This module aims to equip students with some of the techniques needed to support decision-makers in making key decisions in health that can affect the lives of people around the world.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of the module, a student will be able to:
- Understand key elements of the health decision-making process.
- Describe the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to health decision-making.
- Choose health decision-making approaches that are appropriate to specific health situations.
- Apply health decision-making approaches to real-world or hypothetical health situations.
Session Content
The lectures will cover the following topics:
- Introduction to health decision science.
- Engaging stakeholders.
- Disease modelling.
- Health service planning.
- Health economics.
- Uncertainty.
- Multi-criteria decision analysis.
- Communication.
Mode of delivery
This module is delivered predominantly face-to-face. Where specific teaching methods (lectures, seminars, discussion groups) are noted in this module specification these will be delivered by predominantly face-to-face sessions. There will be a combination of live and interactive activities (synchronous learning) as well as self-directed study (asynchronous learning).
Assessment
The assessment for this module has been designed to measure student learning against the module intended learning outcomes (ILOs) as listed above. Formative assessment methods may be used to measure students’ progress. The grade for summative assessment(s) only will go towards the overall award GPA.
The assessment for this module will be online.
Formal assessment of this module includes an assessed assignment (100%) to be submitted at the end of the module. The assignment will be a written report. Students will be given the opportunity to ask questions about the assignment, through designated timetabled sessions and the appropriate forum on Moodle.
Credits
- CATS: 15
- ECTS: 7.5
Module specification
For full information regarding this module please see the module specification.
This module is designed for students who are interested in decision-making in public and global health. An interest in quantitative analysis will be useful since many of the techniques in this field are quantitative
Students who undertake this module are expected to be familiar with Excel, and be capable of carrying out basic functions using Excel software (drawing box and arrow diagrams, inserting formulae into cells, producing simple charts and tables etc.). Some of the worked examples do contain some complex formulae and students will benefit from more advanced Excel knowledge if they wish to fully explore these. However, this is not a requirement of the course. Students should be reasonably numerate and feel confident in basic mathematics (primarily arithmetic) and simple logic. Students who are not confident in the use of Excel should attend the Computing Workshops provided in Term 1. Workshops on formulae, functions and formatting, and graphs and charts are particularly relevant. These can be found on Moodle, under “IT Training (MSc)”.
Applications for Term 2 D2 modules are currently open and will close on 20 January 2025. Applications should be made online via our application portal.