MPH2035

Health economics and program evaluation ( 6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL)

Leader: Ms J Livingston

Offered:
MMS-ALFRED Second semester 2006 (Day)

Synopsis: The contribution of health economics and health program evaluation to the practice of public health. Key economic concepts and their role in increasing welfare; health care as an economic commodity; the value of economic analysis in promoting an efficient and equitable health care system; the role of economic appraisal in the evaluation of health care services; evaluation strategies appropriate to the particular stages of the program cycle; differences between process, impact and outcome evaluation; different types of evaluation design.

Objectives: On completion of this unit, student should be able to: 1. understand key economic factors and their role in increasing welfare; 2. examine the special characteristics of health care as an economic commodity; 3. assess the usefulness and limitations of economic analysis in promoting an efficient and equitable health care system; 4. understand the basic types and role of economic appraisal in the evaluation of health care services; 5. state and explain the evaluation strategies appropriate to the particular stages of the program cycle; 6. explain the differences between process, impact and outcome evaluation; 7. explain the different types of evaluation design and discuss their strengths and weaknesses.

Homepage: www.med.monash.edu.au/epidemiology/postgrad/

Assessment: Assignments

Contact Hours: 2 contact hours per week