module specification

SH6003 - Public Health and Health Promotion (2023/24)

Module specification Module approved to run in 2023/24
Module title Public Health and Health Promotion
Module level Honours (06)
Credit rating for module 30
School School of Social Sciences and Professions
Total study hours 300
 
72 hours Scheduled learning & teaching activities
90 hours Assessment Preparation / Delivery
138 hours Guided independent study
Assessment components
Type Weighting Qualifying mark Description
Group Presentation 30%   A presentation addressing population needs and a community based health promotion intervention
Coursework 20%   Reading and discussion group participation
Coursework 50%   Public health policy essay
Running in 2023/24

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)
Period Campus Day Time Module Leader
Year North Thursday Afternoon

Module summary

This module aims to:

• Develop a deeper understanding, knowledge base and skills for engaging with historical and contemporary public health discourses, problems, theories, research methodologies, policy and practice issues.

• Provide a social science based contextual and critical understanding of the impact of the social determinants of health on population health outcomes, with a particular emphasis on the importance of community engagement as part a public health response.

• Evaluate a range of projects and research studies; identify the impact on public health issues.

• Understand and evaluate the key principles and concepts underpinning developments in public health at the community level.

• Critically analyse the influence of various national policies on health promotion practice.

Syllabus

This module will examine the main issues of public health in the context of the community based approaches, and influences of global, national and regional policies.

The main focus will be key policies influencing developments in public health and health promotion at national levels.

The module will cover areas that include:

  • Historical, contemporary and future developments in public health and health promotion (LO1,4).
  • Theoretical and methodological frameworks for engagement with communities (LO3).
  • Local, national, and international (global) public health policy contexts (LO1,2,4).
  • Public health diagnosis of population's health and well-being needs (LO1).
  • Identification of local needs using participatory approaches (LO1,3).
  • The impact of inequalities in health (LO1,5).
  • Measurement, strategies, and health programmes to tackle health inequalities (LO1,3,5).
  • Public health and social determinants of health (LO1,5).
  • Special topics including: Mental health, sexual health, lifestyles and behaviours, promoting and protecting the population's health and well- being, health care services, evidence-based public health practice, population groups, and public health ethics (LO1,3,5)

Relevant current initiatives and research in any of these areas will be included.

An emphasis will be placed on preparing students to develop a range of skills to effectively communicate with local communities about key public health policies and issues.

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

A range of teaching methods will be used throughout this module: lectures, presentations, seminars, workshops and discussions, both face to face (SEM1) and mainly online (SEM2), will provide background coverage on topics under discussion and interactive learning. Students will be required to read set texts and articles and to discuss these in classes and seminars. Additional resources will be available online via WebLearn. Module staff will be available to provide face-to-face, online, and email support to students during and outside timetabled sessions.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to:

1. Critically understand and evaluate the various factors that influence population health outcomes and explain their significance in relation to health protection, health promotion and health improvement.

2. Critically examine global, national, and local policies for health improvement or promotion and explain how these relate to engagement with key communities within the UK.

3. Critically analyse measures to address inequalities in health at different geographical levels and between various population groups (with an emphasis on community).

4. Demonstrate an understanding of the values, ethical principles, and norms that influence public health policy development and conduct of public health practitioners.

5. Demonstrate critical thinking in relation to measures taken to address specific public health issues.

Assessment strategy

The assessment is designed to test the student's ability to evaluate a range of issues influencing theory, policy and practice developments in public health and health promotion. To assess this and achievement against the module aims and learning outcomes, there will be three assessments. The module is passed on aggregation of the three assessment components.

The components include:

1. A presentation addressing population needs and a community-based health promotion intervention.

2. Participation in online reading and discussion groups to deepen learning and inform the essay component.

3. A 3,500 word essay that focuses on a public health policy issue.

Bibliography