Childhood Obesity

Mock Surveillance

Conduct a “mock surveillance” of social media platforms (For example, Twitter, a blog) dedicated to the disease process or public health concern (Obesity).

Observe, track, discuss, and report on how the chosen platform might be used to collect and analyze near real-time data

Assignment Purpose is to identify a public health concern. Then learn about the leadership role of the HI professional when it comes to the management of information within the public health arena. HI leaders manage information and utilize increasing levels of technology to link clinical settings, public health departments, research institutions, and consumers with health information. HI professionals also serve vital roles in public health research, ranging from data collection, assessment, and management to project management

Analyze what public health information is being published on the Internet, on websites, newsgroups, blogs, and social media about a chosen disease process or public health concern.

Then look at government websites for publicly available information about the topic. (government websites, blogs, listservs, Twitter, Facebook) 

Conduct a “mock surveillance” of social media platforms (For example, Twitter, a blog) dedicated to the disease process or public health concern Do a quick search and see what you can find.

Next, appraise what you found ... were you able to find any information? Was the information you found valid? Or was it suspect?

Evidence Process: The methods and sources used to collect evidence are described in such great detail, the reader could easily replicate the process. (Tell me what you did - how you found what you found. Break it down into steps - so detailed that I could follow it again and find the same or similar results. This is a necessary element of all good research.)

Nature of the Disease & Identification of Key Risk Factors: Comprehensive, complete discussion of the history of the disease and key risk factors included. (why you chose the topic, its history and key risks factors. Essentially tell me why this topic is important for an HI professional to investigate.)

References used to Support the Validity of the Arguments: A minimum of 2 references included all published within the last five years.

Quality of Writing: The writing has an easy flow, rhythm, and cadence. Sentences are well built, with strong and varied structure that invites readability.