Module overview
This module introduces the public health importance of understanding health systems and health services, including their evaluation and quality improvement. It is therefore key to anyone interested in healthcare public health. This module has global applications and is relevant for students from both developed and developing countries.
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Interpret data about the performance of health services.
- Critique health care evaluations
- Design an evaluation of health care service delivery
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Inputs/structures, process and outcomes and how to assess the effectiveness/ quality of services
- The equity of health care (including user need, inverse care law, accessibility)
- Acceptability and satisfaction with services
- Different methods of organising and funding health care
- Sources of data on the performance of health care services
- The concept of need for health care, unmet need and health care needs assessment
- The challenges facing health services in low, middle and high income countries
- Need, demand and supply of health care
- The structure of health services in terms of primary, secondary and tertiary care, and lay and formal health care
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Communicate epidemiological concepts, data and information
Syllabus
- Understanding key concepts in health care structure for evaluation: primary, secondary, tertiary; structure, process and outcome; need, demand, supply; equity, effectiveness, efficiency, quality
- Methods of evaluation
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
A variety of methods will be used including lectures, active participatory methods, e-learning, practical exercises, guided reading, group study and individual study.
| Type | Hours |
|---|---|
| Teaching | 20 |
| Independent Study | 80 |
| Total study time | 100 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Smith S, Sinclair D, Raine R, Reeves B (2005). Health care evaluation. Open University Press.
Black N, Gruen R (2005). Understanding health services. Open University Press.
Tsang C, Cromwell D (2017). Health Care Evaluation. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Gurol-Urganci I, Campbell F, Black N (2017). Understanding Health Services. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
Jessop M, Gulliford M (2020). Healthcare public health: improving health services through population science. Open University Press.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
The assessment comprises an individual written assignment related to health care evaluation.
A formative presentation will be included during the module
The pass mark for the written assignment and module is 50%.
If you fail the module, you will have the opportunity to submit work at the next referral (re-sit) opportunity. On passing your referral, your final module mark will be capped at 50%.
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Individual written report | 100% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
| Method | Percentage contribution |
|---|---|
| Individual written report | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External