What you will study on the MPH Master of Public Health (online)

Transcription

1 Public Health Foundations Core This module builds upon the nine core competencies of Public Health Practice set out by the Faculty of Public Health UK. The English NHS will form the central empirical case across the nine key areas for public health training; notably the changing structure, leadership, evaluation and accountability, for Public Health in England. Global comparisons with regards management and delivery of Public Health will be used along with inequalities across and within nations. Global, communicable and non- communicable challenges (the triple burden ) will be used to provide integration across the module through case studies including: obesity; maternal health; mental health; healthcare associated infections; tuberculosis. Students will examine Public Health in the broadest definition and across sectors: education, health, third sector (non- governmental), private and public, including the roles of multi- disciplinary professionals and occupational groups to improve public health outcomes. Evidence Based Practice Core You will construct a research question and search strategy, conduct systematic searches of on- line databases, internet and other sources of information; appraise the evidence base of health and social care practice and interventions through the use of a range of tools; apply and critically explore, through discussion and debate, the contextual factors which influence application of evidence to practice. This will involve: The nature and use of evidence in practice. Constructing research questions. Constructing search strategies. The practical application of search strategies, including the use of databases. Research paradigms and designs. Systematic reviews and meta- analysis. Critical appraisal of evidence, critical appraisal tools and methods. The political and contextual factors affecting transferring evidence to practice. Methodological principles of cost- effectiveness, including the evidence base of cost effectiveness. Trade- offs between effectiveness and cost - tensions and similarities. Application of evidence based interventions to individuals and groups; use of key summary statistics. You will be reminded that upon completion of optional modules, they will need to refer back to this and other core modules to help integrate the learning through a reflective log.

2 Public Health Research and Epidemiology Core This module will provide a foundation in the principles of epidemiology and biostatistics across the domains of health improvement, health protection and health care systems. Amongst other topics, the module will also appraise the role of public health intelligence and applied epidemiology. By the end of the module students will be able to outline and critically apply a wide gamut of epidemiological approaches to questions arising in every- day public health practice and research. Students will be able to strategically develop literature searches and utilise routine data in response to public health issues. Students will be able to communicate risk and uncertainty and propose evidence- based recommendations in common public health contexts. The content will contain three units. The first unit, Research Skills in Public Health will provide formal training in the scientific method and the fundamentals of scientific writing and publishing. The unit will cover both quantitative and qualitative methodologies and provide students with skills in searching and appraising literature and scientific evidence. The second unit (Foundation in Epidemiological Methods) forms a foundation in skills that contribute to modern epidemiology. Students will become conversant in interpreting a range of conventional statistical tests, and study design. A further component will introduce the role of public health intelligence including the role of large databases and health surveillance. The third unit will seek to build on the second unit, translating epidemiological principles into applied public health settings. Core public health skills including the communication of risk and managing uncertainty will be developed alongside infectious disease epidemiology and an overview of non- communicable diseases (key topics in the post- epidemiological transition world). Project Report Core Knowledge and understanding is delivered through independent research, feedback from the project supervisor, directed reading and case studies, and resources provided through the StudyNet site for the module. Knowledge and understanding is assessed through the report on research carried out. Skills and attributes are developed through the research investigation and through the use of the interactive facilities on the StudyNet site and tutor feedback. Skills and attributes are assessed through the report on research carried out and the seminar presentation. Leadership in Practice Optional This module will enable you to understand the multi- faceted nature of leadership. It will encourage the practitioner to recognise their approach to leadership, how leadership is undertaken within their work setting and the multiple factors that shape prevailing leadership styles and the impact of this

3 on colleagues, team working and for clients. Within the module, particular attention will be given to the practitioner as leader within contemporary organisations. This module will equip the practitioner to recognise and develop their leadership potential so that they can develop new insights new ways of working and promote change and sustained development within their work setting. You will be given the opportunity to discuss, debate and work in groups to present a series of seminars which address: The Changing Context of Work: From hierarchy to new patterns of leadership and responsibility, to include: the changing nature of work; postmodern thought; policy change and decentralisation of power and responsibilities; tribes and clans; patterns of working and organisations. Theories and Leadership: Discussion of the distinction between leadership and management; how leadership is experienced within health and social care; the influences of gender, class, race and organisational power in the development of leadership; power and conflict Working as a Leader: The leader as practitioner, team member; understanding personal leadership styles; ethical demands and issues facing the practitioner as leader; supervision and governance; management of stress, releasing talent; working smarter: emotional intelligence, transactional. Child Health Optional This module provides an introduction to Child health including the social construction of childhood from a national and international perspective. In addition International and national perspectives and policies influencing child health Promoting optimal development in children and adolescence Childhood diseases communicable and non- communicable Childhood vaccinations and immunisations Screening programmes in child health Promoting emotional and mental health in children and adolescence Health promotion in children and adolescence

4 Communicable & Non- Communicable Conditions Optional This module will focus on the aetiology and determinants of a range of communicable and non- communicable conditions. The module will also highlight historical epidemiological trends in disease and evaluate likely future developments in relation to changing prevalence and emerging infections. The evidence base for vertical, horizontal and integrated system approaches to address the double burden of disease will be examined. Health Protection in the United Kingdom will be used as an empirical example to compare with international responses to communicable diseases. Business Planning for Commissioning Optional This module provides an overview of the current components of business planning for providers in the context of the English NHS with transferable lesions to other local and national settings. The module aims to equip you with the requisite knowledge and skills to respond intelligently to the demands of commissioners through utilising an efficient and cost effective model for delivering their service. Promoting Health Optional This module captures the broader strategies which governments, health systems, practitioners and individuals can adopt to prevent ill health, promote health and wellbeing and manage ill health. You will start with a review of the major communicable and non- communicable challenges and how these vary by geography and the importance of promoting health for sustainability of health systems as well as quality of life. Health promotion models and how these have been informed by different theoretical perspectives and disciplines will be covered including: theories of behaviour change (theory of planned behaviours, the health belief model, etc); methods of behaviour change at the at individual, community, societal level; role of law; underpinning ideologies(libertarian/ utilitarian) of health systems; cultural aspects which influence national policies on promoting health; risk behaviours; evidence base for different interventions. Public Health and the Primary Care Practitioner Optional Nature and organisation of primary care: Theoretical and policy background National and international models of primary care Multi- professional and multi- sectoral collaboration in primary care Public health practice at primary care and community levels: Approaches in community health needs assessment

5 Promoting health at the individual level: Models and approaches Effective engagement with groups and communities to achieve health gain Evaluation of public health initiatives in primary care Systems Approach to Health Policy & Management Optional This module focuses on the general principles of Systems Thinking and how these principles are applied in the area of public health management, policy evaluation and design. As such, it will cover the advanced concepts of Systems Thinking and System Dynamics (SD) methodologies and why they are particularly relevant to policy design and management in public health. In this context, the difficulties associated with the design of successful and robust public health interventions will be explored and analysed. The characteristics of system based methodologies, which have been successful in dealing with these difficulties, will be discussed. You will be introduced to modelling tools including user friendly software, relevant to public health management. The module includes a range of topics including policy resistance, causal loop diagrams (CLDs), qualitative mapping of public health problems, model development principles in public health management, and policy analysis and design in public health.