PUB HLTH 7091 - Public Health Evaluation and Economics

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2023

In the era of evidence-based practice and policy in healthcare, everyone needs evidence on how well an intervention works and whether it provides value for money to inform funding decisions. Evaluation is a tool to provide such information: measuring the success of the intervention in achieving its intended outcomes, determining its value, and providing information on how to improve the intervention to attain even greater success. The course aims to extend student understanding of the evaluation and economic approaches used to evaluate a wide range of public health interventions. Using real world examples, this course equips students with the practical knowledge and skills to design and apply an integrated framework to evaluate a public health intervention.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PUB HLTH 7091
    Course Public Health Evaluation and Economics
    Coordinating Unit Public Health
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week; this course is designed to include face-to-face attendance, however, options to participate online are available for students unable to attend in person.
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible PUB HLTH 3123, PUB HLTH 7091OL and PUB HLTH 7091UAC
    Assessment Quizzes, Assignments, Participation
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Ms Camille Schubert

    Dr David Tamblyn
    Phone: +61 8313 0608
    Email: david.tamblyn@adelaide.edu.au 

    Ms Camille Schubert
    Phone: +61 8313 6895
    Email: camille.schubert@adelaide.edu.au 

    Dr Shona Crabb
    Phone: +61 8313 1686
    Email: shona.crabb@adelaide.edu.au (email preferred)

    Student & Program Support Services Hub
    Email: askhealthsc@adelaide.edu.au
    Phone: +61 8313 0273
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

    Timetable details are located on MyUni.
  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

    On successful completion of this course students will be able to:

    1.

    Explain major evaluation approaches and their limitations for a range of public health interventions

    2.

    Identify, value and analyse health care resources and health outcomes to include in economic evaluation

    3.

    Demonstrate an understanding of the role of economic evaluations in the decision-making process

    4.

    Understand how to design and/or critique a public health evaluation

    5.

    Demonstrate an ability to work in teams and communicate effectively with others regarding the evaluation process and findings

    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)

    Attribute 1: Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth

    Graduates have comprehensive knowledge and understanding of their subject area, the ability to engage with different traditions of thought, and the ability to apply their knowledge in practice including in multi-disciplinary or multi-professional contexts.

    1-6

    Attribute 2: Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving

    Graduates are effective problems-solvers, able to apply critical, creative and evidence-based thinking to conceive innovative responses to future challenges.

    1-7

    Attribute 3: Teamwork and communication skills

    Graduates convey ideas and information effectively to a range of audiences for a variety of purposes and contribute in a positive and collaborative manner to achieving common goals.

    6-7

    Attribute 4: Professionalism and leadership readiness

    Graduates engage in professional behaviour and have the potential to be entrepreneurial and take leadership roles in their chosen occupations or careers and communities.

    1-7

    Attribute 5: Intercultural and ethical competency

    Graduates are responsible and effective global citizens whose personal values and practices are consistent with their roles as responsible members of society.

    1-7

    Attribute 6: Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency

    Graduates have an understanding of, and respect for, Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander values, culture and knowledge.

    N/A

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

    Graduates are well prepared for living, learning and working in a digital society.

    N/A

    Attribute 8: Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

    Graduates are self-aware and reflective; they are flexible and resilient and have the capacity to accept and give constructive feedback; they act with integrity and take responsibility for their actions.

    1-7
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    There is no set textbook for this course. All resources, including links to journal articles and reading lists, will be disseminated via MyUni.
    Recommended Resources
     
    Online Learning
    The primary means of communication outside of formal contact hours will be via MyUni. Announcements and discussion boards will be the main method of communicating with the student cohort.

    All lectures for this course will be online. Course material will be supported by online resources via MyUni, which will be sequentially released in line with the teaching and learning activities in each week.

    Zoom sessions will be used regularly for online students to allow discussion of course materials and provide an opportunity for students to ask questions.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course is presented in DUAL mode - i.e. it is available as both a face-to-face or online course and students enrol in one or the other.

    Note that face to face sessions will only be available if they are within COVID safe guidelines at the time.

    Lectures for both modes are online.

    Practical workshop sessions will provide an opportunity to explore issues raised during seminars in greater depth, and for students to learn from each other. These are available face-to-face over 2 hours/weeks on a specific day; or, for online students, they will be available online via MyUni and will consist of worksheets to be uploaded via MyUni, Discussion Board activities, quizzes and regular Zoom sessions.

    The course will also include a number of expert evaluation guest speakers who will discuss public health evaluation in practice. Students are asked to submit questions beforehand and the guest speakers will answer them.

    The session with experts will be face-to-face and recorded so it will be available to all students.


    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    For face to face students, the course involves 2 hours of contact time each week during semester, plus additional work outside of class time for reading, class preparation, and assessment tasks.

    For online students, the same amount of time is expected to be allocated towards completing coursework although this may be be spread over a longer period than 3 hours.

    However, online students are expected to complete all the work allocated each week, before the next week's work is available
    Learning Activities Summary

    TOPICS TO BE COVERED

    Principles of evaluation (definition, value, key approaches, outcome vs process, vs. impact measures)

    Economic evaluation

    Specific Course Requirements
    N/A
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    ASSESSMENT TASK

    TASK TYPE

    WEIGHTING

    COURSE LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

    Online quizzes

    Summative

    20%

    Evaluation assignment

    Summative

    35%

    Economics assessment

    Summative 35%

    Participation

    Summative 10%

    Assessment Detail
    The course assessments are structured so that students can review their learnings throughout the course and then apply these learnings to final assessment which aims to enable them to integrate all the different aspects of the course.

    Quizzes (20%)
    Two quizzes using short answer or multiple choice will assess student understanding of course content from seminars, workshops and readings.

    Evaluation Assignment (1000 words) (35%)
    Students will design a logic model.

    Economics Assessment (35%)


    Participation (10%)
    Each student will receive a mark for their participation and engagement in classes throughout the semester. A key component of this grade will involve working in small groups to prepare and ask a question of the guest expert panel discussion.



    Submission
    Extensions
    All extensions for assignments must be requested, at the latest, by the last working day before the due date of submission. 
    Extensions will generally be granted only on medical or genuine compassionate grounds. Supporting documentation must be provided at the time a student requests an extension. Without documentation, extensions will not be granted. Late requests for extension will neither be accepted nor acknowledged.

    Only the Course Co-ordinator(s) may grant extensions.

    Supporting documentation will be required when requesting an extension. Examples of documents that are acceptable include: a medical certificate that specifies dates of incapacity, a police report (in the case of lost computers, car & household theft etc.), a letter from a Student Counsellor, Education and Welfare Officer (EWO) or Disability Liaison Officer that provides an assessment of compassionate circumstances, or a letter from an independent external counsellor or appropriate professional able to verify the student’s situation. The length of any extension granted will take into account the period and severity of any incapacity or impact on the student. Extensions of more than 10 days will not be granted except in exceptional circumstances.

    Late submission
    Marks will be deducted when assignments for which no extension has been granted are handed in late.

    All assignments, including those handed in late, will be assessed on their merits. In the case of late assignments where no
    extension has been granted, 5 percentage points of the total marks possible per day will be deducted. If an assignment that
    is 2 days late is awarded 65% on its merits, the mark will then be reduced by 10% (5% per day for 2 days) to 55%. If that same assignment is 4 days late, the mark will be reduced by 20% (5% per day for 4 days) to 45%, and so on.

    The School of Public Health reserves the right to refuse to accept an assignment that is more than 7 days late.

    Assignments submitted after the due date may not be graded in time to be returned on the listed return dates.

    Students submitting examinable written work who request (and receive) an extension that takes them beyond the examination period are advised that there is no guarantee that their grades will be processed in time to meet usual University deadlines.

    Resubmission
    If a student is dissatisfied with an assessment grade they should follow the Student Grievance Resolution Process https://www.adelaide.edu.au/student/grievance/process. Students who are not satisfied with a particular assessment result should raise their concerns with Course Co-ordinator(s) in the first instance. This must be done within 10 business days of the date of notification of the result.  Resubmission of any assignment is subject to the agreement of the Course Co-ordinator(s) and will only be permitted for the most compelling of reasons.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    The School of Public Health greatly values the feedback we receive from our students as it helps us to continuously improve our courses so we encourage all of our students to complete SELTs regulary for every course.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.