Health Program Evaluation

Major/Minor/Specialisation !244-CW-SPC+1003 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Year and Campus: 2010

Coordinator

Ms Rosemary McKenzie

Contact

Centre for Health Policy, Programs and Economics
Telephone: +61 3 8344 9111
Email: chppe-enquiries@ unimelb.edu.au

OR

Academic Programs Office
Melbourne School of Population Health
Tel: +61 3 8344 9339
Fax: +61 3 8344 0824
Email: sph-gradinfo@unimelb.edu.au

Overview: Students specialising in Health Program Evaluation acquire knowledge and skills in both the theory and applied practice of the evaluation of health programs and interventions. There is a strong emphasis on broadening the roles of program evaluation to include program planning, design, implementation, or monitoring as the evaluative focus, as well as the more traditional impact evaluation. The importance of negotiation and planning of program evaluations with commissioners and stakeholders to enhance knowledge utilisation is stressed, and students develop skills in defining appropriate evaluation questions; applying a variety of data collection and analysis strategies; the effective reporting of evaluations; and developing different evaluation plans for pro-active, clarificative, interactive, monitoring and impact evaluation purposes. The role of program evaluation in the conduct of public health programs and its role in the support of health care management through capacity building is examined.

Students may choose to combine their study of Health Program Evaluation with the study of Economic Evaluation, as both represent important approaches to health services research and evaluation.

Recent research projects by students completing the health program evaluation stream have included:
  • Evaluations of the “Challenging Ageing” Program in Victoria, a clinical pathway to improve peri-operative care in patients with diabetes, an investigation of factors influencing the success of Pulmonary Rehabilitation programs in Australia
  • An evaluation plan for a program designed to provide orthopaedic interventions for children in Nepal
  • A needs assessment plan for an adolescent dental care program in Indonesia
  • An investigation into the extent to which evaluation is incorporated into quality improvement programs in selected hospitals in Victoria , and qualitative assessment of outcomes from participants’ perceptions of chronic disease self –management programs
Local and international graduates with a health program evaluation specialisation find work in organisations in a variety of roles, including the commissioning and management of evaluations; undertaking program evaluations within the organisation; program and intervention development, delivery and evaluation; policy analysis; and quality accreditation. All are involved in program evaluation utilization, a form of knowledge transfer. Many work where their specialisation is their key role, while most have program evaluation as an important role in their work.
Objectives: -
Structure & Available Subjects: 200 Point Program: 14 subjects and a research project
175 Point Program: 12 subjects and a research project
150 Point Program: 10 subjects and a research project
Subject Options:

Two Core Consortium Subjects

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March
12.50

Recommended Consortium Subject

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Other Consortium Subjects

A minimum of one other Consortium subject of your choice from the following:
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Semester 2
12.50

Pre-requisite subjects for Research Project

Students must take 505-509 and either 505904 or 505511
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Recommended Group 1 Electives

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Research Project

The research project is compulsory and allows students to consolidate their MPH studies in a particular discipline(s). Some research projects have pre-requisites and/or recommended subjects to help guide course planning. The Research Project is offered in two consecutive semesters i.e. Semester 1 and 2 or 2 and 1. All students should consult with the MPH coordinator early in their enrolment to identify possible research project topics and supervisors.
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Related Course(s): Master of Public Health

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