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Unit of study_

GLOH5135: Global Health Systems and Delivery

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Remote

Health systems and the delivery of healthcare are complex and multi-faceted, even more so in resource-limited settings. Successful health systems and healthcare delivery require attention to political economy, governance, institutions, and local context. It is also important to be able to identify and prioritise cost-effective interventions, engage communities and equip health workers. This unit will cover health systems and healthcare delivery in low-income countries to equip students with a conceptual understanding and a set of tools to address major public health challenges from a health systems and delivery perspective with an explicit focus on building effective primary health care. With a focus on evidence-based decision making, the unit will provide an understanding of health systems including specific topics such as health workforce, financing, service delivery, information systems and policy, and how these impact health interventions and health status in less developed countries. We will also explore healthcare delivery in a novel integrated course design to highlight the perspectives of both health administrators and policymakers as well as health workers, patients and communities. A case study approach will then provide students with concrete examples of health systems challenges and will strengthen students' ability to view health problems in a holistic, multi-faceted manner. The unit will provide students with the tools needed to make a practical difference in health systems in less developed countries with emphasis on implementation of health projects, knowledge translation and bringing interventions to scale.

Unit details and rules

Unit code GLOH5135
Academic unit Public Health
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
HPOL5001 or MIPH5134 or MIPH5135
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Joel Negin, joel.negin@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Online reflections
participation and engagemnt during online reflections
15% Multiple weeks 5 times, 200 words each
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Exploration of a health system challenge
Short essay
30% Week 07
Due date: 08 Apr 2022 at 23:00
2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2
Assignment Systems thinking case study video
Case study presentation
15% Week 11
Due date: 10 May 2022 at 23:00
7 minute presentation
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4
Assignment Health systems proposal
Health systems proposal
40% Week 13
Due date: 01 Jun 2022 at 23:00
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO5 LO4

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Assessment grading as per Coursework Policy 2014, Schedule 1.

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.

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.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Introduction to Complexity and Systems Thinking Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 02 Fundamentals of understanding health systems Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3
Week 03 Primary Health Care Case Studies: Nigeria and Australia Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 04 Human Resources for Health Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO4
Week 05 Comparative health policy analysis – the metrics Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Health Information Systems Tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 Health Systems and Technology Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO4 LO5
Week 08 Health systems and the structural determinants of communication Tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 09 Financing models for health systems Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 10 Learning Health Systems Tutorial (2 hr) LO3 LO4 LO5
Week 11 Health system intervention scale-up case studies: Zambia and Tanzania Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO4 LO5
Week 12 Revision and key concept: Universal Health Coverage Lecture and tutorial (2 hr) LO2 LO3 LO4

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. Demonstrate an understanding of health systems and their impact on public health in developing countries.
  • LO2. Identify key issues under each of the main health systems components.
  • LO3. Apply analytical frameworks for understanding health systems challenges in developing countries.
  • LO4. Understand a number of different health systems models in use in developing countries and the advantages and disadvantages of each.
  • LO5. Develop research proposals to address key health system knowledge gaps.

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

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes Competency standards
LO1
Public Health Dentistry - DBA
1.a. recognising the personal limitations and scope of the specialty and knowing when to refer or seek advice appropriately
1.c. providing patient-centred care, including selecting and prioritising treatment options that are compassionate and respectful of patients’ best interests, dignity and choices and which seek to improve community oral health
1.d. understanding and applying the moral, cultural, ethical principles and legal responsibilities involved in the provision of specialist dental care to individual patients, to communities and populations
1.h. supporting the professional development and education for all members of the dental and/or health community, and
1.i. demonstrating leadership in the profession.
4.1.a. historical and contemporary literature
4.1.b. the scientific basis of dentistry including the relevant biological, medical and psychosocial sciences
4.2.a. the epidemiology of oral health and disease
4.2.b. the principles of oral health service delivery
4.2.c. the principles of public health research oral disease prevention at a population level, and
4.2.d. the analysis of oral health needs and services in community and public health settings.
5.2.a. designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating population oral health programs, and
5.2.b. writing reports.
LO2
Public Health Dentistry - DBA
4.2.a. the epidemiology of oral health and disease
4.2.b. the principles of oral health service delivery
4.2.c. the principles of public health research oral disease prevention at a population level, and
4.2.d. the analysis of oral health needs and services in community and public health settings.
5.2.a. designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating population oral health programs, and
LO3
Public Health Dentistry - DBA
2.c. use of technological and telecommunication aids in planning and delivering specialist treatment
2.d. communicating effectively in all forms of health and legal reporting, and
2.e. interpreting and communicating knowledge, skills and ideas.
3.a. critically evaluating scientific research and literature, products and techniques to inform evidence-based specialist practice, and
3.b. synthesising complex information, problems, concepts and theories.
4.1.a. historical and contemporary literature
4.1.b. the scientific basis of dentistry including the relevant biological, medical and psychosocial sciences
4.2.a. the epidemiology of oral health and disease
4.2.b. the principles of oral health service delivery
4.2.c. the principles of public health research oral disease prevention at a population level, and
4.2.d. the analysis of oral health needs and services in community and public health settings.
LO4
Public Health Dentistry - DBA
4.2.a. the epidemiology of oral health and disease
4.2.b. the principles of oral health service delivery
4.2.c. the principles of public health research oral disease prevention at a population level, and
4.2.d. the analysis of oral health needs and services in community and public health settings.
LO5
Public Health Dentistry - DBA
2.c. use of technological and telecommunication aids in planning and delivering specialist treatment
2.d. communicating effectively in all forms of health and legal reporting, and
2.e. interpreting and communicating knowledge, skills and ideas.
3.a. critically evaluating scientific research and literature, products and techniques to inform evidence-based specialist practice, and
3.b. synthesising complex information, problems, concepts and theories.
4.1.a. historical and contemporary literature
4.1.b. the scientific basis of dentistry including the relevant biological, medical and psychosocial sciences
4.2.a. the epidemiology of oral health and disease
4.2.b. the principles of oral health service delivery
4.2.c. the principles of public health research oral disease prevention at a population level, and
4.2.d. the analysis of oral health needs and services in community and public health settings.
5.2.a. designing, implementing, monitoring and evaluating population oral health programs, and
5.2.b. writing reports.

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

Student feedback is used to refine assessments, determine lecturers to retain and restructure the offering

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