HAR655: Public Health Informatics

  

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Overview

The Public Health Informatics module is led by Claire Beecroft. It runs in the Spring semester and is worth 15 credits.

It is one of the modules on:

• European Masters Programme in Public Health (option)
• Master of Public Health (Health Services Research) (option)
• Master of Public Health (Management and Leadership) (option)
• Master of Public Health (MPH) (option)
• MSc Clinical Research (NIHR for Academic Clinical Fellows) (option)
• MSc Clinical Research (standard route) (option)

This module is available as a CPD option

This module is available as a DDP module

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Introduction

This module is designed to look at how informatics and information technology can be used to help address some of the major issues in public health.

Public health informatics was traditionally defined as "the systematic application of information and computer science and technology to public health practice, research, and learning" (Yasnoff, 2000).

In this module, we examine this rapidly changing field, using a combination of lectures, individual and group exercises and self directed learning. Key issues around the local, national and international contributions that technology can make to public health are critically examined and students are given a theoretical and practical grounding in this increasingly important discipline.

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Objectives

This unit aims to provide a wide-ranging overview of the application of informatics to public health at a local, national and international level.

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Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

• Provide examples of information/informatics in public health at a local, national and international level.
• Have a comprehensive understanding of how informatics can be used to meet public health needs at a local, national and international level.
• Critically discuss and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of using informatics to meet public health needs.
• Apply techniques and frameworks to interrogate and evaluate public health information systems.
• Develop a critical awareness of the challenges facing the use of informatics/information in public health and the current and future trends of the discipline.

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Teaching methods

The module will consist of a variety of learning methods including lectures, seminars and exercises.

In addition, students will be expected to spend a significant amount of time on self-study, including work for specific sessions, general reading and time working on the module assessment.

Lectures will introduce students to the weekly topics and provide a theoretical background to the topic.

Specific case studies and examples will be introduced as part of the lectures and will form the basis of the weekly self-directed learning activity.

The weekly exercise or learning activity may be a scenario-based case study, an online discussion, articles to read and critically evaluate or a presentation to prepare.

In addition, practical student-led sessions will be offered where appropriate.

The assessment for the module will consist of formatics presentation, to be delivered in Week 11 and a summative assignment to be delivered in Week 15.

Further independent study will allow exploration of relevant issues, either via staff-led or student-led reading/activities.