MPH2035 - Health economics and program evaluation

Leader(s): Dr A Hsueh

Offered

Alfred Hospital Second semester 2009 (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.

Assessment

Assignments

Contact hours

2 contact hours per week