PUB HLTH 7147OL - Health Technology Assessment

Online - Semester 1 - 2016

This course takes a broad view of the impact of health technologies on the health of the population & individual. Health technologies can include medical procedures, medical devices, diagnostic & investigative technologies, pharmaceuticals & public health interventions. In this course emphasis is placed on the methods used to assess these health technologies in order to inform government policy, clinical & public health practice. Methods include the systematic review of literature to assess the safety & effectiveness of a technology, meta-analysis,as well as economic evaluation to determine whether a technology is cost-effective. Attention is also given to the diffusion of technological innovations within their social, cultural & ethical context; addressing particular challenges with the assessment of medical tests; to horizon scanning for new & emerging technologies; & to investment in, & disinvestment from, health technologies. The course has a strong practical focus & is taught by practitioners in the field.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PUB HLTH 7147OL
    Course Health Technology Assessment
    Coordinating Unit Public Health
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s Online
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 6 hours per week of online activity
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange
    Incompatible PUB HLTH 7147
    Assumed Knowledge PUB HLTH 7075 & PUB HLTH 7074 & PUB HLTH 7081
    Course Description This course takes a broad view of the impact of health technologies on the health of the population & individual. Health technologies can include medical procedures, medical devices, diagnostic & investigative technologies, pharmaceuticals & public health interventions. In this course emphasis is placed on the methods used to assess these health technologies in order to inform government policy, clinical & public health practice. Methods include the systematic review of literature to assess the safety & effectiveness of a technology, meta-analysis,as well as economic evaluation to determine whether a technology is cost-effective. Attention is also given to the diffusion of technological innovations within their social, cultural & ethical context; addressing particular challenges with the assessment of medical tests; to horizon scanning for new & emerging technologies; & to investment in, & disinvestment from, health technologies. The course has a strong practical focus & is taught by practitioners in the field.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Professor Tracy Merlin

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Tracy Merlin
    Phone: +61 8313 3575
    Email: tracy.merlin@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Level 7, 178 North Terrace
    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Describe  and critically appraise the conduct of health technology assessment (HTA), in particular the use of systematic literature
    review and economic modelling, to inform the development of health policy
    2 Understand the policy framework for HTA in Australia and internationally
    3 Undertake basic systematic searching for evidence on a health technology
    4 Critically appraise the quality of evidence supporting a health technology
    5 Recognise the range of approaches used in HTA to conduct an economic evaluation
    6 Recognise the role of ethical analysis and the use of deliberative methods for community and patient engagement in HTA
    7 Understand the complex issues associated with evaluating diagnostic tests in an HTA
    8 Interpret a meta-analysis and apply meta-analytic statistical techniques
    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)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1-8
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    1, 3-8
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    1, 4, 5, 6, 7
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    3, 5, 7, 8
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    1, 2, 5, 6
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    1-8
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    All local enrolled students will be provided with a hard copy of the Reading Brick prior to the commencement of the course.

    Local, interstate and overseas students enrolled in the course will be able to obtain an electronic copy of the Health Technology  Assessment Handbook, as well as all Readings from the Reading Brick through the University Intranet (MyUni http://www.adelaide.edu.au/myuni/).
    Recommended Resources
    Refer to Health Technology Assessment Handbook and the course information on MyUni, http://www.adelaide.edu.au/myuni/.Online Learning

    Access to this course will be available through MyUni after enrolment.

    Additional course-related material will be available through MyUni. This includes the course timetable, e-learning modules, discussion boards and more information on learning support services available for students. MyMedia recordings of synchronous teaching  sessions offered online (through Collaborate) will also be available.
    Online Learning
    Course materials available through MyUni.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    Across most of the course the delivery will alternate each week between asynchronous and synchronous teaching modes.
    Workload

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

    As a general rule in any university course, you will need to allow a minimum of three independent study hours for every hour   undertaken in formal class work contact. This time is needed for such activities as reading for the topic, preparation for activities in  class and work on assignments. Class contact in the online environment, includes engagement with the eLearning modules.
    Learning Activities Summary
    In the weeks  containing “asynchronous” learning, the approach to learning and teaching involves a set of pre-readings on the topic, a short “lecture” (included in the eLearning Learning Activity Management System, LAMS, module) which draws out the key points, followed by recall tasks, problem solving activities and tasks requiring deeper investigation of the topic.

    In the weeks containing “synchronous” learning, the approach to learning and teaching involves a set of pre-readings on the topic, a longer real time “lecture” (delivered via Collaborate webinar-type classes) which draws out the key points from the readings, with interaction with students to stimulate thinking on the topic, followed by group-based or self-directed practical application of the  concepts learned.

    Information on all learning activities is provided in the Health Technology Assessment Handbook and a week-by-week breakdown of  the classes and eLearning Modules will be provided through the University intranet (MyUni, http://www.adelaide.edu.au/myuni/) at the link for this course.
    Specific Course Requirements
    Equipment needed to participate in the course:

    · computer

    · reliable internet access

    · internet browser (the course was written using Firefox 29.0.1)

    · up-to-date Java installed (available at: https://www.java.com/en/download/)

    · headphones and microphone

    Small Group Discovery Experience
    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 Assessment Type Weighting Learning course objective(s) being addressed
    Quiz Summative 10% 6
    Quiz Summative 10% 7
    Group oral presentation Summative 20% 1, 4
    Completion of LAMS modules in weeks 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9 Summative 10% 1, 3, 5, 7, 8
    Major assignment Summative 50% 1, 2, 3, 5, 6
    Assessment Related Requirements
    Refer to the Health Technology Assessment Handbook, or this course in MyUni (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/myuni/), for detail on the assessments and marking procedures.
    Assessment Detail
    All assessment tasks are the same as PUB HLTH 7147, with the exception of an additional task whereby all students who complete all of the online LAMS modules (which each take approximately an hour to complete – equivalent to attending class) will be  awarded 10% of their grade for completion. Those who do not complete all LAMS modules will receive 0% for this component.

    QUIZZES
    Each student is to complete two short quizzes. Each quiz is delivered online. One quiz is given in week 8 and the other in week 12.


    GROUP ORAL PRESENTATION OF CRITICAL APPRAISAL
    In week 6 students will be allocated to groups of 3 or 4 to prepare a 12 minute power point presentation – due in week 10 during the “virtual class” Collaborate session - with up to 8 slides, of a critical appraisal of a published paper (to be allotted to each group).  All group members must contribute to the content and delivery of the presentation. 

    INTEGRATED HTA
    Each student is to submit an evaluation of a health technology from a list of pre-selected topics. Details of this major assignment are given in MyUni, http://www.adelaide.edu.au/myuni/.
    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 StudentGrievance 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.

  • 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.