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Module Code - Title:

BM6031 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND HEALTH SYSTEMS

Year Last Offered:

2025/6

Hours Per Week:

Lecture

3

Lab

0

Tutorial

4

Other

4

Private

4

Credits

9

Grading Type:

N

Prerequisite Modules:

Rationale and Purpose of the Module:

The module aims to introduce students to the key principles of public health to equip them with the appropriate knowledge and skills to approach and tackle complex problems that impact on health on a national and a global scale. Emphasis will be placed on understanding and analysing different functioning health systems in high- and low-income countries, and synthesizing knowledge to translate theory into practice.

Syllabus:

This module will cover the following content areas: Introduction to public health; Health systems; Social and behavioural sciences; Health inequalities along social gradient; Health anthropology; Law & Human rights; Demography.

Learning Outcomes:

Cognitive (Knowledge, Understanding, Application, Analysis, Evaluation, Synthesis)

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: - Discuss the means by which social, cultural and economic determinants undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity. - Assess community health status, needs and factors influencing health in a community. - Compare the organization, structure and function of health systems across national and international settings.

Affective (Attitudes and Values)

On successful completion of this module, students will be able to: - Apply analytical and systematic approaches to problem solving. - Use a critical thinking approach when synthesizing knowledge. - Listen and give constructive criticism. - Demonstrate an ability to evaluate primary source material and translate this into written narrative.

Psychomotor (Physical Skills)

Not applicable

How the Module will be Taught and what will be the Learning Experiences of the Students:

This is a five-week competency-based module. It will be delivered on-campus through a mix of case studies, on-campus lectures, classroom-based workshops, teamwork projects, and individual projects. Students will engage with fellow learners and tutors in classroom-based workshops and group assignments. All the lecturers involved are experienced researchers who will draw from their research expertise to develop and facilitate a transformative learning experience where students will learn from each other and will be guided to apply the concepts learnt in lectures to specific real-life case studies that address several UN SDGs. The plurality of disciplinary backgrounds and nationalities/cultural backgrounds of lecturers and students, as well as the participatory learning approach employed during workshops and tutorials will enable the implementation of a flexible, inclusive, active, and applied teaching and learning approach. The learning experience will be technology-enhanced using Brightspace and various software packages and tools (Endnote, PowerPoint...). Major focus will be placed into the provision of specific feedback to students to foster a flexible and agile learning experience through ongoing reflection of strong points and areas where improvement is needed.

Research Findings Incorporated in to the Syllabus (If Relevant):

Prime Texts:

Bonita, R., Beaglehole, R., & Kjellström, T. (2006) Basic epidemiology , World Health Organization
Ann Lindstrand (2006) Global health: An introductory textbook , Professional Publishing
Theodore H. Tulchinsky, Elena A. Varavikova (2008) The New Public Health: An Introduction for the 21st Century , Academic Press
Roger Detels, Robert Beaglehole, Mary Ann Lansang, and Martin Gulliford (2009) Oxford Textbook of Public Health , Oxford University Press

Other Relevant Texts:

Roger Detels, Martin Gulliford, Quarraisha Abdool Karim, Chorh Chuan Tan (2017) Oxford Textbook of Global Public Health , Oxford University Press
Michael Marmot (2015) The Health Gap: The Challenge of an Unequal World , Bloomsbury Publishing

Programme(s) in which this Module is Offered:

MSPUHETFA - PUBLIC HEALTH
MSPUHETPA - PUBLIC HEALTH

Semester(s) Module is Offered:

Autumn

Module Leader:

maria.r.roura@ul.ie