Public Health

Module code: 7MHPH108
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 1 (autumn) 
Assessment:  written examination/s;  coursework; 
The module also provides a foundation for the second semester module MPH109 Further Epidemiology and Statistics for Public Health.

This integrated module in basic epidemiology and statistics will introduce some essential concepts from both disciplines as they are used in public health.

At the end of the module the student will be able to:

• Identify and use health information sources;
• Produce summaries of data held on computer;
• Distinguish and evaluate different types of study design;
• Analyse and interpret the results of basic statistical analyses and define key terms used in them.

Module code: 7MHPH006
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 2 (spring) 
Assessment:  written examination/s;  coursework; 

This 15 credit module aims to provide an understanding of the causation, control and prevention of communicable and non-communicable diseases.At the end of the module the student will be able to:

• Understand the aetiology, current epidemiology and surveillance of a range of diseases prevalent in the UK;
• Be aware of genetic and environmental factors;
• Have a sound knowledge of public health agencies and interventions;
• Be able to plan an investigation of an outbreak;
• Understand the principles of ethical screening and be able to evaluate screening policy.

Assessment is by written exam and coursework.

Module code: 7MHPH003
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 60
Semester:  Full-year 
Assessment:  coursework 

This 60 credit module aims to develop the capacity to work independently and develop skills in project planning, problem solving, time and resource management and communication, as well as in research, the interpretation of knowledge and critical analysis. At the end of the module the student will be able to:

• Design an ethical research project;
• Undertake and present a critical literature review;
• Solve problems, collect, analyse and present data;
• Critically discuss data and draw valid conclusions;
• Communicate in writing the conduct and findings of research.

Assessment is by dissertation.

Module code: 7BRPH016
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 1 (autumn) 
Assessment:  written examination/s;  coursework; 

This 15 credit module, run by the Environmental Research Group, School of Biomedical and Health Sciences,  aims to develop knowledge and understanding of essential science and engineering concepts plus some organisational and legal issues, to facilitate analysis and evaluation of complex circumstances leading to appropriate decision-making and incident response management, with effective communication with the media, public services and the general public.

The module is likely to be taken by public health professionals involved in preventing and responding to environmental hazards - especially chemical incidents. It will complement the module Essentials of Toxicology for Health Protection. The teaching is concentrated into an intensive one-week schedule in November.

Module code: 7BRPH012
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 2 (spring) 
Assessment:  written examination/s;  coursework; 

This 15 credit module, run by the Environmental Research Group, School of Biomedical and Health Sciences,  aims to develop toxicological competencies necessary for a career in public health, and to examine the scope and uses of toxicology in local agency response to public health and health protection issues, and the limitations due to a lack of data for many chemicals, chemical cocktails and interactions. It will be based upon practical health protection examples of toxicological incidents leading to adverse health effects. Assessment is by written exam and coursework.  The teaching is concentrated into an intensive one-week schedule in June.

Module code: 7MGPRC02
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 1 (autumn) 
Assessment:  coursework 

This 15 credit module explores key concepts associated with learning and their usefulness in facilitating continuing professional development and the learning of others.  It will equip students with a critical awareness of their own teaching and learning styles and develop and  enhance their skills to function as trainers/educators in their own practice/and or setting.  Assessment is by coursework

Module code: 7MHPH109
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 2 (spring) 
Assessment:  written examination/s;  coursework; 

This 15 credit module aims to further develop and integrate public health students' knowledge of statistics and epidemiology.On completion of this module, students will be able to design, analyse, interpret and present their own epidemiological studies and critically evaluate and interpret published reports of epidemiological data. Assessment is by written examination and coursework.

Module code: 7MHPH010
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 2 (spring) 
Assessment:  written examination/s;  coursework; 

This 15 credit module aims to give students quantitative skills in the area of health care management and policy, taking a comparative approach to the development and financing of health systems emphasizing present and future policy options and problems.

At the end of the module students will have developed quantitative skills in economic evaluation applied to health care management and policy analysis. They will be able to collect, collate, analyse and interpret information on costs of care and health outcomes. Students will also have an understanding of the theoretical foundations of health policy and the practice and application of health policy. They will be able to evaluate the choices available and make international comparisons. Assessment is by written exam and coursework.

Module code: 7MHPH018
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 2 (spring) 
Assessment:  written examination/s;  coursework; 

Aims
This module aims to provide a psychological framework for considering important questions about health behaviours relevant to public health. It is intended that students will be able to analyse public health problems involving health behaviours in a thoughtful and evidence-based manner and determine the appropriate psychological principles, theories and research that will best inform interventions to address those particular problems.

Learning outcomes

After completing this module, students will be able to:
• Analyse sources of data on behaviour in populations to identify target groups for interventions
• Describe a number of relevant psychological models of the determinants of health behaviours such as physical activity, diet, smoking, screening uptake and medication adherence
• Critically discuss these models and the evidence to support them
• Apply these models to inform the design of interventions to promote health-enhancing behaviours
• Critique published research of evaluations of psychological interventions designed to influence health behaviours
• Design the evaluation of a psychologically-informed health behaviour intervention

Please note: psychology research makes considerable use of statistics. Students will be expected to have a good understanding of the statistical analysis techniques taught in the Basic Epidemiology & Statistics module and to be willing to learn how to interpret other types of analyses presented in journal articles.

Assessment strategies
Coursework (40%) Unseen exam (60%)

Module code: 7MHPH017
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 1 (autumn) 
Assessment:  coursework 

This module, recently increased to 15 credits, is intended as a focus for the integration of knowledge and skills drawn from across the whole of the public health programme, and their application to typical public health issues at both the strategic and operational levels.

The module is based on case studies and seminars led by academic staff and visiting practitioners from different public health agencies. Presenters will seek to illustrate the complex strategies employed to deal with issues of present-day public health concern. The content of the taught component will vary from year to year. Students are expected to contribute to discussion, and participate in exercises, drawing from their personal experience, material covered elsewhere in the programme, and directed self-study. Some sessions on research methods and preparation for the Dissertation will be included within the timetable.

The module is assessed via 2 assignments: a Health Impact Assessment case study, and a dissertation outline proposal.

Module code: 7SSMN416
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 1 (autumn) 
Assessment:  written examination/s;  coursework; 

This 15 credit module aims to provide an overview of key issues in the management of organisations; develop a capacity for the critical analysis and understanding of management and behaviour in organisations; and relate the general analysis of management and organisational behaviour to the specific context of public health.

At the end of the module the student will be able to:

• Identify the dimensions with which to analyse organisations and organisation structures;
• Describe the key nature and demands of managerial work;
• Describe ways in which workers attitudes, behaviour and organisation can help or hinder management ;
• Outline and evaluate the various interventions designed to improve behaviour in organisations and organisational performance;
• Present a set of diagnostic criteria when considering the need for organisational change;
• Outline different strategies of change and list criteria for selecting among them;
• Present ways of evaluating organisational changes and link these to different criteria of organisational effectiveness.

Assessment is by written examination and coursework.

Module code: 7MHPH014
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 2 (spring) 
Assessment:  coursework 

Nutrition for Public Health aims to give students an in-depth understanding of nutrition as a key component in the aetiology of many major multifactorial diseases of concern to public health professionals. Nutrition-related policies are increasingly being seen as ways of preventing disease and promoting good health.

Principles & Practice of Health Promotion aims to provide public health students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practice of health promotion. Assessment is by coursework.

Module code: 7MHPH020
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 1 (autumn) 
Assessment:  coursework;  presentation/s; 

This module aims to provide postgraduate training in the theory and practice of involving patients and the public in health and social care research.

Aims

Students will acquire the skills needed to be able to situate contemporary patient and public involvement policy and practice in its historical, social and political context. They will be able to critically appraise the literature related to the theoretical and conceptual underpinnings of patient and public involvement in research. They will develop the practical skills required to propose and implement user involvement in research, and the ability to review and critically assess 1) the appropriateness of different strategies for different research questions and contexts; and 2) different approaches to quality assessment in relation to effectiveness and impact.

Outcomes

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Describe and critically assess policy and legislation relating to patient and public involvement in research
• Situate contemporary involvement policy and practices in their historical, social and political context
• Assess the appropriateness of different methods of involvement for different research questions
• Demonstrate the skills in planning, communication and reporting required for the successful implementation of patient and public involvement in research
• Critically assess the literature and debates about assessment of impact of patient and public involvement and approaches to evaluation of involvement interventions.
• Propose and justify a protocol for patient/public involvement in a research study or service evaluation

Module code: 7MGPRC06
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 1 (autumn) 
Assessment:  coursework 

This 15 credit module examines the professional, legal and ethical perspectives which govern the provision of primary care and the practice of health professionals within these settings. The universal application and relevance of these perspectives will be explored. Assessment is by coursework.

Module code: 7MHPH021
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 1 (autumn) 
Assessment:  written examination/s;  coursework; 

This module aims to provide postgraduate training in social research methods relevant to public health questions.

Aims

Students will acquire skills in qualitative and survey methods to investigate public health problems. They will understand the epistemological basis underpinning qualitative and survey methods and have the ability to identify and critically assess the appropriateness of a qualitative or survey method. They will understand notions of quality in relation to research conducted using these methods.

Outcomes

After completing this module, students will be able to:

• Identify which research paradigm is appropriate to different types of research question.
• Evaluate the strengths and limitations of different social research methods relevant to public health research questions.
• Discuss indicators of quality of social research methods relevant to public health research questions.
• Critically appraise published public health studies that used a social research method.
• Design, and justify, a public health study using one or more qualitative research methods.

Module code: 7MHPH007
Credit level: 7
Credit value: 15
Semester:  Semester 1 (autumn) 
Assessment:  written examination/s;  coursework; 

This 15 credit module aims to provide training in the social and behavioural dimensions of public health, and to enable the analysis and evaluation of public health policy and practice from a sociological perspective.

On completion of this module students will:

• Gain an understanding of the social patterning of ill health and the social meanings and responses to disease;
• Be able to apply this to the analysis and evaluation of public health policy and practice;
• Be aware of the ways in which wider social forces influence roles and relationships within the health sector and their implications for service delivery.

Assessment is by written exam and coursework.