Faculty of Social Sciences
HAS 911
Contemporary Public Health Issues II
Subject Outline
School of Health and Society
Autumn 2017
Subject Outline
Subject Code: HAS 911
Subject Name: Contemporary Issues in Public Health II
Credit Points: 8
Pre-requisites: None
Co-requisites: None
Mode of Delivery: On campus & Distance
Delivery Locations: Wollongong
Version history and subject improvements
| 4th edition | Catherine MacPhail, School of Health and Society, UOW | 2017 |
| 3rd edition | Heike Schütze, School of Health and Society, UOW | 2016 |
| 2nd edition | Bushra Kahn & Heike Schütze, School of Health and Society, UOW | 2016 |
| 1st edition | Lesley Hare, School of Health and Society, UOW | 2015 |
© University of Wollongong 2017, All rights reserved.
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http://www.uow.edu.au/about/disclaimer/index.html
The University of Wollongong attempts to ensure that the information contained here is correct at the time of production, however, sections may be amended without notice by the University in response to changing circumstances or for any other reason.
Subject Contacts
Subject Coordinator
Dr Catherine MacPhail
School of Health and Society
Location: 15.132
Telephone: +61 242214112
Email: cmacphai@uow.edu.au
Consultation Times: Wednesday 3.30 – 4.30pm; Thursday 10.00-11.00
Subject Details
Subject Description
This subject examines contemporary issues in Public Health, particularly the challenges to health presented by globalisation, climate change, social inequality and other aspects of contemporary society. Key concepts in public health such as the measurement of health, the burden of disease, current approaches to public health practice and core principles of equity, sustainability and social justice within public health practice, will be examined and evaluated within the context of the challenges of enhancing the health of populations in contemporary society.
Subject Learning Outcomes
Through successful completion of this subject students will be able to:
| Subject Learning Outcome (SLO) |
| 1. Critically examine current public health issues and challenges (infectious disease, globalisation; environmental, social justice) |
| 2. Describe and evaluate common measures of indicators for population health |
| 3. Effectively search relevant public health literature and review and appraise information from a variety of sources to investigate a public health issue |
| 4. Structure arguments and communicate complex public health knowledge in a variety of formats |
| 5. Understand core principles of just, ethical/legal public health practice and apply to real-life public health scenarios |
| 6. Investigate, evaluate and justify current approaches in public health |
Lecture/Tutorial/Workshop Times
Current timetable information is located at http://www.uow.edu.au/student/timetables/index.html
Major Text
Fleming ML & Parker E, (Eds.) 2015, Introduction to Public Health, Churchill Livingstone: Sydney, 3rd Ed. The majority of your required readings will come from this textbook.
Recommended Readings
Additional readings will be advised through the eLearning space for this subject. This is not an exhaustive list. Students are encouraged to use the UOW Library catalogue and databases to locate additional resources.
References
This is not an exhaustive list. Students are encouraged to use the UOW Library catalogue and databases to locate additional resources.
Subject eLearning
This subject is supported by an eLearning site. To access eLearning you must have a UOW user account name and password, and be enrolled in the subject. eLearning is accessed via SOLS (student online services). Log on to SOLS and then click on the eLearning link in the menu column.
For information regarding the eLearning spaces please use the following links:
Moodle – http://uowblogs.com/moodlelab/files/2013/05/Moodle_StudentGuide-1petpo7.pdf
Changes to the Subject Outline
In extraordinary circumstances the provisions stipulated in this Subject Outline may require amendment after the Subject Outline has been distributed. All students enrolled in the subject must be notified and have the opportunity to provide feedback in relation to the proposed amendment, prior to the amendment being finalised.
Learning Analytics
Data on student performance and engagement (such as Moodle and University Library usage, task marks, use of SOLS) will be available to the Subject Coordinator to assist in analysing student engagement, and to identify and recommend support to students who may be at risk of failure. If you have questions about the kinds of data the University uses, how we collect it, and how we protect your privacy in the use of this data, please refer to http://www.uow.edu.au/dvca/bala/analytics/index.html.
Student Support Services
A range of services, programs and resources designed to support students can be found at http://www.uow.edu.au/student/services/
eLearning Guides
You can find guidelines to eLearning here http://www.uow.edu.au/student/elearning/guide/index.html and to ‘Netiquette’ here http://www.uow.edu.au/student/elearning/netiquette/index.html.
Student Workload
Students should note that UOW policy equates 1 credit point with 2 hours of study per week that includes lectures and tutorials/workshops/practicals. For example, in a 6 credit point subject, a total of 12 hours of study per week is expected.
| ASSESSMENT 4 | Report |
| Due Date | Sunday 4 June 2017, 11.45pm |
| Method of Submission | Submit online through turnitin on the Moodle site
This assessment task has been set up to be checked by Turnitin, a tool for checking if it has unreferenced content. You can submit your assessment task to Turnitin prior to the due date and Turnitin will give you an originality report. You can then make any changes that may be required and re-submit you final version by the due date. |
| Weighting | 40% |
| Length | 2000 words (excluding executive summary, referencing and appendices) |
| Subject Learning Outcomes | 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 |
| Task | Choose a public health issue that is of interest to you and:
· Briefly describe what is currently known about this issue and the population group(s) most likely affected · Compare and contrast at least three interventions that have been implemented to produce change for your chosen issue and critically evaluate them in terms of effectiveness and ethical practice · Conclude which intervention was most effective and why · Summarise your findings in an information leaflet/brochure/infographic that could be understood by a lay person affected by the issue and include it in your Appendix.
Use a report format including an executive summary (maximum 200 words on a separate page); a 12-point font, and double line spacing; and show your actual word count on the front page of the assignment.
You are expected to read widely in the scholarly literature (i.e. peer-reviewed journals) for this assignment. Fifteen to 20 references would be considered adequate for this topic. |
| Assessment Criteria | Search Strategy – You must include a copy of your search strategy as an Appendix. It will show:
· A list of the electronic databases and internet sites you chose (NOT search engines). Briefly justify your choice in terms of how you thought they would contribute to the quality, relevance, and comprehensiveness of your search results. · The key words and other terms you used when analysing the question and explain how and why you combined your search terms to widen or limit your search with connectors AND / OR. · The inclusion and exclusion criteria you used to select the final articles for your assignment from the list of articles that resulted from your searches. 5 marks
Executive summary – as per Self-assessment Checklist Item 1 4 marks
Introduction – as per Self-assessment Checklist Item 2 3 marks
Body – as per Self-assessment Checklist Item 3, including · The importance of the issue to public health is clearly explained · Supported by up-to-date data · National and international literature, as appropriate, is used to investigate the identified areas · Relevant, and comprehensive arguments are clearly stated · Strengths and weaknesses of current knowledge and practice are evaluated, including the ethical practice of interventions reviewed 10 marks
Conclusion – as per Self-assessment Checklist Item 4 4 marks
Referencing – as per Self-assessment Checklist Item 5 4 marks
Information leaflet/brochure/infographic content – Clearly communicates up-to-date information about your chosen issue, including effective and ethical practice, expressed in easy to understand language and is visually engaging. 10 marks
· You must complete and attach (1) the Report Self-assessment Checklist to your assignment – one mark will be deducted if not included · This is an individual assessment task. |
