Health Services Research 1

Subject 505-510 (2008)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2008.Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points: 12.500
Level: Graduate/Postgraduate
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2008:

Semester 1, - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable

Classroom and Distance

Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: One 2-hour seminar per week.
Total Time Commitment: Classroom: Students will be expected to undertake additional study of 6 to 8 hours per week in this subject. Distance: 120 hours studying course materials, including nominated readings and text books as well as self-appraisal exercises and 2 hours of tutorials and other contact with the tutor.
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: None
Non Allowed Subjects: None
Core Participation Requirements:

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Coordinator

Ctr for Hlth Policy,Programs & Economics
Subject Overview:

On completion of this subject, students will be able to:

  • discuss the contribution of Health Services Research (HSR) to health policy and health services management through the provision of information as well as the generation and testing of hypotheses in relation to the operation of health services;
  • describe the content, including definitions, basic strategies and performance measures of HSR as well as its boundaries in relation to other disciplines;
  • discuss the contribution of the public health approach in general and epidemiology in particular to the conduct of HSR;
  • explain the application of both descriptive and analytical epidemiology to HSR;
  • explain the nature of the principal epidemiological research designs, their strengths and weaknesses and ability to address threats to invalidity and generalisability in relation to HSR beyond a basic level;
  • discuss the principles of Evidence-Based Medicine as applied to health services, including its focus on health outcomes to an advanced level; and
  • analyse critically the methods and findings of HSR studies to an advanced level.
Assessment: 3 written assignments of equal value, 2 x 1,750-words and one problem solving exercise.
Prescribed Texts: Hennekens, C.H., and Buring, J.E. (with Mayrent, S.L.), Epidemiology in Medicine, Little, Brown and Co., Boston, 1987.
Recommended Texts:

None

Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

Level: 500

Links to further information: http://www.sph.unimelb.edu.au
Notes:

This subject is a Group 1 elective in the Master of Public Health.

Subject Coordinator: Assoc Prof David Dunt (8344 0645, d.dunt@unimelb.edu.au)

Related Course(s): Master of Public Health

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