A concept map is a visual tool to identify and display relationships between ideas. A concept map can range from a simple brainstorming tool to a complex visual of a conceptual framework. Concept maps can be used in public health to link key stakeholders, identify structural bias, determine leverage points for advocacy, or evaluate policy impact (and much, much more!)
Your assignment is to choose a public health problem and create a concept map using core ideas from this course. You can choose any topic you’d like but it may be helpful to use the same topic you’ve been exploring throughout the module. You will take what you have learned about health systems and public health policy and organize key concepts around a specific public health issue. There is no correct way to organize these ideas. The goal is for you to share the relationships you find valuable when you apply core concepts to a specific issue.
For this assignment you must:
Clearly identify the theme of your concept map
Use at least 10 of the key terms (provided below)
Some key terms will be more relevant to your topic than others
Break down each term into sub-categories (e.g. “policy-making process” could be broken into policy at the local, state, or national level; how a policy moves through committee and the legislative process; the role of evidence and ethics in the policy-making process; or how key-stakeholders are included in the process, etc.)
For broad categories, you may pick a specific example (e.g. for “social determinants of health” you could specify food insecurity or unsafe housing, or air pollution–just be clear that you have chosen to identify a specific SDOH)
You may also add terms or ideas from the course that are relevant to your map
Identify at least 3 of your own “linking terms” to explain how ideas are related
Create a final concept map using a mapping tool
Key Terms to Use:
Organization, structure, or function of health care
Regulatory systems
Structural bias
Social inequities
Racism in health
Health Equity
Health (or health care) disparities
Social determinants of health
Policy-making process
Ethics and evidence
Identifying stakeholders
Public health outcomes
Diversity
Policy evaluation
Advocacy strategies
Health insurance
Communication with the public
Health economics
Concept Map Resources:
https://publichealth.pitt.edu/behavioral-and-community-health-sciences/research-practice/bchs-centers-institutes/concept-mapping-institute (Links to an external site.)
(Links to an external site.)http://www.publichealthsystems.org/sites/default/files/kc15/Webinar%20Pres_July%206_U%20Victoria_MacDonaldPauly.pdf (Links to an external site.)
https://lsc.cornell.edu/how-to-study/studying-for-and-taking-exams/concept-maps/ (Links to an external site.)
(Links to an external site.)https://creately.com/blog/diagrams/ultimate-concept-map-tutorial/
