let's step inside the home. How does the issue affect family life?

Questions to ask:
  • How do family dynamics and relationships change? (e.g., More arguments due to being stuck at home, but also more family time.)
  • What are the caregiving responsibilities? (e.g., Parents have to juggle work while homeschooling their children; adult children have to care for elderly parents who are sick with Disease X.)
  • Are there financial impacts on the family? (e.g., A parent loses their job, causing financial stress.)
Key Takeaway:

The family level is about the direct impact on relationships, roles, and resources within the household.

8. The Individual Level (The "You" View)

Finally, we zoom all the way in to one person. This is about personal experiences, choices, and health.

Questions to ask:
  • How does it affect a person's physical and mental health? (This links to Compulsory Part 1A: Dimensions of health.) (e.g., An individual catches Disease X and suffers long-term health effects; another person develops anxiety from the uncertainty and isolation.)
  • What are an individual's personal choices and behaviours? (This is their health-seeking behaviour.) (e.g., Choosing to wear a mask, get vaccinated, or follow a healthy diet to boost immunity.)
  • How does it affect their personal development, education, or career? (e.g., A student's learning is disrupted; a young adult's career plans are put on hold.)
Key Takeaway:

The individual level is about personal health, choices, beliefs, and life experiences.


Part 3: Connecting the Dots - The Ripple Effect

Great work, detective! You've examined the evidence at every level. But the most important part is seeing how the levels are all connected. A change at one level causes ripples that affect all the others.

Example of Connections for "Disease X":

A global decision by the WHO to declare a pandemic...
...prompts the national government to close borders...
...which affects society as certain ethnic groups are unfairly blamed for the disease...
...which leads an institution (a company) to lay off workers...
...which means a parent in a family loses their job...
...which causes an individual (the student in that family) to feel immense stress and anxiety...
...and they rely on their peer group for emotional support.

See? It's all linked! Your final analysis should not just be a list of points for each level, but a story about how these levels interact and influence each other.

Common Mistake Alert!

Avoid just describing what happens at each level. The key to a high-level analysis is to explain WHY and HOW these levels are connected. Use words like "This leads to...", "As a result...", "This influences...", "Consequently...".


Part 4: Your Step-by-Step Investigation Plan

Feeling ready to tackle your own topic? Here’s a simple plan to follow.

  1. Choose Your Issue: Pick your topic and write one sentence that clearly defines it.
  2. Gather Your Intel: Use your IT skills! Look for reliable sources like government websites, reports from NGOs like WHO, academic articles, and reputable news sources.
  3. Apply the Framework: Create a section for each of the 8 levels. Under each one, brainstorm points and find evidence related to your topic. Reference ideas from the compulsory part!
  4. Find the Connections: Draw arrows, create a mind map, or write a paragraph explaining the "ripple effect." How does a national policy affect individual choices? How does a community action influence family well-being?
  5. Form Your Conclusion: What are the most important takeaways from your investigation? Can you suggest any constructive solutions based on your analysis? This shows deep understanding!

Final Encouragement

This way of thinking is a skill for life, not just for the DSE exam. It helps you understand the complex world around you. Don't be afraid to explore, ask questions, and connect the dots. You've got this!