PUB HLTH 7091 - Knowing What Works - Evaluation for Public Health

North Terrace Campus - Semester 2 - 2019

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. This course is designed to help students to answer questions such as "Should a new vaccine to protect against invasive meningococcal disease be recommended in publicly funded immunization programs? Did the new parent education program actually result in more children being vaccinated? If not, how can we improve the program?" The course aims to extend students? understanding of the evaluation process and quantitative and qualitative approaches which are used to evaluate a wide range of public health interventions. Using real world examples, emphasis is placed on the value of integrated/mixed evaluation approaches. The 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 Knowing What Works - Evaluation for Public Health
    Coordinating Unit Public Health
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s North Terrace Campus
    Units 3
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Incompatible PUB HLTH 3123, PUB HLTH 7091OL and PUB HLTH 7091UAC
    Course Description 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.

    This course is designed to help students to answer questions such as "Should a new vaccine to protect against invasive meningococcal disease be recommended in publicly funded immunization programs? Did the new parent education program actually result in more children being vaccinated? If not, how can we improve the program?" The course aims to extend students? understanding of the evaluation process and quantitative and qualitative approaches which are used to evaluate a wide range of public health interventions. Using real world examples, emphasis is placed on the value of integrated/mixed evaluation approaches. The course equips students with the practical knowledge and skills to design and apply an integrated framework to evaluate a public health intervention.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Teresa Burgess

    Course Coordinator: Dr Shona Crabb
    Phone: +61 8313 1686
    Email: shona.crabb@adelaide.edu.au
    Location: Level 9, Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building

    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.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes

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

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

    Demonstrate an understanding of conceptual and practical issues involved in designing and conducting surveys

    Demonstrate an understanding of conceptual and practical dimensions of qualitative research, including data collection, analysing and reporting on qualitative data

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

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

    Design a project evaluation using mixed methods

    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)
    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)
    1-6
    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
    1-7
    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
    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
    1-7
    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
    1-7
    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
    1-7
  • 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.
    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. Course material will be supported by online resources via MyUni.  Material will be sequentially released in line with the teaching and learning activities in each week.
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course will be presented as a mix of seminars and workshops. Seminars are delivered on an interactive basis and will be supported by problem-solving workshops where students are required to answer questions and discuss issues that are raised. Workshops will provide an opportunity to explore issues raised during seminars in greater depth, and for students to learn from each other. The course will be delivered in 3 hour blocks.
    Workload

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

    This course involves 3 hours of contact time each week during semester, plus additional work outside of class time for reading, class preparation, and assessment tasks.
    Learning Activities Summary

    TOPICS TO BE COVERED

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

    Survey design

    Qualitative methods

    Economic evaluation

    Integration and presentation of findings

    Specific Course Requirements
    N/A
    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

    TASK TYPE

    WEIGHTING

    COURSE LEARNING OUTCOME(S)

    Online quizzes

    Summative

    20%

    1-2

    Discussion paper

    Summative

    25%

    1-3

    Participation

    Summative

    10%

    1-7

    Integrated evaluation project

    Summative

    45%

    1-7

    Assessment Related Requirements
    N/A
    Assessment Detail
    Quizzes (20%)
    Two quizzes using short answer or multiple choice will assess student understanding of course content from seminars, workshops and readings.

    Discussion paper (1000 words) (25%)
    Students will be provided with a publication and asked to critique the evaluation described, including methodology, design and outcomes.

    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 at the end of semester.

    Integrated evaluation plan (2000 words) (45%)
    Each student will develop and report a detailed evaluation plan for a public health intervention, the scenario for which will be provided. The evaluation plan should use an integrated approach, drawing on mixed methods, and must include economic evaluation. 


    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.

  • 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.