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550.608.98
Problem Solving in Public Health

Location
Barcelona, Spain
Term
2nd Term
Department
Extradepartmental
Credit(s)
4
Academic Year
2012 - 2013
Instruction Method
TBD
Start Date
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
End Date
Friday, November 16, 2012
Class Time(s)
Tu, W, Th, F, 8:30am - 6:00pm
Auditors Allowed
No
Available to Undergraduate
No
Grading Restriction
Letter Grade or Pass/Fail
Contact Name
Frequency Schedule
One Year Only
Next Offered
Only offered in 2012
Description
Uses divergent public health issues to illustrate a systematic problem solving process for use in addressing public health problems. The problem solving process includes defining the problem, measuring its magnitude, understanding the key determinants, developing a conceptual framework of the relationships between the key determinants, identifying and developing intervention and prevention strategies (either interventions or policies), setting priorities among intervention options, understanding barriers to implementation and evaluation, and developing an effective communication strategy. Consists of lectures, discussions, small-group exercises, a group project, and individual assignments.
Learning Objectives
Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:
  1. Analyze a public health problem and evaluate intervention/policy alternatives using the problem solving methodology outlined above
  2. Compare and contrast the utility of the methodology to solve public health problems that emerge at different periods in the life cycle and in different cultures, including: • HIV/AIDS • Childhood immunization • Radioactive iodine exposure and thyroid cancer • Unintended Injuries and their prevention • Obesity prevention • Tobacco abuse • Screening mammography and breast cancer
  3. Carry out a group project under the guidance of a Teaching Assistant (TA), in which student groups will research a specific public health problem, prepare a written report and present their recommendations to the class following the problem-solving methodology
  4. Recognize the complexity of policy development, including an Discussing of the politics of public health issues, the roles of interest groups and stakeholders, and the laws and social values that must be woven into successful policies
  5. Integrate human rights and ethical principles into the analysis of public health problems and recommended strategies
  6. Recognize the critical role of communication in public health practice
  7. Work together in multi-disciplinary groups that model the way public health agencies conduct problem-solving activities
  8. Demonstrate critical and analytical thinking by preparing three individual products (a self-assessment of the process, an individual critique of a paper submitted by another group, and a health and human rights assessment)