Educational aims
The overall aims of this certificate are to engage students in a systematic review and critical assessment of current ways of working to promote public health, and to provide students with the practical skills, knowledge and understanding to develop, implement and evaluate new forms of practice.
In particular, the module aims to inform and empower people who are involved in promoting health in its broadest sense. It will do this by exploring issues, innovations and dilemmas in the field of public health, health promotion, disease prevention and health education. The emphasis will be on developing the potential for promoting health in a wide variety of ways and at a number of different levels. The intention is to move practice forward by offering opportunities to test and evaluate different strategies and frameworks for action.
Other more specific aims are to:
- investigate and assess alternative conceptual and practical approaches to the promotion of health through a range of case studies of different settings, frameworks and client groups
- draw out and develop ways of promoting public health that address social and economic inequalities and which are culturally sensitive and holistic
- develop students’ skills in researching, analysing and evaluating health information and policy
- endorse an approach to promoting health that is participative, recognises the need for flexibility and mutual goal setting, and respects the rights of individuals, groups and communities to autonomy and control
- encourage partnership and collaboration between different health professional groups, and between health workers, policy makers and lay and consumer groups working in the area of promoting public health
- examine ethical, political and professional dilemmas that arise from new practices and policies for promoting health, and consider how these dilemmas may be tackled.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
On completion of this certificate you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the following:
- the social determinants of health and health inequalities, and competing definitions and concepts of health and wellbeing
- the scope and focus of public health, and of your own role in promoting health
- the competencies that underpin multidisciplinary public health
- the development and evaluation of interventions to promote health
- how research can inform public health and create evidence-based practice and inform commissioning
- the processes and practices of policymaking for public health.
Cognitive skills
On completion of this certificate you will be able to:
- critically analyse different concepts, models and approaches to public health, and explore your own perspectives
- examine the application of theoretical perspectives in public health and health promotion
- critically analyse the links between different research methods and public health
- critically assess different models of policy and decision making and their application to promoting public health
- critically reflect on debates and ethical dilemmas that may arise from the promotion of public health, including examples from your own experience
- compare and contrast a range of multidisciplinary public health activities in different organisations and settings
- critically reflect on the theories and processes which underpin partnership and collaborative working.
Practical and/or professional skills
On completion of this certificate you will be able to:
- develop skills for reflective learning, communication and team working that can be applied within different settings
- recognise diversity and demonstrate knowledge of appropriate strategies for promoting equality in public health
- deploy knowledge and experience to influence the policy process
- demonstrate skills in implementing appropriate techniques for planning and evaluating community action and participation.
Key skills
On completion of this certificate you will be able to:
- demonstrate an ability to identify, use and critically evaluate different types of health information
- demonstrate an ability to research, analyse and critically evaluate public policies for health
- communicate complex information, arguments and ideas effectively and appropriately to specialist and non-specialist audiences
- demonstrate independent and collaborative learning through the use of ICT
- plan, monitor and evaluate your learning, and identify strategies to improve your learning, and recognise your learning capability for keeping up to date with developments in public health.
Teaching, learning and assessment methods
Knowledge and understanding
The study materials will support your attainment of these outcomes through the learning guides and a range of audiovisual and/or web-based resources. Learning is directed through a series of activities designed to consolidate and support the overall assessment strategy.
There are four tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) and an end-of-module assessment (EMA). Throughout the module, the activities will act as building blocks towards the TMAs and the EMA.
Cognitive skills
Cognitive skills will be developed through the study materials. Students will also be directed to research, critically analyse and evaluate information from resources such as web-based and DVD-ROM materials.
Cognitive skills will be assessed through the TMAs, the EMA and your participation in online discussion forums.
Practical and/or professional skills
Practical and professional skills will be developed through the study materials, online tutorials, and by searching the web for health information.
Practical/professional skills will be assessed via the TMAs and EMA as well as through online discussion forums.
Key skills
Key skills will be developed through the study materials, web-based activities, online discussion forums and email. IT skills and research skills will be developed through searching for and critically appraising literature and working with web-based materials as appropriate for OU level 3 study.
Key skills will be assessed through the TMAs and your participation in online discussion forums.