Course Discription

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- Compulsory courses
Evidence-Based Global Health Policies
2 credit
Type of courses
Compulsory courses
Instructor
Po-Han Lee
Course Outline
Understanding the processes and actors involved in policy development and relevant decision-making is crucial for public health researchers and practitioners to be effective in any setting, especially in low- and middle-income countries. In this regard, this course: - Overviews political and theoretical frameworks related to policy development and practical perspectives on their application to global health, with a focus on international institutions and low- and middle-income countries; - Provides analytical tools to understand the political economy of health policy, namely, how the political environments, national contexts and economies, and planning systems come together to influence the process of health policy development; - Introduces the main actors, processes, and contextual features that are typical of or relevant to policy development, especially in the context of global and regional health programmes; - Discusses the different dimensions of health programmes, strategies, and policies, such as health system strengthening, gender inequalities, human rights impacts, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), human resources for health, and so forth; and - Reflects on the issues, such as national policy and planning frameworks, relationships with aid donors, policy networks (and civil society organisations), policy implementers and their roles in shaping policy development, and mechanisms for global health governance.

Course Objectives:

At the end of the course, the students are expected to:
1. (D17-6)Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge
2. (GH-1)Analyse the roles, relationships, and resources of the entities influencing global health 
3. (GH-2)Apply ethical approaches in global health research and practice
4. (GH-3)Apply monitoring and evaluation techniques to global health programs, policies, and outcomes 
5. (GH-4)Propose sustainable and evidence-based multi-sectoral interventions, considering the social determinants of health specific to the local area 
6. (GH-5)Design sustainable workforce development strategies for resource-limited settings 
7. (GH-6)Display critical self-reflection, cultural humility, and ongoing learning in global health 
8. (DGH-3)Design, implement, and evaluate theory-informed and evidence-based research programs in an academia or practice setting

 

Course Requirements:

Students are expected to read assigned readings prior to the lectures and watch pre-class videos before the lectures.

The course is assessed through various in-class activities tailored for different sessions, a two-person midterm presentation, and an individual essay on ‘A critical reflection on the application of evidence-informed policy, practice, and advocacy in global health’ (with a chosen area of interest). Students will select an area of policy, programme, and implementation research in global health, and discuss it in relation to the themes of the course.

 

CEPH Competencies Met: 

Accreditation Criteria for Foundational Knowledge 

D17-1

Explain public health history, philosophy and values

D17-2

Identify the core functions of public health and the 10 Essential Services*

D17-3

Explain the role of quantitative and qualitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a population’s health

D17-4

List major causes and trends of morbidity and mortality in the US or other community relevant to the school or program

D17-5

Discuss the science of primary, secondary and tertiary prevention in population health, including health promotion, screening, etc.

D17-6

Explain the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge

D17-7

Explain effects of environmental factors on a population’s health

D17-8

Explain biological and genetic factors that affect a population’s health

D17-9

Explain behavioral and psychological factors that affect a population’s health

D17-10

Explain the social, political and economic determinants of health and how they contribute to population health and health inequities
D17-11

Explain how globalization affects global burdens of disease 
D17-12

Explain an ecological perspective on the connections among human health, animal health and ecosystem health (e.g. One Health)


Global Health Concentration Competencies 

GH-1

Analyze the roles, relationships, and resources of the entities influencing global health

GH-2

 Apply ethical approaches in global health research and practice

GH-3

Apply monitoring and evaluation techniques to global health programs, policies, and outcomes

GH-4

Propose sustainable and evidence-based multi-sectoral interventions, considering the social determinants of health specific to the local area

GH-5

Design sustainable workforce development strategies for resource-limited settings

GH-6

Display critical self-reflection, cultural humility, and ongoing learning in global health


Doctoral Core Competencies in Global Health

DGH-1

Exemplify proficient skills to contribute to public health scholarship and engage community partners and stakeholders to conduct own research and form collaborations based on high ethical standards

DGH-2

 Scrutinize and apply qualitative and quantitative methods to provide evidence-based solutions to global health problems considering cultural safety and diversity

DGH-3

Design, implement, and evaluate theory-informed and evidence-based research programs in an academia or practice setting

DGH-4

Recognize and analytically evaluate socioeconomic, environmental, behavioral, and biological determinants of population health