SH7009 - Health Improvement (2023/24)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2023/24 | |||||||||||||||
| Module title | Health Improvement | |||||||||||||||
| Module level | Masters (07) | |||||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 20 | |||||||||||||||
| School | School of Social Sciences and Professions | |||||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 200 | |||||||||||||||
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| Assessment components |
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| Running in 2023/24(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
Health Improvement is one of the three pillars of Public Health, alongside Healthcare Public Health, and Health Protection. The module explores theory, policy and practical aspects of Health Improvement within an International, and England context. This module covers the impact of the wider determinants of health, and the psychosocial aspects of health.
This module aims to:
− Develop an advanced understanding of the foundations of Health Improvement
− Provide an understanding and analysis of the social determinants of health, health inequalities, and health across the life course
− Appraise the complex nature of behaviour and its influences, identifying how to intervene to effect change
− Give an advanced understanding and application of the principles, models, and concepts of Health Improvement
− Equip students with the knowledge and skills to assess a public health issue, design an intervention strategy to overcome this issue, including an evaluation plan to assess the implementation process and impact
− Understand the commissioning of Health Improvement services in England
Syllabus
This module covers the following areas: -
− The foundations of Health Improvement, concepts, and principles (1,2,3)
− Health across the life course (1,2,3)
− The social determinants of health and health inequalities (1,2,3)
− Models, frameworks, and theories of Health Improvement (2,3)
− Behavioural approaches to health and wellbeing (1,2,3,4)
− Intervention design, planning, and evaluation (1,2,3,4)
− Commissioning of Health Improvement (3,4)
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
The module teaching is based on weekly lectures and seminar classes, where specific group-work exercises have been developed to provide you with an opportunity to examine in more detail some of the main conceptual and methodological issues covered in lectures.
The approach to teaching is based on facilitating the application of concepts, methods and principles to practice-related contexts, and your integration of learning in relation to real world scenarios. This approach to teaching aims to develop your ability to think critically about data and evidence, and to draw appropriate inferences in accordance with the stated learning outcomes.
The above teaching methods will be complemented by your independent study on the module. You will be required to read, on a weekly basis, recommended chapters in the core textbooks, academic journal articles or to access other relevant educational material.
The module will be using WebLearn - guidance will be given during the module about how to best use this. It is designed to support your learning, providing access to wider reading and resources to help you prepare for each session e.g. websites, policy documents and academic journal articles and or to revise and deepen knowledge after sessions e.g. lecture notes. You are encouraged to use other learning resources such as the Library, Academic Mentors and WebLearn. As we cover different sessions weekly, you are required to reflect on your learning and its application to the development, delivery and utilisation of healthcare services at population level in the real world.
Learning outcomes
On completion of the module you will be able to:
1. Critically understand and evaluate the determinants that influence population health outcomes and explain their significance in relation to Health Improvement
2. Appraise the complex nature of behaviour and its influences, identifying how to intervene to effect change
3. Discuss and apply relevant models, frameworks, and theories of Health Promotion to influence change
4. Develop and defend an intervention strategy and evaluation plan to tackle a public health concern
Assessment strategy
There are two scheduled summative assignments on this module. The module is passed on the aggregate score of the two assignments.
The first assignment is a 20-minute oral group presentation of a Public Health problem, an analysis of that problem including its implications and its determinants.
The second assignment is a 4000-word report detailing the design, development, and evaluation of an evidence-based intervention to overcome a determinant/behaviour related to a public health problem.