Social Science and Public Health PH 623 Summer I, 2014

Transcription

1 Social Science and Public Health PH 623 Summer I, /27/ /03/2014 Course Description COURSE INSTRUCTOR: OFFICE: Justin B. Moore, PhD, MS, FACSM Adjunct Associate Professor Office of Public Health Studies OFFICE PHONE: OFFICE HOURS: By appointment Social, cultural, and behavioral dynamics and processes infuse health research and the practice of public health. Identifying, understanding, and integrating these dynamics into public health action to reduce health disparities, improve the design and impact of interventions and programs, and to engage marginalized and isolated communities, form a critical foundation for working effectively in public health. As such, this course explores the role of cultural and social dynamics and health--- related behaviors on differential risk and protection, elucidates health disparities by social categories, applies a variety of theories of health behavior to connect social, cultural, and community dynamics with public health improvement. Prerequisites Enrollment in Master of Public Health Degree program or permission of course director. Course Objectives By the end of the term, you should be well--- equipped to talk about how biological, social, cultural, and physical variables interact to create disease, cite examples where understanding social and behavioral variables led to health improvement through better public health policy and programs, how disparities are found, understood, explained, and addressed, and what common theories of health behavior could be useful (or not) in explaining and addressing some of the most challenging public health questions of our times. As such, through successful completion of this class students can expect to: Describe health and illness in sociocultural terms, with reference to ecological context Become familiar with the major theories of health behavior change Understand how health behavior theories are applied in actual interventions and policies Be able to describe the cultural, social, and behavioral determinants of a public health issue Describe health disparities associated with race, ethnicity, gender, wealth, and social status. Page 1

2 Required Text The text is available at the UH Manoa bookstore, and is available from Amazon and other on--- line book vendors. Essentials of Health Behavior, Second Edition Mark Edberg, PhD ISBN-13: Paperback 224 pages 2015 Addition readings are also provided to supplement the text (posted to Laulima). Course Deliverables For all course deliverables, quality writing appropriate for graduate students forms a portion of your grade. Writing well is important and counts. Your performance in class will be based on three components: Short Essays (40% total grade) These essays will focus on the synthesis of concepts and theories, applied in real situations. Students will pick a leading health indicator for various concepts covered in the course (e.g., behavior change theories, public health frameworks). Students will then apply the concept to a health behavior related to the indicator. Assignments will be submitted as a word document in Laulima. Discussions (20% total grade) Class participation is a serious component of this course. Students are expected to engage in class discussions and through e--- discussions using the Laulima system. Your participation in the discussion board is an important component of this portion of your grade. You are expected to contribute ideas, insights, and perspectives to ongoing e--- discussions for most weeks of the semester. Online discussion entries must be professionally prepared (i.e., not overly conversational), consist of more than 300 words, and be supported by at least two peer reviewed publications. The publications must be referenced in the text at least once and listed after the response. AMA or APA format may be used for the citations, but a citation format must be employed. Examinations (40% total grade) We will have two examinations in this course, a midterm and a final exam of equal weight (20 percent each). Exams will consist of multiple choice and short answers. These examinations will be administered via Laulima. You will have one week to complete each exam. Page 2

3 Class Assignments and Due Dates Assignment % Total Due Date(s) 1. On- line discussions (4@5% each) 20% 06/01, 06/08, 06/15, 06/29 2. Short essays (4@10% each) 40% 06/01, 06/08, 06/15, 06/29 3. Midterm Examination 20% 06/22 4. Final Examination 20% 07/03 Total = 100% Grading Scale (this course uses +/--- grading) A = B = C = D = F < 60 Excellent, distinctive work. Demonstrates sophisticated understanding: Nuanced and insightful account, powerful and effective application of concepts, frameworks and theories discussed in class and articulated in written work. Above average work. Demonstrates accomplished understanding: Thorough, well--- documented account; adequate and apt application of concepts, frameworks and theories discussed in class and articulated in written work. Average work, sufficient, but not distinctive. Acceptable view with some misconceptions or oversight; not fully supported; acceptable but limited application of concepts, frameworks and theories discussed in class. Poor, insufficient work. Naïve or inadequate understanding: simplistic account and use of concepts, frameworks and theories discussed in class. Unable to articulate thoughts and ideas in written work. Unacceptable work Course Policies Disability Accommodation Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability is invited to contact me privately. I would be happy to work with you, and the KOKUA Program (Office for Students with Disabilities) to ensure reasonable accommodations in my course. KOKUA can be reached at (808) or (808) (voice/text) in room 013 of the Queen Lili'uokalani Center for Student Services. Academic Integrity The University of Hawaii Student Conduct code holds students accountable for the integrity of the work they submit. Students should be familiar with the Policy and know that it is their responsibility to learn about instructor and general academic expectations with regard to proper citation of sources in written work. The policy also governs the integrity of work submitted in exams and assignments as well as the veracity of signatures on attendance sheets and other verifications of participation in class activities. Serious sanctions can result from academic dishonesty of any sort. Graduate students are responsible for observing the highest standards of intellectual and personal honesty in every aspect of their careers at the University of Hawaii. The University s Student Conduct Code represents a zero tolerance policy, the penalties for academic dishonesty are severe and ignorance is not an acceptable defense. Page 3

4 Students are required to be familiar with University policies on academic integrity including: The University of Hawaii Student Conduct Code Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty where one presents ideas of another as his/her own. Material submitted by a student is expected to consist of the student s original thought and writing. In the event that another s work is used to support the argument or discussion presented, it is expected that appropriate citation (quotation marks, internal reference, footnotes or endnotes, etc.) will be supplied. Readings and Assignments: All readings and assignments are due (i.e. completed) on the class date listed. For each week, Laulima will contain the most current assignment requirements; below reflects intent for the semester only. Assignments and classes may be adjusted as needed. Laulima is very heavily used for this course plan to check it daily. Readings are critical to understanding course content. Course Competencies Through the completion of this course and its deliverables, students can expect to accomplish the following competencies as outlined by the Council on Education in Public Health (CEPH): SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES COMPETENCY (PH 623) Upon graduation, the MPH student will be able to describe how behavioral, social and cultural factors influence health and apply social science theories and evidenced--- based approaches in social and behavioral change interventions. Criteria to evaluate mastery of this competency: Identify basic theories, concepts and models from a range of social and behavioral disciplines that are used in public health research and practice. Identify the causes of social and behavioral factors that affect health of individuals and populations. Identify individual, organizational and community concerns, assets, resources and deficits for social and behavioral science interventions. Describe the role of social and community factors in both the onset and solution of public health problems. Describe the merits of social and behavioral science interventions and policies. Apply evidence--- based approaches in the development and evaluation of social and behavioral science interventions. Specify multiple targets and levels of intervention for social and behavioral science programs and/or policies. Page 4

5 Course Outline Unit 1 (05/27/ /01/2014) Chapter 1, Introduction: The Links between Health and Behavior Chapter 2, Health Issues and Behavior Unit 1 (06/02/ /08/2014) Chapter 3, On the Roots of Behavior: A Multi-Disciplinary Survey Chapter 4, Individual Health Behavior Theories Unit 1 (06/09/ /15/2014) Chapters 5 & 6, Social, Cultural and Environmental Theories Unit 1 (06/16/ /22/2014) Chapter 7, Multilevel Theories Chapter 8, Doing Something About It: The Ecological Perspective and the Move From Theory to Practice Chapter 9, Communities and Populations as Focus for Health Promotion Programs Unit 1 (06/23/ /29/2014) Chapters 10 13, Application of Theory: Schools, Worksites, Communications Campaigns, Global Health, High-Risk and Special Populations Unit 1 (06/30/ /03/2014) Chapter 14, Evaluation: What Is It? Why Is It Needed? How Does It Relate to Theory? Chapter 15, Culture, Diversity and Health Disparities: Are Current Theories Relevant? Page 5