MPH2060 - Prevention: Policies and strategies

Leader(s): Professor B Oldenburg

Offered

Alfred Hospital Second semester 2009 (Day)
Alfred Hospital Second semester 2009 (Off-campus)

Synopsis

Examine theory behind individual and community based approaches to disease prevention. Outlines importance of preventive health programs, explores the different approaches to preventive medicine and how preventive activities can positively influence physical, mental and social wellbeing.

Objectives

On completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. demonstrate an understanding of the major opportunities for preventative health activities within the developed and under-developed communities;
2. describe the particular challenges for prevention activities within specific sections of the Australian community;
3. identify the advantages and disadvantages of the population approach and the individual approach to disease prevention;
4. describe the role of screening and screening tests in preventive medicine;
5. describe the role of behaviour modification in disease prevention;
6. describe the characteristics of various successful and unsuccessful health promotion strategies;
7. demonstrate an understanding of the role of preventive activities in certain key areas including dental health, psychiatric illness, and the prevention of congenital disease;
8. demonstrate an understanding of the essential elements of community wide health promotion activities and health policy developments.

Assessment

Written assignments 50%
Examination 50%.