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Unit outline_

PUBH5033: Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Semester 1, 2024 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This core unit of study introduces students to evidence-based health promotion as a fundamental approach to promoting and improving health and wellbeing, preventing disease and reducing health inequalities in populations. The unit is divided into three modules: (i) the building blocks of disease prevention and health promotion, (ii) using evidence to develop disease prevention and health promotion interventions, and (iii) evaluating disease prevention and health promotion programs to inform policy and practice. This unit will give students an understanding of disease prevention and health promotion and their relationship to public health, introduce design, implementation, and evaluation of disease prevention and health promotion interventions, and develop and refine students' research, critical appraisal, and communication skills.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Public Health
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator James Kite, james.kite@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s) Philayrath Phongsavan, philayrath.phongsavan@sydney.edu.au
Bronwyn McGill, bronwyn.mcgill@sydney.edu.au
James Kite, james.kite@sydney.edu.au
The census date for this unit availability is 2 April 2024
Type Description Weight Due Length
Participation Assessment 4: Tutorial participation
Participation, including completion of the scenario-based learning task
10% Multiple weeks 8 weeks
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Assessment 1: Problem analysis
Written assessment
25% Week 04
Due date: 14 Mar 2024 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO6
Presentation Assessment 2: Solutions scoping presentation
Recorded presentation
20% Week 10
Due date: 30 Apr 2024 at 23:59
5 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO2
Assignment Assessment 3: Project plan and evaluation
Written assessment
45% Week 13
Due date: 23 May 2024 at 23:59
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO6 LO5 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

  • Tutorial participation requires students to attend and contribute to discussions during their assigned tutorial each week. Students also need to complete a short ‘Getting to know you’ exercise and an online scenario-based learning task.
  • Assessment 1 requires students to conduct a problem analysis for a particular health issue.
  • Assessment 2 requires students to identify an appropriate goal and objectives for addressing their chosen health issue, appraise relevant evidence, and propose a solution.
  • Assessment 3 requires students to draw on their work in Assessment 1 and 2 to propose a solution to their health issue and an evaluation framework for their solution.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

Students at this level demonstrate an advanced understanding and application of all the key concepts addressed in this unit. They also demonstrate an exceptional ability to synthesise relevant evidence, critically appraise this evidence, and apply their findings to a given context. Students show initiative and creativity in their work.

Distinction

75 - 84

Students at this level demonstrate a very good understanding and application of all or most of the key concepts addressed in this unit. They also demonstrate an ability to synthesise relevant evidence, critically appraise this evidence, and apply their findings to a given context.

Credit

65 - 74

Students at this level demonstrate a good understanding and application of all or most of the key concepts addressed in this unit. They demonstrate an ability to synthesise relevant evidence and their work exhibits some characteristics of critical appraisal.

Pass

50 - 64

Students at this level demonstrate an acceptable understanding and application of all or most of the key concepts addressed in this unit. They demonstrate an ability to identify and describe relevant evidence.

Fail

0 - 49

Students at this level have not met the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Assessments 1 and 3 - 5% of total possible marks will be deducted for every day late. Assignments submitted more than 10 days late will not be marked, except with prior approval of the unit coordinators. Assessment 2 presentation - Because of the nature of the assessment task, we cannot accept late submissions except with prior approval from the unit coordinators.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Ongoing Scenario-based learning task Independent study (1 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Progressive Mini lectures Independent study (5 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 01 T1: What are health promotion and disease prevention? What do they look like in practice? Tutorial (2 hr) LO1
Week 02 The building blocks of health promotion Seminar (4 hr) LO1
T2: Understanding the problem Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO6
Week 03 T3: Prioritising risk factors and enablers Tutorial (2 hr) LO2
Week 04 T4: Setting goals and objectives Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 05 Using evidence to develop disease prevention and health promotion programs Seminar (4 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
T5: Using evidence to inform intervention design Tutorial (2 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 07 T6: Formative evaluation Tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 08 T7: Process, impact, and outcome evaluation Tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 09 Evaluating disease prevention and health promotion programs to inform policy and practice Seminar (4 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
T8: Hierarchies of effect Tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5

Attendance and class requirements

Students are expected to actively participate in their allocated tutorial every week, including reviewing all relevant mini lectures and completing the assigned readings. We strongly encourage all students, regardless of enrolment mode, to attend the seminars live wherever possible.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. identify and define fundamental disease prevention and health promotion concepts
  • LO2. synthesise and critique existing disease prevention and health promotion evidence
  • LO3. identify and define fundamental evaluation concepts
  • LO4. critique the design, implementation, and evaluation of disease prevention and health promotion interventions
  • LO5. apply evidence, values and principles, ethics, theories, and frameworks to the design and evaluation of a public health action (intervention), to prevent ill-health or promote health
  • LO6. conduct effective literature searching strategies.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Student feedback showed many were very happy with the unit, with an overall mean rating of 4.36 out of 5. Many of you highlighted the level and usefulness of the feedback on assessments, especially Assessment 2, and the dedication and responsiveness of the teaching staff as particular strengths of the units. Others mentioned the assessment structure and support and the applicability and relevance of the learning to the real world as strengths. Tutorials were described by some as the best part of the unit, but asynchronous students reported feeling unsupported and disengaged and that the Padlets used for the tutorial exercises were hard to follow. Other areas identified for improvement were the assessment instructions and the balance between how much is expected in an assignment and the length of that assignment, especially for Assessment 2. Students also asked for more time to be spent on goals and objectives, evaluation, and literature search and review. There were also some requests for numerical marks to be published, in addition to grades. We will take this feedback on board in preparing for next year, including by reforming the tutorials for asynchronous students. We are in conversation with the Library about how we can better support students in designing and conducting literature searches and we will look at ways to better communicate the concepts of goals and objectives and evaluations, potentially by providing more examples in the mini lectures. With regards to assessments, we will review the instructions and marking rubrics to improve the clarity and to ensure that the lengths are appropriate. We are also considering how we can share the numerical marks with students without placing undue emphasis on them. This might include publishing the marks a few days to a week after releasing assessment feedback.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.