Section outline

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      Peoples-Praxis
       

      Introduction to Reflection in Public Health Practice

      Welcome to this short, case-based course to help you build a regular reflective habit that strengthens both your learning and day-to-day practice. 

       

      What you'll learn

      • Why reflection matters for safe, effective public health practice.
      • Key ideas (reflection on action vs in action; moving toward deeper, critical reflection).
      • Practical ways to start: simple prompts and habit-forming tips.
      • How to write concise reflective notes you can use for appraisal/CPD.
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      About the Course

      This course aligns with  WHO EPHF principles and encourage reflective CPD. Check your local CPD requirements for recording reflection.

      Created by Professor Rajan Madhok; updated in 2005 by Dr Mina Endeley. Licensed under CC BY 4.0. Changes were made.

      Media disclosure: This course includes AI-generated images created with ChatGPT (Sept 2025). Used for illustration; no real persons shown.
       
      Course completion as part of a Peoples Praxis learning pathway is linked to demonstration of some WHO Essential Public Health Functions competencies and certification.

       

      This course is licensed under CC BY 4.0

    • Learning Outcomes Page
    • Why reflection matters in Public Health Page
    • Reflection in action - a worked example Page

    • 💪 Practice Time

      Estimated completion time: ~10 minutes (self-paced)

      Exercise 1 — Spot the reflection moments 📝

      Write down your answers to the questions below 

      1. What happened initially? Briefly note my approach and the outcome.
      2. Trigger for reflection: What signalled that a change was needed?
      3. Adaptation: Describe what I changed and why.
      4. Carry-forward learning: Write one key learning you will take into your next session.

      Tip: Add your notes to your reflection log or Personal Development Plan (PDP).

      Exercise 2 — A written note or a voice note

      Choose one of these options to answer the prompts below:

      • Write: 5–8 sentences, or
      • Record: a 1–2 minute voice note.

      Prompts:

      • 🧠 What is reflection to you? How do you practice it now?
      • 🎯 Why learn more? What’s your motivation for doing more now?
      • 🚧 Barriers & plan: What might get in the way? Note 2–3 steps you will take to overcome these.

      Tip: Answer these as honestly as you can. Add your notes to your PDP and discuss them with a mentor.

      Optional next step

      Learning Pathways: Share your reflections with your mentor at your first meeting.

      Key takeaways

      • Reflection helps you adjust in the moment to needs and consider what additional needs might be present after the moment.
      • Small changes (in this case plain language, demonstration, practice, memory aids) can transform our actions and impact.
      • Capture your learning now, so you can apply it in your next session.
    • Introducing Reflective frameworks Page