Health Economics & Program Evaluation

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2009:

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

This subject provides an introduction to the disciplines of health economics and program evaluation and provides students with the opportunity to develop an appreciation of the contribution that health economics and program evaluation make to the practice of public health.

There are two principal areas of learning within this unit:

1. Health economics/economic evaluation/priority setting, which introduces students to the role and usefulness of economic analysis through provocative lectures on selected topics of policy interest;
2. Health program evaluation, which provides a basic introduction to program evaluation principles and design applicable to public health programs

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

For the Health Economics section:

• understand the role of management in resource allocation, including planning, funding, equity and efficiency.
• understand key economic concepts and the role of economics in increasing welfare, including the special characteristics of health care as an economic commodity;
• assess the usefulness and limitations of economic analysis in promoting an efficient and equitable health care system;
• understand the basic types and role of economic appraisal in the evaluation of health care services;

For the Program Evaluation section:

• understand the differences between process, impact, and outcome evaluation as they apply to health programs;
• describe different types of evaluation design, and assess their strengths and weaknesses in relation to public health programs;
• determine evaluation strategies appropriate to particular stages of the public health program cycle;
• understand the role of evaluation in the conduct of public health programs.

One essay of 2000-2500 words (40%)

One essay of 2000-2500 words (40%)

Tutorial exercises (20%)

A volume of key readings will be provided.

Owen, John M. Program Evaluation: Forms and Approaches (3rd ed.) New York: Guildord Publications, 2006 298 pp. ISBN: 1-59385-406-4

None

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.