module specification

This module provides a comprehensive overview of the principles of public health and public health policies. The application of nutrition intervention strategies and public health campaigns are explored. The module identifies quantitative and qualitative public health programmes. Key public health nutrition issues and the role of nutrition in health promotion across the lifespan is reviewed. This module addresses the direct and wider determinants of health and covers approaches to improve health at the community and population level. The module supports the development of your professional skills in public health and aligned with the Professional Codes Of Conducts such as those produced by AfN and HCPC..

1. You will develop an understanding of public health infrastructure and its role in the UK.
2. You will enhance your understanding of how nutrition policies and programmes are implemented.
3. You will assess the health needs of a population within a local authority in England and evaluate the public health and wellbeing strategies.
4. You will develop an understanding of the wider determinants of health and approaches to improve health inequalities at the community, national and international level.
5. You will be supported to develop professional skills necessary for employment in public health.

DT4054 Introduction to Human Nutrition (for Dietitians),
DT4055 Essentials of Human Nutrition (for Dietitians)
DT4056 Health, Society and Behaviour (for Dietitians
DT4057 Applied Health Psychology (for Dietitians)

Available for Study Abroad? NO

Principles of public health policies, needs assessments, planning, implementation and evaluation.
Concepts of international and UK health promotion strategies
The interaction of diet, and other environmental factors (diversity, inequalities, socio-economic, genetic and political influences) on health and disease.
Methods of optimising nutritional status at a population level.
Identifying behaviours and lifestyle factors which impact health and disease.
Current policies for the provision of health education in the UK.
Joint strategic needs assessment of communities and populations.
Developing, implementing and evaluating public health nutrition interventions and policies.
Factors influencing public health policy and health policy overall including ethical and political concerns.
The role of the nutrition workforce and the multidisciplinary team in public health nutrition.
Current professional standards and code of conduct documents.
Assess the determinants of (un) healthy behaviour.
Review techniques to change health behaviours.
Use of available data sources in the development and evaluation of health promotion and public health including and not exclusively epidemiological data, demography and results of nutrition surveys.
Use of interactive e-health platforms.

LO1 - 6

Acquisition of knowledge of the subject matter of this module will be promoted through lecturer-led lectures (24 hours) and tutorial workshops (14 hours); web-based learning (14 hours) and through the guided use of student-centred learning resources (85 hours). Small group work (3 hours) will be used to consolidate the student with guidance for directed activities (10 hours).

1. Interpret the Public Health Outcome Framework, Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and Health & Wellbeing Strategies.
2. Assess the evidence for the role of nutrition across the lifespan (including pregnancy and infancy, childhood and adolescence, older age).
3. Show understanding of the direct and wider determinants of health and address the inequalities in nutrition and health in communities/population.
4. Undertake an assignment to analyse the nutritional health needs of a chosen community/population and evaluate the public health strategies related to this.
5. Develop understanding of the professional requirements of registered nutrition professionals in health education and health promotion.
6. Demonstrate confidence, resilience, ambition and creativity and be identifiable as inclusive, collaborative and socially responsible throughout all assessments.

The aims of this module are aligned with the qualification descriptors within the Quality Assurance Agency’s Framework for Higher Education Qualification.

Assessment comprises a combination of online test and coursework. Coursework is current and interactive and includes interpretation of national government data.
In order to pass the module, students are required to obtain a minimum aggregate mark of 40%. The module will be summatively assessed by means of an on-line test (30 minutes) and two reports (1000 words). The on-line test will assess the students’ knowledge of the theory of public health nutrition, including the social determinants of health, the public health framework and the use of data in formulating public health strategy, policy and interventions. This will assess learning outcomes 1 and 2.

Two reports (1000 words) will be an analysis of the health inequalities of a chosen population, an evaluation of a joint strategic needs assessment (JSNA) and a joint health and wellbeing strategy (JHWS). This will assess learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4,5 and 6

I. Assessment: On-line test (20%) (30 minutes)
II. Coursework (30%) (1000 words)
III. Final Report (50%) (1000 words)

Textbooks:
Butriss, Welch, Kearney and Lanham-New (2018) Public Health Nutrition. The Nutrition Society. (CORE)
Gibney, M. (2004) Public Health Nutrition (The Nutrition Society Textbook), Imprint Oxford, UK; Ames, Iowa: Blackwell Science.
Margetts, B. and Nelson, M. (1997). Design Concepts in Nutritional Epidemiology, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Willett, W. (1998). Nutritional Epidemiology, 2nd ed.  Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Wilson, F. and Mabala, M., (2009). Key concepts in public health. London: Sage Publications Ltd