6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL
Undergraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational Unit
Coordinator(s)
Unit guides
Synopsis
This unit focuses on the health of communities rather than that of individuals.
It begins with explorations of how a community is defined and how its characteristics influence its health. Students then learn how to measure the health of communities by accessing and using available health information.
The next step is for the student to apply what they have learnt by seeking to describe the health and the various health services available to a community of their choice.
In the final part of the unit, students will identify a major public health problem of the community they have chosen and explore the factors that contribute to it.
This unit therefore demonstrates a population based approach to health and health services.
Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- Identify and describe the characteristics of different types of communities.
- Locate and review data sources to inform evidence based planning for health services.
- Analyse the characteristics of 'community' and describe the health advantages and risks associated with them.
- Examine the notion of 'Burden of Disease' (BoD) as it relates to different communities.
- Develop a community health services profile.
- Identify gaps in available health services and make recommendations based on health needs of the community.
Assessment
- Community definitions (600 words) (10%)
- Locating data (1,400 words) (20%)
- Health services profile (2,000 words) (35%)
- Disease analysis (2,000 words) (35%)