Cancer in Society

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2016:

170 hours per 12.5 credit point subject

To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted in the Graduate Certificate in Cancer Sciences (GC-CANCRSC) . This subject is not available for students admitted in any other courses.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Overview, Objectives 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 course are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Student Equity and Disability Support Team: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject is designed to broaden students’ knowledge in cancer beyond the individual to a population based perspective. Students will examine the impact of cancer in our society and examine approaches and interventions to reducing its burden. Specifically, the proportion and context of preventable risk factors will be examined. Population strategies to reduce the burden of cancer will be examined including: intervention programs, mass-reach public education, screening approaches, and the role of policy development. Students will also consider the interface of law with cancer care, prevention and screening.

This subject aims to provide students with a holistic understanding of the cancer burden in modern society. Students will use the social determinants of health as the foundation to examine risk factors, impact on health services, economic burden and the role of the commercial sector, law and public policy in cancer prevention and control. This subject will arm students with the knowledge required to serve as cancer control advocates in their professional contexts.

At the completion of the subject, student should possess the ability to:

• Demonstrate advanced knowledge in the disparities of cancer outcomes amongst different socio-economic and cultural groups nationally and internationally.
• Demonstrate advanced theoretical knowledge of the financial and social burden of cancer in the population.
• Communicate well-developed judgment in discussing the evidence base of the burden of cancer, its risk factors and the social determinants of preventable disease
• Discuss future cancer incidence projections and critically examine how these may impact priorities in service and program delivery in Australia
• Critically evaluate the evidence-base linking lifestyle and environmental factors with cancer aetiology
• Analyse the role of the commercial sector in promoting and sustaining cancer risk factors
• Discuss how different public health strategies and interventions can be used to impact on the burden of cancer.
• Analyse the role of public policy (taxation, regulation) from prevention to supportive cancer care
• Discuss the legal processes that underpin the development of policy in cancer treatment, care and control.

1. Reflective assignment (1000 words) - 20%
2. Oral Presentation (group format, 30 minutes, 1000 word equivalent) - 20%
3. Critical analysis Assignment (3000 words) - 60%

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.