PUB HLTH 2581OUA - Health Economics

OUA - Trimester 2 - 2023

Health economics is the study of how scarce healthcare resources are allocated among competing interventions and among groups in society. This course introduces basic concepts and practical issues faced by decision makers at all levels in the health system in allocating scarce resources so that the choices they make maximise health benefits to the population. This course has four main learning modules each comprising a set of lectures and problem-solving practicals: (1) An introduction to key concepts of health economics (e.g. opportunity costs), the demand for and supply of health services, fundamentals of markets and the price mechanism with a focus on the healthcare market; (2) An introduction to economic evaluation in healthcare, with an emphasis on identifying, measuring, valuing and analysing health outcomes and costs. (3) This module focuses on presentation and interpretation of the results of economic evaluation and the use of economic evaluation to inform funding decisions (4) An overview of the organisation of health care (provision and funding). The organisation and finance of the Australian health system will be specifically analysed and compared internationally.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code PUB HLTH 2581OUA
    Course Health Economics
    Coordinating Unit Public Health
    Term Trimester 2
    Level Undergraduate
    Location/s OUA
    Units 3
    Contact Up to 3 hours
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange N
    Restrictions Available only to University of Adelaide Open Universities Australia students
    Assessment Short answer questions, critical review and discussion paper
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Andrew Gardner

    Dr Andrew Gardner
    Email: andrew.gardner@adelaide.edu.au 
    Course Timetable

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

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1 Interpret and appropriately apply the key concepts of economics within the context of the health system
    2 Debate the relative merits of equity considerations in setting priorities for a health system
    3 Understand approaches to identify and value costs and outcomes to include in economic evaluation
    4 Describe major types of economic evaluation and to understand their use in the decision-making process
    5 Recognise and apply key steps in critically reviewing economic evaluations
    6 Understand and describe the main features of the Australian health system- in particular how it differs from other salient national health systems according to how services are delivered and purchased
    7 Write concise reports on health economic issues demonstrating sound knowledge and skills to apply analytic thinking for a scientific debate and/or problem solving
    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.

    2-5

    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.

    1,2,5-7

    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.

    1-6

    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.

    6-7

    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
    No single general textbook covers the whole subject matter of this course. Much of the reading resources for this course will be sourced from peer-reviewed journals available electronically through the University Library and from official and semi-official reports available on the Internet. There will be assigned readings to complement the learning activities.
    Recommended Resources
    There is no set textbook for this course. Relevant readings for each of the modules will be provided on MyUni.
    For an introduction to Australia's system of government, see:

    Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Australia’s system of government. http://www.dfat.gov.au/facts/sys_gov.html

    Australian Bureau of Statistics. Year book Australia 2012. (Cat No 1301.0) Canberra: ABS. See the chapter on Government. http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Lookup/1301.0Main+Features152012
    Online Learning
    This course is only offered online. 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 is only offered online. 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.
    Workload

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

    The University expects full-time students (i.e. those taking 12 units per semester) to devote a total of 48 hours per week to their studies. This equates to approximately 12 hours per week per course. This time commitment includes doing the relevant readings, preparing for online tutorials, other on-line activities and assessment tasks.
    Learning Activities Summary

    No information currently available.

    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 Learning Outcome
    Quizzes Summative 20% 1,3,4
    Critical review of economic evaluation Summative 30% 4,5
    Discussion Paper Summative 50% 1,2,6,7
    Assessment Related Requirements
    N/A
    Assessment Detail
    Quizzes: Short answer questions for economic evaluation (word limit: 250 words for each question) (20%)
    This assessment task requires short answers to five questions relating to key concepts in health economics, and the identification and measurement of health care resources and health outcomes for economic evaluation. These questions will assess students’ understanding and skills to identify relevant health outcomes and resources in economic evaluation and to interpret key concepts in health economics.

    Critical review of an economic evaluation (Word limit: 1,500 words) (30%)
    In this assessment students are expected to apply key steps they have learnt during this course to critically review a published economic evaluation. This assignment will assess student’s understanding and skills to critically appraise economic evaluations and to appropriately interpret their findings.

    Discussion paper (Word limit: 2,000 words) (50%)
    Students are asked to choose one of the two topics focusing on the key concepts presented in this course with an emphasis on efficiency, equity, and the health system. The discussion paper must provide an in-depth analysis. This may include background to the topic and its significance, challenges associated with the issue, and some ideas to improve it within the health system. This assignment will assess students’ understanding and skills to apply analytic thinking to examine evidence on an important health economic topic.
    Submission
    All assessments are submitted online in MyUni.
    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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