Discuss the effectiveness of one or more health promotion strategies.

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks.

The command term “discuss” requires candidates to offer a considered review regarding the effectiveness of one or more health promotion strategies.

There is no explicit reference to a specific area of health psychology in this question so candidates may choose any relevant area, for example drug abuse or obesity. However, the response may also include an area not specifically mentioned in the programme, such as practising safe sex to prevent HIV.

It is appropriate for candidates to address models and theories of health promotion such as the health belief model, stages of change model, theory of reasoned action etc., or health promotion programmes in their discussion of a health promotion strategy. Both approaches are equally acceptable.

Relevant health promotion strategies may include, but are not limited to:
• the Victoria (Australia) campaign, “Go for your life” promoting healthy eating and exercise in schools (2004)
• the Florida (US) campaign, “TRUTH” an anti-smoking campaign arranged by and aimed at adolescents (1998–1999)
• the Canadian community-based peer intervention programme to prevent pregnant mothers from drinking alcohol (Carr, 1994)
• social learning theory (for example, the Sabido method to encourage safe sex practices).

Discussion may include, but is not limited to:
• challenges in measuring outcomes of strategies and campaigns
• conditions under which the strategy may be employed
• cultural and ethical considerations
• empirical evidence
• comparison and/or contrast of health promotion strategies

Candidates may discuss the effectiveness of one health promotion strategy in order to demonstrate depth of knowledge, or may discuss the effectiveness of more than one health promotion strategy in order to demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Both approaches are equally acceptable.