PUB HLTH 7076 - Health Policy and Public Health Interventions

North Terrace Campus - Semester 1 - 2014

This course is designed to provide students with an in depth understanding of health policies and their development, implementation and analysis, and of public health interventions at population, community and individual levels. Health policies will be studied in health care system, national and international contexts. Health policy development, implementation and analysis are discussed with a focus on using them in disease prevention and health promotion. The lectures and discussions consider how a health policy is formulated, implemented and analysed, including the roles of public interest, vested interests, ideology and politics. Various frameworks for analysis are considered. The course takes the Ottawa Charter Health Promotion Action Areas as a framework for public health interventions. Facilitating factors and barriers to disease prevention and health promotion are highlighted.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PUB HLTH 7076
    Course Health Policy and Public Health Interventions
    Coordinating Unit Public Health
    Term Semester 1
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Contact Intensive short course of 36 hours
    Assessment Assignments, presentation
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Teresa Burgess

    Course Coordinator: Associate Professor Lester Wright
    Phone: +61 8313 0944
    Email: les.wright@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Room 813, Hughes Building

    Course Coordinator: Teresa Burgess

    Learning and Teaching Team
    Phone: +61 8313 2128
    Email: postgrad_enq@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 Understand current public health issues and controversies and critique the different public policy responses to them both within Australia and internationally
    2 Understand and apply different theoretical frameworks to the analysis of national and international health policies
    3 Review and critique the policies and strategies associated with current, specific public health interventions
    4 Apply relevant theories to the analysis of a specific public health problem and assess how the problem is currently being addressed
    5 Develop a public health intervention plan for a specific public health problem integrating the principles of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion
    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)
    Knowledge and understanding of the content and techniques of a chosen discipline at advanced levels that are internationally recognised. 1, 4, 5
    The ability to locate, analyse, evaluate and synthesise information from a wide variety of sources in a planned and timely manner. 2-5
    An ability to apply effective, creative and innovative solutions, both independently and cooperatively, to current and future problems. 2, 3, 5
    Skills of a high order in interpersonal understanding, teamwork and communication. 3-5
    A proficiency in the appropriate use of contemporary technologies. N/A
    A commitment to continuous learning and the capacity to maintain intellectual curiosity throughout life. 1-5
    An awareness of ethical, social and cultural issues within a global context and their importance in the exercise of professional skills and responsibilities. 1, 3, 4, 5
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    There is no recommended textbook for this course.
    Recommended Resources
    The following books provide useful readings:

    Policy development and analysis
    Althaus, C., Bridgman, P. & Davis, G. 2007. The Australian Policy Handbook. (4th Edition). Crpws Nest, NSW. Allen & Unwin
    Barraclough S, Gardner H. 2008. Analysing health policy: a problem-oriented approach. Sydney: Elsevier. (Presents policy analysis in the Australian context]
    Bacchi, C. 2009. Analysing Policy: What’s the problem represented to be? Frenchs Forest, NSW. Pearson Australia
    Lin V, Gibson B. 2003. Evidence based health policy. Oxford: Oxford University Press (particularly relevant to the Australian context)
    Palmer, G & Short, S. 2010. Health Care and Public Policy: an Australian Analysis. (4th Edition) South Yarra. Palgrave Macmillan.
    eimer DL, Vining AR. 2005. Policy Analysis. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall.

    Public Health Interventions
    Fleming ML, Parker E. 2007, Health promotion: principles and practice in the Australian context. 3rd Edition. Allen & Unwin, Crows Nest NSW.
    Lin V, Smith J, Fawkes S. 2007. Public Health Practice in Australia: The Organised Effort. Allen & Unwin, St. Leonards, NSW.
    Keleher H, Murphy B. 2007. Understanding Health: A Determinants Approach. Oxford University Press. Melbourne. (chapters 11, 12, 13).
    Egger G, Spark R, Lawson J, Donovan R. 2013 [(3rd edition), Health Promotion Strategies and Methods. The McGraw Hill Companies, Inc. Sydney.
    Rootman, I; Goodstadt, M; Hyndman, B; McQueen, D; Potvin, L; Springett, L & Ziglio, E (Eds). 2001. Evaluation in health promotion. Principles and perspectives. Geneva: WHO Regional Publications, European Series, No. 92. This book can be downloaded from: http://www.euro.who.int/en/publications/abstracts/evaluation-in-health-promotion.-principles-and-perspectives
    Online Learning
    Public Health makes lecture notes and other teaching aids available electronically to students, through MyUni.

    MYUNI
    MyUni is the primary entry point to online learning at Adelaide University. MyUni provides students and staff with access to course materials, discussion forums, announcements, online and many other features to help manage your study or teaching. You can connect to MyUni on or off campus from an internet connected computer using a Web browser. The URL is: www.myuni.adelaide.edu.au/
    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 about online education services, what’s available and access, contact the Online Education Helpdesk:
    The Helpdesk is available for extended hours during the week or through voicemail.
    Phone: (08) 8303 3335
    E-mail: myuni.help@adelaide.edu.au

    MyUni purposes:
    Accessing announcements about changes in scheduling, course information etc.
    Accessing lecture notes both in pdf format and, if recording is possible in the allocated lecture theatre, in audiofile format.
    Posting questions. You are encouraged to post queries on the discussion board in addition to emailing course coordinator the questions of an academic nature (e.g., about assignments).
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes

    No information currently available.

    Workload

    No information currently available.

    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

  • 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

    No information currently available.

    Assessment Detail

    No information currently available.

    Submission

    No information currently available.

    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.

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