Public Health Intelligence

Prerequisites

• None

Corequisites

• None

Excluded Combination of Modules

• None

Aims

• To extend understanding of routine data and other sources of information related to public health and health improvement and provide a grounding in how these data may be used to inform decision making.

Content

• 1. Sources of data and information for public health intelligence
• 2. Community profiles
• 3. Health needs assessment (HNA)
• 4. Commissioning for health improvement
• 5. Equity audit (HEA)
• 6. Health (and health inequality) impact assessment (HIA)
• 7. Scrutiny
• 8. Indicators, Targets and performance monitoring in public health
• 9. Surveillance
• 10. Evidence base for public health interventions

Learning OutcomesSubject-specific Knowledge:

• By the end of module students will have developed a critical understanding of:
• The sources, availability and limitations of health related data
• The development of health information
• Methods for informing public health decision making and the advantages and limitations of available approaches

Subject-specific Skills:

• Students will have gained skills in undertaking:
• Health Needs Assessment
• Health Equity Audit
• Health Impact Assessment

Key Skills:

• The ability to think critically and creatively and to argue coherently;
• The ability to think independently, including problem-solving ability and the ability to discriminate and use judgement;
• The ability to organise data, abstract meaning from information and share knowledge at an advanced level;
• The ability to select and use appropriate advanced numerical techniques;
• Enhanced ability to make effective use of Communication and Information Technology;
• The ability to work effectively in inter-professional and inter agency contexts and to critically assess the relevance and validity of others’ views, contributions to care planning and service delivery.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• • Lecturing - Introduces key elements of the course - Outlines and explains the various sources of public health intelligence and rationale for their use in informing decision making
• • Tutorials and seminars - Allow students to work through concepts in more detail, providing both teacher and peer led input, and developing students' ability to design research projects that are, where appropriate, discipline-specific and/or interdisciplinary as appropriate
• Structured reading - allows students to pursue topics in greater detail enabling both familiarity with key texts and data sources and a deeper understanding of the subject knowledge generally
• Independent study, research and analysis - Focuses student knowledge more deeply by pursuing aspects of the module that are of special interest to themselves and exploring specific applications in their field of study.
• Essay assessment will test students’ critical knowledge and understanding of key concepts, their ability to argue coherently and communicate effectively in writing, and to reflectively assess their proficiency in thinking through how information related to public health and health improvement may be used to inform decision making.

 Lecture - 10 weekly @ 1 hr = 10hrs

Tutorial/seminar - 10weekly @ 1 hr 30 mins = 15hrs

Structured Reading - 10 setsweekly @ 3 hrs = 30hrs

Library researching/Independent study - Student initiated / Student determined = 95hrs

Total Hours = 150

Summative Assignment:  3000 words = 100%

Formative Assessment:  

A presentation in tutorial groups to the assignment topic.