Welcome

Abstract

Welcome to the seventh issue of the PHI journal. Our guest editorial comes from Chloe Smith who has completed both her BSc and MSc within public health at Liverpool John Moores University. Chloe is now working as a researcher within the School of Nursing and Advanced Practice.

Throughout my time at university, I developed a growing interest in research and found my assignments to be interesting, but I never truly had a passion for it until I started my BSc dissertation. My BSc dissertation explored misinformation on Instagram regarding diet and food habits and how this impacted people’s body image and weight-related behaviours. Having been exposed to online diet culture and falling victim to celebrity-endorsed diet myths myself, I knew it was important to explore just how influential these messages are, particularly as they are shared with a wide audience. Conducting qualitative research as part of my BSc dissertation, and subsequently my MSc dissertation, proved to me how important research is and how powerful it can be to give participants a voice on topics and issues that affect them. Research is now a huge part of my life, and I am grateful to work at LJMU to conduct research which informs service delivery and practice across the UK.

The word “dissertation” is often veiled by a sense of apprehension, and rightly so, as it is one of the biggest challenges that a student must face during their time at university. Whilst it can be daunting at first, it can truly be an enjoyable and motivating experience. I found that choosing a topic that I genuinely cared about was the key to enjoying my dissertation. Writing a dissertation allows students to develop a wealth of skills, including organisation, communication, critical thinking, and time management, which are crucial when leading a successful career in Public Health.

The challenges to Public Health are ever-changing, as we have all experienced in recent years with COVID-19 and the fallout from the pandemic.  This journal is a clear example of some of the key Public Health challenges that we face today, and it highlights that students have been able to identify critical questions to explore. The abstracts included are a fantastic representation of the hard work that students put into their dissertations and provides us with valuable insights and perspectives into a range of issues, which will undoubtedly benefit the future of Public Health discourse and efforts. This journal provides students with the opportunity to acknowledge and share their achievements at LJMU and I extend my congratulations to all the students for their exceptional work and wish them every success in their future careers.