PUB HLTH 1001 - Health and Illness in Populations

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2022

Health and Illness in Populations aims to introduce students interested in health sciences careers such as public health practice, health-related research, or clinical practice, to a population view of health. It draws on a range of disciplines that contribute to a focus on the health of populations, including epidemiology, health promotion and disease prevention, history, politics, and ethics. The course invites students to develop a critical view about what constitutes public health issues, how they are measured, and potential responses to improve population health.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PUB HLTH 1001
    Course Health and Illness in Populations
    Coordinating Unit Public Health
    Term Semester 1
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible Not available to students who completed PUB HLTH 1001 Public Health 1A. This course has had a title change from Public Health 1A to Health and Illness in Populations and therefore the content of the course is the same.
    Course Description Health and Illness in Populations aims to introduce students interested in health sciences careers such as public health practice, health-related research, or clinical practice, to a population view of health. It draws on a range of disciplines that contribute to a focus on the health of populations, including epidemiology, health promotion and disease prevention, history, politics, and ethics. The course invites students to develop a critical view about what constitutes public health issues, how they are measured, and potential responses to improve population health.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Catherine Chittleborough

    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
    1 Identify major causes of morbidity (sickness) and mortality (deaths) in Australia and globally
    2 Describe public health problems and how they are measured using basic epidemiological terminology and calculations
    3 Evaluate how social determinants and other risk factors for communicable and chronic disease influence personal and population health
    4 Describe the basic principles and salient features of health promotion and disease prevention to improve population health
    5 Evaluate the roles and functions of policies and diverse stakeholders, including in government departments and health systems, in defining, influencing and responding to public health issues
    6 Identify ethical and economic issues associated with policies and interventions aimed at improving health
    7 Identify, critique, synthesise, report and reference appropriate public health literature
    8 Participate constructively, as an individual or within groups, in learning activities
    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.

    1-8

    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.

    5-8

    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.

    8

    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.

    2, 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.

    3, 5, 6

    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.

    3

    Attribute 7: Digital capabilities

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

    1, 7, 8

    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.

    5-8
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    The required textbook is: Correa-Velez I, Fleming ML, Parker E. Introduction to Public Health. 4th ed. Australia. Elsevier; 2019. A free, online version of the textbook is available via the Library. The third edition of this text (published in 2015) is an appropriate alternative.

    Other resources, including required readings for lectures and tutorials, will be available on MyUni.

    Recommended Resources
    A list of recommended resources that will be useful for studying public health, in addition to the text book and readings, will be provided on MyUni.
    Online Learning
    MyUni is the primary entry point to online learning at the University of Adelaide. MyUni provides students and staff with access to  course materials, discussion forums, announcements, and many other features to help manage learning and teaching. You can connect to MyUni on or off campus from an internet-connected computer using a Web browser, or via the Canvas app. Login to this resource using your Username and Password. Once logged on to MyUni, you will find the information displayed is customised to present only details relevant to you and the online content for courses that you are studying.

    For enquiries, contact MyUni Support
    Phone: (08) 8313 3000
    E-mail: helpdesk@adelaide.edu.au
    The Helpdesk is available for extended hours during the week or through voicemail.

    You will use MyUni for a number of purposes:

    · Accessing announcements about changes in scheduling, course information etc.
    · Accessing lecture notes and recordings.
    · Completing online quizzes and submitting assignments.
    · Accessing online activities.
    · Posting questions on the Discussion Board.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    There are a number of teaching and learning modes in this course. See course timetable on MyUni for details.

    Lectures – provide basic factual information and concepts about public health. They introduce key concepts in public health, supported by material in the text book and readings. Many lectures provide opportunity for interaction, discussion and questions. Lectures are face-to-face, and are recorded. There may be capacity to join lectures live online, but check MyUni for details. Guest lecturers are leaders in public health research and practice and demonstrate how course concepts are relevant to improving population health in the real world.

    Tutorials (15 to 20 students) – interactive classes designed to develop and clarify topics covered in lectures. These are generally problem-solving sessions designed to clarify, discuss and apply public health concepts. Tutorials provide an opportunity to try out  ideas, develop capacity for critical thinking, and clarify uncertainties in a supportive environment. Tutorials are face-to-face classes, or are offered via Zoom for remote/offshore students.

    Online activities - a range of online activities support the lectures, tutorials and assessments.

    Assessment - Quizzes and tests throughout the semester aid students in monitoring their understanding of specific topics and assessing the extent to which they have developed their understanding throughout the course. Assignments provide an opportunity to undertake in depth analysis of key concepts applied to a health condition of interest to the student. Participation in  tutorials is assessed to encourage students to actively contribute to their understanding and application of health issues. 

    Workload

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

    As a 3-unit course, Health and Illness in Populations will require approximately 12 hours of work per week, including attendance at lectures (two x 1h lectures per week), participation in a tutorial (one x 1h tutorial per week), and completion of online activities and quizzes (approximately 1h per week).

    Eight of the 12 hours per week is private study, which is study outside of your regular classes and will include readings and preparatory pre-class activities for lectures and tutorials, completion of assignments, and revision.

    Learning Activities Summary
    A detailed timetable of classes and assessment tasks will be available on MyUni. The topics covered include:

    · Sources of information and data about public health issues
    · Chronic conditions, infectious diseases and risk behaviours that are public health issues
    · Epidemiological measurement of public health issues using counts, prevalence, incidence, rates and risk
    · Determinants of public health issues
    · Public health interventions: Disease prevention, health promotion, and protection
    · Indigenous health
    · Ethical, legal and economic issues in responding to public health issues
    · Population and high-risk approaches in public health
    · Public health and the Australian health system
    Specific Course Requirements
    Most students will attend face-to-face tutorial classes, but there will be an online tutorial offered for remote/offshore students who are unable to attend campus. Students enrolled in the online tutorial are expected to participate in this virtual class at the scheduled time each week.
  • 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 Learning Outcome
    Maths Diagnostic Test Formative 0%
    Assignment 1 Summative 20% 1, 2, 3, 7
    Assignment 2 Summative 30% 1, 3-7
    Online activities and Quizzes Summative 10% 1-4, 6-7
    Participation Summative 10% 1-8
    Tests Summative 30% 1-7
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Attendance and participation at all tutorials is required and 10% of your overall mark is based on the quality of your active participation in these sessions. Participation is important because tutorials will extend and apply the material presented in lectures and readings. Active participation will not only lead to greater enjoyment and learning, but will assist you to prepare for the exam.

    In tutorials, it is expected that all students contribute to discussion. This applies whether you attend your tutorial class face-to-face or online. Students who attend online tutorials are expected to participate by having their audio and video on during the Zoom class. Public health can be controversial, therefore opinions may be expressed that are counter to our own. You are expected to be respectful of others' points of view even though they may differ from your own. Each student has the right to hold and express views that are not conventional, provided that they are not personal attacks on individual students and they do not vilify groups of people (i.e. people from different ethnic or religious groups, or those with different sexual orientation).
    Assessment Detail
    Maths Diagnostic Test (Formative)
    This is a diagnostic tool, completed online via MyUni, to help students establish that they have the basic numerical and mathematical skills to continue in this course. Students are directed to supplementary materials for questions they do not answer correctly. If they do not achieve 50%, they should read this material and retake the test until they do achieve 50% or greater. The purpose of this test is also to initiate contact with the Maths Learning Centre for those students who require additional numeracy support. Staff at the MLC offer support, particularly to those who score less than 50% on this test, to help make the semester easier for students.

    Assignment 1 (20%), 700 words
    This written assignment will assess students’ understanding of a priority health issue that affects the population, focusing on key epidemiologic measures to describe the issue. Students will use information from journal articles, published reports, and internet sources, and reference these appropriately.

    Assignment 2 (30%), 1700 words
    This written assignment will assess students’ understanding of how public health issues are measured, and responded to with
    disease prevention, health promotion and protection interventions. It will assess students’ ability to identify, critique, synthesise, report and reference appropriate public health literature and interpret key epidemiologic measures of health and disease.

    Tests (30%)
    A series of online tests will assess application of knowledge and understanding of concepts throughout the semester. Students will be expected to integrate information and critically analyse public health issues.

    Online Activities and Quizzes (10%)
    Online activities are designed to support material presented in lectures and tutorials. Quizzes will accompany these activities so that students can test their understanding as they learn.

    Participation (10%)
    Attendance and participation at all tutorials is required. The criteria for attendance and participation marks are as follows:
    1 mark is allocated for attending and actively participating in the class.
    0.5 marks may be allocated for attendance only, without preparation or participation.
    0 marks are allocated if a student is absent for that class.
    A class that is not attended, but for which the student submits a medical certificate, will not be counted for marking.


    Submission
    Extensions
    All extensions for assessments 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 assessments for which no extension has been granted are handed in late.

    All assessments, including those handed in late, will be assessed on their merits. In the case of late submissions where no extension has been granted, 5 percentage points of the total marks possible per day will be deducted. If an assessment 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 assessment 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. Students who are not satisfied with a particular assessment result should raise their concerns with the Course Co-ordinator in the first instance. This must be done within 10 business days of the date of notification of the result. Resubmission of any assessment is subject to the agreement of the Course Co-ordinator 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.

    We continually take into account responses about what previous students thought were the best aspects of the course, and how they thought the course could be improved. We have also made significant changes to enable more of the course to be accessible online, which has allowed more space in the timetable for discussion of students' questions on content or assessment.
  • 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.