module specification

This module aims to:

 Develop understanding, knowledge, 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 an emphasis on the importance of community engagement as part of a public health response
 Evaluate a range of projects and research studies identifying their impact on public health issues
 Understand and evaluate the key principles and concepts underpinning developments in public health and health promotion at the community level
 Critically analyse the influence of various national policies on health promotion practice.

Mode of attendance: Blended learning –
Autumn -  face-to-face
Spring - online

 This module will examine the Public Health issues and community based approaches to tackle these issues, including the influences of global, national and regional policies.

This module covers the following areas: -

•  Historical, contemporary, and expected future developments in public health and health promotion LO1, LO4
• The social determinants of health, and inequalities in health LO1,LO3,  LO5
•  Measurement, strategies, and health programmes to tackle health inequalities LO1, LO3, LO5
•  Local, national, and international (global) public health policy contexts LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5
• Identification of a population's health and well-being needs  LO1, LO3
• Approaches to health promotion LO1, LO3,
• Public health diagnosis of population's health and well-being needs LO1, LO3
• Theoretical and methodological frameworks to empowerment communities LO3, LO4, LO5
• Selected special topics including obesity, cardiovascular disease. antimicrobial resistance and physical inactivity LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4, LO5

A range of teaching methods will be used throughout this module: lectures, presentations, seminars, workshops and discussions, both face to face and online. These session 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, telephone, and email support to students during and outside timetabled sessions.

 On 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, healthcare public health, and health improvement (including health promotion)
2. Critically examine global, national, and local policies for health improvement and health promotion
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.

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 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 first assessment is an oral group presentation addressing a public health issue and an intervention strategy. The second assessment involves participation in four online reading and discussion groups on specific topics. The final assessment is a 3,500-word essay critically appraising a public health policy for its use of health promotion approaches. A formative assessment takes place in week four of the module on a discussion of a public health issue.

Core texts:

Naidoo, J., and Wills, J. (2010) Public Health and Health Promotion: Developing Practice (3rd). London: Elsevier Limited.

Naidoo, J., and Wills, J. (2016) Foundations for Health Promotion (4th). London: Elsevier Limited.

Laverack, G. (2007). Health promotion practice: building empowered communities.  New York: Mcgraw Hill.

Other text:

Department of Health. (2010). Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England. London: The Stationery Office for HMG. 

Marmot, M., Atkinson, T., Bell, J. et al. (2010). Fair society, healthy lives: the Marmot Review: strategic review of health inequalities in England post-2010. London: The Stationery Office.

Rifkin, S. B. (2009). Lessons from community participation in health programmes: a review of the post Alma-Ata experience. International Health, 1(1), 31-36.

Rifkin, S. B. (2014). Examining the links between community participation and health outcomes: a review of the literature. Health policy and planning, 29(suppl 2), ii98-ii106.

Wanless, D., Jones, N., Anderson, R., et al. (2004) Securing good health for the population. London: The Stationary Office.

World Health Organisation. (1986). The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. Geneva: WHO.

World Health Organisation. (2001). Evaluation in health promotion. Geneva: WHO.

World Health Organisation. (2005). The Bangkok charter for health promotion in a globalised world. Geneva: WHO.

World Health Organisation. (2009). The milestones in Health Promotion. Geneva: WHO.

Journals
BMC Public Health
Elsevier Public Health
European Journal of Public Health
International Journal of Health Promotion and Education
Health Education
Journal of Community and Applied Psychology
Community Health and Social Care
Global Public Health
Critical Public Health
Journal of Public Health Policy

Online resources:
Department of Health: Annual Health Survey for England: http://content.digital.nhs.uk/healthsurveyengland
Faculty of Public Health: http://www.fph.org.uk
Health Careers: https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/
Public Health England: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england
Public Health Profiles: https://fingertips.phe.org.uk/
Public Health Outcomes Framework: http://www.phoutcomes.info/
Royal Society of Public Health: https://www.rsph.org.uk/
World Health Organisation: http://www.who.int/en/
Public Health England – Health Matters: https://publichealthmatters.blog.gov.uk/
Public Health England: https://twitter.com/phe_uk