POPLHLTH 215 : Dynamics of Health Systems

Medical and Health Sciences

2024 Semester One (1243) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines ways in which approaches to quality and efficiency can be understood to examine changes in health systems, in response to the environment. The influence of key players is a key focus throughout this course.

Course Overview

Building on the core concepts introduced in 101 this course provides an introduction to 'systems thinking' in public health. Problems in public health tend to be complex with many key professionals, organisations and risk factors involved. Finding practical solutions depends on the interaction of multiple perspectives and interacting professionals and agencies. We will explore the complexities and dynamics within our health system including examining ways in which approaches to improving quality and efficiency can be understood to examine changes in health systems, in response to the environment. The influence of key players is a key focus throughout this course.

By the end of the course students should be able to share a broad understanding of how complex problems might arise in public health and apply a framework that can describe and evaluate various ways in which the public health system might react to policy change. Broadly, three main components will be examined:

  • Fragmentation and Integration within the Healthcare System,
  • Resource Allocation/Funding Priorities and
  • Quality Improvement.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: POPLHLTH 101

Course Contacts

Course Coordinator: Dr Braden Te Ao 
School of Population Health
email: b.teao@auckland.ac.nz
Phone: +64 (0) 9 923 5046

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe and critically analyse the characteristics of key professional groups and bases of power relating to fragmentation and integration within the health system. (Capability 1.1, 1.3, 2.1, 3.1 and 3.2)
  2. Examine and assess how frameworks and factors that explain healthcare resource allocation and their potential influence on health outcomes. (Capability 1.2, 1.3, 3.2, 4.1, 5.2 and 8.1)
  3. Evaluate the key quality improvement principles, methods and tools for improvements in healthcare services. (Capability 1.3, 2.3, 3.3, 4.3, 5.3 and 8.2)
  4. Explore the ways in which key stages of the implementation process, and factors that affect it are impacting upon health service improvement. (Capability 4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.3, 7.1 and 8.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Assignments 20% Individual Coursework
Assignments 20% Individual Coursework
Assignments 20% Individual Coursework
Final Exam 40% Individual Examination
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Assignments
Assignments
Assignments
Final Exam

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect two 1-hour lectures, a 1-hour tutorial, 2 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 5 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course. Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including seminars/tutorials will be available as recordings. The course will include live online events including group discussions/tutorials. Attendance on campus is required for the exam. The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

I am delighted that you felt satisfied with the overall quality of the course (90% generally agreed), it was easy to find the information and resources needed on the Canvas course website (100% generally agreed), and you were clearly informed about how your learning will be assessed (80% generally agreed). Most students felt that the assessments supported the aims of this course (90% generally agreed) and had received helpful feedback on their learning progress (80% generally agreed). Overall, the learning environment allowed effective communication between teaching staff and students (100% generally agreed).

I also noted a few minor issues experienced students found difficult, namely, staying motivated and engaged with their learning (20% generally disagreed, 20% neutral, while 60% felt motivated and engaged), lack of opportunities to communicate and /or collaborate with their peers (20% neutral, while 80% felt they were able to communicate with their peers), and to feel part of a community of learners (10% disagreed, 20% neutral, while 70% felt they were). Also, there was some dissatisfaction with the quality of small-group teaching (20% neutral, while 40% felt satisfied). These are all very important indeed!

This is the small changes I will make for the next delivery of the course:
  1. Redevelop 215 Canvas page to be more student-friendly and create an online learning environment (including weekly quizzes) to allow students to engage and communicate with their peers.
  2. Redevelop the course assessment information and full assessment instruction.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 16/11/2023 08:48 a.m.