2 Essay (2,500 words [+/- 10%])
Assessment Type – Written Assessment
Task Description – This assignment requires you to write an essay based on two scenarios given to you and using academically credible literature and other associated relevant documents to support your introduction, discussion and conclusion. The essay gets you to engage with two individuals from some of the culturally diverse groups that live and work in rural and remote Australian communities.
The following task is a problem-based learning activity that requires you to write an essay on both scenarios. You are encouraged to discuss the two scenarios with other students on the Assessment Discussion Forum and to review the supporting literature in order to treat the person effectively and provide the most appropriate support.
Please do not share your written-out ideas, or draft assignment with others as this can lead to plagiarism.
The purpose of this task is to prepare you for professional practice in rural and remote communities, and to understand the whole person through a broader lens.
Your essay needs to address the following two areas in the discussion:
- Historical and contemporary social and cultural issues to accessing health care
- Action that professionals can take to improve access, health outcomes and delivery of services to people from rural communities and culturally diverse backgrounds.
Scenario 1. James Bell is an 80-year-old farmer who lives alone in the farmhouse where he grew up. It is located 20 miles outside of town. James has been a widower for 10 years. His son, Adrian, manages the farm now, but James is still involved in the decision making. James’s current medical problems include insulin dependent diabetes complicated by an open foot wound. He also has some incontinence and difficulty sleeping.
James is awaiting a visit from the home health nurses. He relates that he has an open wound on his big toe that developed after walking in a new pair of shoes. When his daughter-in-law Allison saw the wound, she called the family doctor, who suggested a visit by the wound care nurse who works with the home health agency. James agreed as long as his Medicare benefits cover the costs. James is aware that his son and daughter-in-law have concerns about him living alone, but James insists that while he needs a little help from Adrian and Allison at times, he is still capable of caring for himself.
Scenario 2. Maria is a 62-year-old Greek woman living in a rural town in outback Queensland, and who suffers from hypertension. In the past two years, she had been seen by several doctors, had multiple tests to rule out any underlying aetiology, and tried a variety of medications to control her blood pressure. Despite these efforts, her blood pressure has been poorly controlled. The patient, whose primary language is Greek, has very limited English skills, but has refused an interpreter at all clinic appointments. It appears that the patient has been non-compliant with taking the anti-hypertension medicine, only taking it when she felt tense or stressed.
Maria is illiterate and does not understand the complex medication regimen she had been given. For Maria to manage her long-term health and functionality, she needs to adhere to this ongoing treatment.
Based on the material covered in the unit, think about the various barriers and issues, and socio-cultural factors impeding James and Maria’s recovery. Also, think about what may be some of the issues for Maria and her professional health care person that impede her access to services, treatment and management to better her health and well-being outcomes.
Consider options available for James to access health services and to gain the necessary support he requires to manage the challenges confronting him.
To gain more insight into these two scenarios reflect on the broader social structures (social class, age, gender, ethnicity), cultural norms and expectations, and past history of rural communities and Australian society. Instructions to Students You are expected to utilise the electronic databases available through the library website to access peer-reviewed sociology journal articles and newspaper articles. Other sources of use include government reports, government and professional protocols/ guidelines and good (reputable) internet sites. Use reputable and quality sources and references to complete your assignment. Look to use references that are: current (less than five years old), objective/unbiased, relevant and from authority sources (e.g. academic journals, Queensland Health, Queensland Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Capability Framework 2010-2033).
Failure to use any references in each of your answers will result in zero marks.
Correct referencing using one of the two listed referencing styles must be used to acknowledge information sources and any direct quotes.
Do not quote or use the lecture notes and study guide.
This is a sociology assessment and you are required to source sociological references (not psychology or medical references).
Marks will be deducted for exceeding the set word limit (+/- 10%), using bullet points or numbered lists, not using and citing references, not using correctly either the APA or Harvard (author-date) referencing style.
The word count is measured from the first word of the answer to the last word of the answer and includes in-text referencing.
The reference list is not included in the word count. A 10% leeway is permitted on either side of the word count (i.e. +/- 10%).
Include a Title page at the front with:
– student name
– student number
– unit code
– unit name
– term date and year
– names of unit coordinator
– name of assignment
– due date for submission (if an approved extension has been given, include the new submission date)
– your final word count (including if you have used the +/- 10% option.
Within the essay you are required to:
– Write in the third person (e.g. do not use ‘I’, ‘me’)
– Use double-line spacing and Arial 11-point font
– Include a reference list correctly formatted to APA 6th Edition (2010) or Harvard (author-date) (Term 1 2017 Edition) referencing style
Submit your assignment by the due date and allow several minutes for submission to be completed. Contact your unit coordinator if you are in doubt about your submission upload and include a copy of your assignment in the email as proof of completion.
Upload with the file named in the following format: Surname_ First name_ Student number_ A2.
Assessment Due Date Week 11 Friday (31 May 2019) 11:45 pm AEST Friday 31 May, 2019
Return Date to Students Review/Exam Week Friday (14 Jun 2019)
As per University policy marked assignments have a 14-day turnaround time. Weighting 50%
Assessment Criteria – In the unit Moodle site you will find the assessment criteria, along with a number of other resources to assist you with completing your assignment to the required academic standard.
Assessment criteria are the features that your assignment will be evaluated against and they are presented in a table format. Please refer to this table while preparing your assignment and prior to submission. Below are the three criteria and their weightings:
– Structure and design (20%)
– Approach and argument (60%)
– Referencing (20%)
Please contact the unit coordinator if you have any questions or are uncertain of what is required for the assessment. While the unit coordinator cannot read and give comment on a draft assignment, they can discuss with you the arguments, ideas and theories used in the preparation of your assignment.
Referencing Style – American Psychological Association (APA) Harvard (author-date)
Submission Online
Submission Instructions
Please submit your assignment in a Word document format to enable marking and feedback comments.
Learning Outcomes Assessed
Use a sociological perspective to discuss the impacts of global forces, historical changes and rural culture on the social organisation of Australian rural communities
Identify the social-structural characteristics of rural areas and the factors (social, economic, cultural) that influence the health of rural Australians, and delivery of health care to rural and remote areas
Describe the health issues experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other social groups (e.g. new migrants, people living with disability) living in rural and remote communities
Explain the role of the health professional working and living in rural and remote Australia, and the rewards and challenges this provides
Compare and contrast the various health service delivery models used in rural and remote communities.
Graduate Attributes
Communication
Problem Solving
Critical Thinking
Information Literacy
Information Technology Competence
Cross Cultural Competence
Ethical practice