Units
Population Health
Unit code: PUN106
Contact hours: 3
Credit points: 12
Information about fees and unit costs
This unit addresses some of the significant issues of population health including the complex relationship between health and social, economic, political and lifestyle factors and social disadvantage and health. It examines contemporary concepts of health and illness also draws on international examples. Potential health issues facing Australia and the world, such as the aging of the population, the impact of genetic technology on health and the health of specific sub-populations are also examined.
Availability
| Semester | Available |
|---|---|
| 2013 Semester 1 | Yes |
Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013
Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.
Rationale
Health professionals face a complex and changing health profile of Australians. This unit addresses these complexities by examining public health approaches to population health problems. It examines the assumption that investments in medicine or health care indicate a change in population health, and critically analyses the role and practice of public health and its impact on population health through history. Future challenges for optimising population health are examined, and frameworks to assist with this analysis are presented through environmental, social and behavioural influences on health in various populations and in settings such as workplaces. International trends and national health priorities such as mental health, injury and chronic diseases are discussed and future health challenges are presented. This unit is a foundation unit for graduate public health, environmental health and health safety and environment students. The unit provides postgraduate health students with a population health foundation, and is a useful building block for postgraduate study in health.
Aims
This unit aims to broaden your understanding of the complex factors that impact on population health outcomes in Australia and the region; it discusses current health problems that impact on population health as well as public health frameworks developed to address them. It will provide you with a critical inquiry of the health of the population in Australia and internationally.
Objectives
1. Describe various approaches to defining health, illness, disease, sickness and their application in a number of contexts.
2. Identify and discuss the major factors which have contributed to changes in patterns of health in an historical context.
3. Critically evaluate the impact of environmental, social and behavioural determinants on population health.
4. Evaluate the impact of national health priority areas, population health frameworks contemporary and future health challenges and public health responses on population health.
Content
The role and practice of public health in a number of settings; the environmental social and behavioural determinants of health; frameworks for responding to population health issues; national health priority areas and responses and contemporary challenges and responses; settings for actions including workplaces.
Approaches to Teaching and Learning
The integration of theory and practice is achieved by linking lectures, tutorial discussions and online activities. Teaching methods include lectures and tutorials (for internal students with external students expected to listen to recordings), web searches, and self-directed learning. An on-line teaching site will be used for this unit. It will contain all materials for the unit except the textbook, including readings, lecture notes, lecture recordings and activities to do one's own. Assessment includes a take-home exam mid-semester and a written reflection due at the end of the semester.
Assessment
Each assessment type in this unit will be subject to internal /external moderation, such as cross unit discussions and regular meetings of assessors, to ensure that marks awarded by different teaching staff are internally consistent and meet appropriate academic standards (MOPP C/5.2).
Formative Assessment
Tutorials will provide you with the opportunity to discuss lecture materials and assessment items and some opportunity to plan and receive feedback on your assessment planning.
Assessment name:
Exam (Written)
Description:
Take-home exam.Summative and Formative
Relates to objectives:
1-3
Weight:
40%
Internal or external:
Both
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
Mid-End Semetser
Assessment name:
Essay
Description:
Summative
Relates to objectives:
3-4
Weight:
60%
Internal or external:
Both
Group or individual:
Individual
Due date:
End Semester
Academic Honesty
QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.
A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.
Resource materials
Prescribed Text
Fleming, M.L., & Parker, E. (2011). Introduction to Public Health. Elsevier: Sydney.
Reading will also be made available via the online teaching site (Blackboard).
Risk assessment statement
There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.
Last modified: 18-Jan-2013
