- Department: Health Sciences
- Module co-ordinator: Dr. Omara Dogar
- Credit value: 20 credits
- Credit level: M
- Academic year of delivery: 2021-22
- See module specification for other years: 2022-23
Occurrence | Teaching period |
---|---|
A | Autumn Term 2021-22 to Spring Term 2021-22 |
This module will attract students who are keen to practice Public Health and who may subsequently be able to assume positions within regional, national and international health organisations or ministries of health. It is suitable for students from both medical and non-medical backgrounds. The aim of the course is to explore core knowledge and skills required to understand the determinants of disease, and propose strategies to prevent and control communicable and non-communicable diseases in a variety of settings and populations. In addition, you should be fully equipped to advance your knowledge and skills independently in areas relevant to disease and infection control, both in research and professional practice.
At the end of the module, students will be able to:
The health of people in resource poor settings is receiving increased attention in part because such problems do not recognise national boundaries or economic differentials between countries. The high burden of communicable diseases is well recognised, but the growing burden of non-communicable disease in developing countries is largely unchecked. For example, HIV disease first occurred in Africa and is now a global public health disaster. Conversely, problems associated with tobacco use, once the preserve of wealthy countries, are now increasingly frequent in developing nations. In addition, problems such as air pollution and mental health are emerging in different parts of the world with changing attributable factors including urbanization. This module will explore major issues in global public health with an emphasis on the most important causes of disease worldwide, e.g. addressing global burden of disease. Aspects of epidemiology, prevention and control of both communicable and non-communicable diseases will be covered.
Module content will be as follows:
AUTUMN TERM
Session 1 – Co-occurring epidemics
Session 2 – Patient centred interventions for comorbidities
Session 3 – Neglected tropical diseases
Session 4 - Tobacco use and key prevention & control strategies
Session 5 – Air pollution and public health strategies
Session 6 – Global mental health
Session 7 – Communicable disease surveillance and control in disasters
Session 8 – Public health response to disease outbreaks
Session 9 – Writing a grant funding proposal
SPRING TERM
Session 1 – Non-communicable diseases: prevention and control
Session 2 – Health risk and behaviour in relation to urbanisation
Session 3 – Public Health aspects of Cardiovascular Disease
Session 4 – Formative assessment (individual presentations and group discussions)
Session 5 – Cancer epidemiology and prevention
Session 6 – Corporate influence on public health policies
Session 7 – Defining obesity as a disease: Complexity, benefits and adverse effects
Session 8 – Behavioural economics and public health
Session 9 – Community engagement strategies for public health intervention
*please note session order may change based on speaker availability: please check your timetable for latest information
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Essay/coursework Essay 2500 words |
N/A | 100 |
None
Task | Length | % of module mark |
---|---|---|
Essay/coursework Essay 2500 words |
N/A | 100 |
Written feedback for summative assessment is provided on the standard proforma, within the timescale specified in the programme handbook.
Reading List
Students will be directed to the relevant websites mentioned below, which have up-to-date information on all of the diseases listed below.
Journals
Websites and other electronic sources
Other useful resources