- Department: Health Sciences
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2023-24
- See module specification for other years: 2024-25
This module provides an understanding of the development, delivery and evaluation of health policy, and how societies interpret and respond to health and illness. The module will apply scientific methods to health policy and its reform, drawing on behavioural science and covering key concepts relating to health equity and health care delivery.
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Semester 2 2023-24 |
The module provides an understanding of the development, delivery and evaluation of health policy, and how societies interpret and respond to health and illness. The theoretical content of the module will develop academic skills, and the emphasis on self-directed learning, reflection and critical thinking will develop graduate skills. The specific aims of the module are to:
By the end of the module, students will be able to demonstrate:
Confidence in understanding and applying core behavioural concepts to the experience of health and illness and to healthcare policy and practice.
An indepth understanding of the social patterning of health and illness and the resulting health inequalities.
A critical understanding of the development of public policy, intended and unintended consequences of change and the role of evidence in forming and implementing policy.
An understanding of the methods for evaluating policy interventions and appraising critically published opinion and evidence.
The ability to synthesise complex debates in a concise way when presenting structured assignments.
The module will apply scientific methods to health policy, covering key concepts associated with behavioural science and health equity, principles of health care delivery and reform. Sessions will include:
Teaching normally takes place within weekly 3-hour sessions. Sessions will be a mix of formal lectures, workshops and seminars with student participation and small group work.
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 80 |
Groupwork | 20 |
None
Task | % of module mark |
---|---|
Essay/coursework | 80 |
Written feedback for the summative assessment is provided on the standard proforma, within the timescale specified in the programme handbook.
The scope of the module requires several key texts:
Bartley, M. (2017). Health Inequality: An Introduction to Concepts, Theories and Methods, 2nd edn. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Buse, K., Mays, N., Walk G. (2012). Making Health Policy. 2nd edn. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Ogden, J. (2019). Health Psychology. 6th edn. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
There will be list of additional recommended reading, which the students will be encouraged to read, along with reading lists associated with each case study.
Detailed reading lists are provided for each lecture. For UK health policy you can usefully browse web pages of the King’s Fund, Health Foundation and Nuffield Trust.
You should also keep on top of current developments in health policy using, among other sources: