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HL20508: Evidence-based policy and practice

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2019/0
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department for Health
Further information on credits Credits: 6      [equivalent to 12 CATS credits]
Further information on notional study hours Notional Study Hours: 120
Further information on unit levels Level: Intermediate (FHEQ level 5)
Further information on teaching periods Period:
Semester 2
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 50%, EX-TH 50%*
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Group Presentation* (CW 50%)
  • Open book examination of 48 hours duration* (EX-TH 50%)

*Assessment updated due to Covid-19 disruptions
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: Before taking this module you must take HL10499
Further information on descriptions Description: Aims:
To provide students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the role of evidence in health policy making and practice.

Learning Outcomes:
On successful completion of this unit students will be able to demonstrate:
* Knowledge of the historical and theoretical basis of the role of evidence as a critical element of health policy and practice.
* Understanding of the role of evidence in the process of health policymaking.
* Critical understanding of the relationship between evidence, policy and practice.
* Ability to critically examine evidence, evidence-based policy and evidence-based practice to understand how and why evidence is being used to benefit public health.

Skills:
Knowledge and understanding (taught, facilitated and assessed)
Intellectual skills (facilitated and assessed)
Analytical skills to evaluate research and evidence (taught, facilitated and assessed)
Synthesise information (facilitated and assessed)
Critical evaluation (taught, facilitated and assessed)
Oral communication (facilitated and assessed)
Written communication (facilitated and assessed)
Time management and planning (facilitated)
Work independently (facilitated).

Content:
The theoretical and historical story of evidence in health, from evidence-based medicine to evidence-based policy; Hierarchies of evidence, and develop an understanding of the variety, quality, strengths and weaknesses of evidence used in health policy and practice; Factors affecting health policy and practice decisions, with reference to theories of health economics and health improvement; Evidential norms, and engage in debates about the power, value and applicability of quantitative and qualitative evidence and their relationships with pathogenic and salutogenic approaches to health; Communication of evidence between research communities, non-governmental actors, policymakers, regulatory agencies and practitioners and its impact on health policy decision-making, including the importance of methodological and funding transparency in science; Evidence-based health regulations, guidelines and messages, examining case studies from practice - e.g. drug approval, immunisation, alcohol, obesity, physical activity; The implications of contestation of evidence and the importance of transparency over conflicts of interest; The process of review and evaluation of evidence underpinning health policy and practice.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

HL20508 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

Department for Health
  • UHHL-AFB18 : BSc(Hons) Health and Exercise Science (Year 2)
  • UHHL-AKB18 : BSc(Hons) Health and Exercise Science with Professional Placement (Year 2)
  • UHHL-AFM18 : MSci(Hons) Health and Exercise Science (Year 2)
  • UHHL-AKM18 : MSci(Hons) Health and Exercise Science with Professional Placement (Year 2)

Notes: