Determinants of Health
PostgraduateACU-PUBH6302024
Course information for 2024 intake
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- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Determinants of Health
About this subject
On successful completion of the Determinants of Health unit, students should be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the different types of health determinants and their significance to public health (GA2, GA5)
- Critically evaluate the impact of health determinants on individual and population level, outcomes (GA2, GA4, GA8)
- Critique key debates on determinants of health, in consideration of individual responsibility and structures related to health (GA1, GA2, GA3)
- Critically reflect on the impact of social, political, ethical, economic and ecological factors/determinants on public health interventions (GA2, GA3, GA8)
- Critically assess environmental health risks using practice-based evaluative frameworks and recommend appropriate evidence-based interventions ( GA5, GA6, GA8)
- Types of health determinants
- Historical aspects
- Correlational and causal pathways
- Biological (e.g., age) and psychological (e.g., loneliness)
- Behavioural (e.g., diet, physical activity, substance use)
- Socio-economic (e.g., living and working conditions)
- Environmental (e.g., cultural, physical)
- Ethical, scientific, and political considerations (e.g., individual responsibility vs structural influence)
- Interactions between determinants and levels of influence (including in relation to potential at-risk groups, e.g., Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples)
- Approaches to developing evidence-based intervention
- Assessment, management, and control of environmental-related health issue/s
Health is determined by many factors. Public health professionals must have a detailed understanding of these factors to improve population and individual health and wellbeing. Students will learn to critique the evidence on health determinants and the implications for creating a society conducive to health. Complex public health/social issues involving multiple health determinants will be explored. The unit will help students consolidate their critical analysis of health determinants , the interaction between determinants and the promotion and maintenance of healthy social and physical environments. This unit aims to provide students with the opportunity to develop a critical understanding of the determinants of health, inequalities in their distribution within the population, and the ability to discuss approaches to addressing these inequalities critically.
A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with university assessment requirements. In order to successfully complete this unit, students need to obtain an aggregate mark of greater than or equal to 50%.
For ACU-PUBH630, assessments will consider both theoretical and practical aspects relating to health determinants and environmental health. The assessment strategy allows students to progressively develop their knowledge and skills to identify health determinants and their implications for public health practice. In order to develop the knowledge and skills required to achieve the learning outcomes and Graduate Attributes, students first undertake an assessment task to demonstrate their understanding of determinants related to a specific disease in a selected population group. They will then progress to Assessment Task 2, where they will extend and apply their knowledge of health determinants in discussing pertinent evidence (eg key debates) on determinants of a specific health issue. Finally, students will further extend but also synthesise their understanding of evidence through an environmental health assessment and intervention plan.- Written Task - Critically examine determinants of health related to conditions/diseases in at-risk groups (20%)
- Written Task - Demonstrate critical understanding of the evidence and key debates on determinants of a specific health issue/s. (40%)
- Written Task - Apply skills through conducting an environmental health assessment and developing an intervention plan. (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.
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Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.