Monash University Handbook 2010 Postgraduate - Unit

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

Chief examiner(s)

Dr A Hsueh

Off-campus attendance requirements

2 Contact hours per week at Melbourne University.

Additional information on this unit is available from the faculty at:

http://www.med.monash.edu.au/epidemiology/pgrad