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Unit of study_

PUBH5555: Lifestyle and Chronic Disease Prevention

Semester 2 Early, 2020 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

The prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) or chronic diseases (mainly diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancers) involves shared risk factors. This unit introduces students to the principles of primordial and primary prevention and control of NCD risk factors, specifically tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, salt reduction, and obesity prevention. This unit provides an integrated exploration of the current state-of-the-art in research and practice for addressing these preventable lifestyle risk factors. The emphasis is on primordial and primary prevention strategies, rather than the management of NCDs in those already with chronic disease. This solutions-focused unit comprises specific modules about each of tobacco control, harmful alcohol consumption, physical activity, nutrition and health, salt and health, and obesity prevention. By the end of this unit, students will understand the dynamic relationships between the key risk factors, and the important role of primary prevention approaches to reducing lifestyle risks that are precursors to NCDs.

Unit details and rules

Unit code PUBH5555
Academic unit Public Health
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
PUBH5033
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Yvonne Laird, yvonne.laird@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Essay
Written assessment
25% Week 05
Due date: 06 Sep 2020 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Proposal
Written assessment
45% Week 11
Due date: 25 Oct 2020 at 23:59
2500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Presentation
Online audio presentation
10% Week 13
Due date: 05 Nov 2020 at 09:00
5 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Participation Tutorial participation
Online discussion forums
20% Weekly n/a
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO4 LO3 LO2

Assessment summary

  • Tutorial participation: You must make at least 3 considered posts anytime between 9am, Sunday, and midnight, Wednesday. A considered post contributes something meaningful to the discussion.
  • Essay: Write on an intervention or program, published in the last 5 years, that you think has made a difference to the participants or to public health practice or policy. 
  • Proposal: The government has publically announced 20 million dollars in funding over 5 years to address chronic disease risk factors. Your task is to produce a persuasive scientific proposal to secure that funding.
  • Presentation: You will orally ‘pitch’ your 20 million dollar proposal idea to other students. This will involve you uploading your powerpoint slides with audio recording to your tutorial group’s discussion board, which will then be viewed/listened to and commented on your peers.

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

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Distinction

75 - 84

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school. 

Credit

65 - 74

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Pass

50 - 64

Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

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 ONLINE SEMINAR 1: 1. Introduction, prevalence of lifestyle risk factors; 2. Clustering of lifestyle risk factors - what is the evidence?; 3. Surveillance and monitoring of risk factors; 4. Interventions to address multiple risk behaviours Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 03 ONLINE SEMINAR 2: 1. Physical activity and sedentary behaviour; 2. Obesity; 3. Nutrition and diet; 4. Salt consumption; Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Why people have healthy or unhealthy behaviours? Online class (2 hr) LO1
Week 04 Physical activity promotion Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 05 Physical activity and the built environment Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 06 Food and nutrition Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 07 ONLINE SEMINAR 3: 1. Tobacco; 2. Alcohol consumption; 3. Commercial determinants of health; 4. Prevention systems, state vs individual responsibility Seminar (4 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
High salt consumption Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 08 Smoking prevention and control Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 09 High-risk alcohol consumption Online class (2 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Week 10 Industry interference Online class (2 hr) LO4
Week 11 State versus individual responsibility Online class (2 hr) LO4
Week 13 Online presentations Online class (2 hr) LO1 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.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library eReserve, available on Canvas. 

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. (critically) examine the associations between multiple lifestyle behaviours, health, and well-being
  • LO2. apply conceptual frameworks and models to identify determinants/correlates of lifestyle behaviours and chronic disease
  • LO3. synthesise and critique existing lifestyle-related chronic disease prevention programs
  • LO4. consider how effective programs can be scaled up to influence policy and practice to promote health and prevent chronic disease.

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.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Note, due to COVID-19, PUBH5555 will be delivered fully online. More information can be found on Canvas. 

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.