Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Define the target population and the health problem
1–2 weeks
Choose a public health problem in a specific population (e.g. low physical activity in adults aged 40–65 in urban GP-registered patients, or high smoking prevalence among 16–24 year olds in a specific borough). Document the epidemiological justification for choosing this population and problem: prevalence data, burden of disease, known risk factors, social determinants, and health inequalities relevant to this group. Your documentation must cite published data (PHE, WHO, NHS, or peer-reviewed sources).
Proof required
Submit your 2-page population and problem definition with all prevalence figures, burden of disease estimates, and health inequalities data cited to published sources.
What gets checked
- Population is specific and bounded — a named demographic, geographic area, or clinical cohort, not 'the general population'.
- Prevalence data is cited to published sources with year — not estimated or derived without reference.
- Health inequalities section identifies a specific disparity relevant to your chosen population — not a generic statement about health inequalities.
Common mistakes
- Population that is too broad to design a specific intervention for — 'adults in the UK' is not a target population.
- Burden of disease that only names the condition without specifying its magnitude in the target population.
- Health inequalities section that is general rather than specific to your chosen population and problem.
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Ask the student to name the prevalence of the health problem in their target population — they should cite a figure and its source immediately.
- Check that the population is specific enough that an intervention could be designed for it.
- Ask what the most significant health inequality is for this population.
Design the intervention using a recognised behaviour change framework
2–3 weeks
Design a public health intervention targeting your defined population and problem. Apply a recognised behaviour change or public health framework to structure your intervention: COM-B model, Behaviour Change Wheel, Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory, or equivalent. Your design must specify: the intervention's theory of change (what mechanism links the intervention to the health behaviour), delivery format (individual, group, community, digital), who delivers it, the setting, estimated reach, and how it addresses social determinants of health for your population.
Proof required
Submit your intervention design (3–4 pages) with your chosen framework explicitly applied — name the model, describe how each component of your design maps to the model's constructs, and justify any design choices that required departing from the model's standard approach.
What gets checked
- Framework is explicitly applied — each design choice is linked to a specific construct of the chosen model.
- Theory of change is specific: 'this intervention will increase physical activity' is not a theory of change; 'this intervention targets low perceived self-efficacy (Social Cognitive Theory) by providing supervised sessions with graduated challenge and peer modelling' is.
- Social determinants are addressed: the design acknowledges barriers specific to the target population (cost, access, language, cultural acceptability) and how the intervention design mitigates them.
Common mistakes
- Framework named but not applied — the design could have been produced without the framework, which just appears as an introductory reference.
- Theory of change that is the desired outcome rather than the mechanism — 'the intervention will improve mental health' is an outcome, not a mechanism.
- Social determinants acknowledged but not addressed — listing barriers without designing around them is not intervention design.
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- Ask the student to explain how their intervention design maps to a specific construct of their chosen framework.
- Ask what the mechanism of change is — the answer must be specific, not 'it will change behaviour'.
- Ask how the design addresses one specific barrier that their target population faces.
Present the intervention design to a public health or clinical audience and revise
1–2 weeks (presentation + revision)
Present your intervention design in a 15-minute structured presentation to a public health professional, clinical team, or academic with public health or health promotion experience. Collect written feedback on at least: the intervention's evidence base, feasibility for the target population, and whether the theory of change is convincing. Revise your design based on the feedback and produce a revision note documenting at least two substantive changes made.
Proof required
Submit your revised intervention design, written feedback from the reviewer (with their name and role), and a one-page revision note identifying each change and the reviewer feedback that prompted it.
What gets checked
- Reviewer has public health, health promotion, or clinical research expertise — not a general clinician without public health experience.
- Revision note identifies at least two specific changes — not 'the design was improved overall'.
- Each change is linked to a specific piece of reviewer feedback — not general improvements made independently of the review.
Common mistakes
- Reviewer without public health or health promotion expertise — a GP who has never designed an intervention is not a qualified reviewer for this milestone.
- Revision note that lists changes without linking them to specific reviewer feedback.
- No substantive changes made — the revision section must reflect genuine engagement with the critique, not cosmetic edits.
Resources
Foundationstart here
What a verifier looks for
- Ask the student what the most challenging critique was and whether they agreed with it.
- Check that the revision note links specific changes to specific feedback.
- Verify reviewer credentials — ask what the reviewer's professional role and background is.