FYB1050 Public Health and Health Management Course description

The language is English. For Norwegian students, the topic of health management is taught in Norwegian.

This common course is developed for all the bachelor’s degree programmes taught at the Faculty of Health Sciences that are covered by the National Curriculum Regulations for Norwegian Health and Welfare Education (RETHOS).

The course deals with public health and health management. In the Public Health Act, public health is defined as “the state and distribution of health in the population”. The course deals with the distribution of health challenges in the population based on risk factors related to health. Education, work and living conditions and international guidelines are elements affecting disease, illness, health and quality of life in the population at individual, group and societal level. Several of the international sustainability goals direct attention to countering public health risk factors.

Health management emphasis a fundamental understanding of how the health service is organised, relevant legislation, strategies and goals for preventive and health promoting work in Norway.  For international students, the focus will be on the Nordic welfare model.

The work and teaching methods in the course include self-study, multidisciplinary collaborative learning and external supervised practice. Practical training is primarily carried out in the municipal or specialist health service.

The practical training will take place over a continuous period of nine (9) weeks, during which the student is in practical training five (5) days a week with a workload of up to 45 hours per week. During the practical training period, the student will have two demonstrations/practical examinations of assessment and/or treatment, based on clinical decisions and reflection on their own professional practice.

Generally, the student will be in practice during the day but shift work may occur. When carrying out practical training, students must comply with the current guidelines for clothing that apply to the individual practical training institution.

After completing the course, the student is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge and skills:

Knowledge

The student 

• can describe and explain factors that affect disease, health and quality of life in groups or the population as a whole
• can describe the epidemiological and demographical foundation for public health work
• can describe social inequality in relation to health, and is familiar with the national and global consequences of inequality
• can describe the purpose, organisation and coordination of health and social care services
• is familiar with relevant laws and regulations relating to the health and social care services
• can describe the relationship between work, education, social participation, inclusion and the experience of health
• can describe the goals for sustainable development and their significance for public health

Skills

The student can

• reflect on ethical challenges related to public health work that aims to change behaviours
• find, assess and refer to health promoting and preventive strategies, organisation and measures in light of the goals for sustainable development
• reflect on how and why the status of Sami as indigenous peoples affects the development of the health and social care services

Assessed practical training: The assessment is based on the learning outcomes for the course, and the ongoing assessment of the student throughout the practical training period. To be able to assess the student in practical training, sufficient attendance (90 %) is required. For more information, see the general part of the programme description on assessment of practical training.

New assessment: "Failed" practical training usually means that the student must retake the entire practical training period.

Not relevant.

Passed/Fail

The midway- and final assessment is carried out by the clinical practice supervisor and, if applicable, the contact lecturer from the university. The final decision on whether to award a pass or fail grade is made by the university.

Pass/fail  

One external and one internal examiner control the set of questions, the internal examiner checks the answers.

Within a rapidly changing health and welfare system, physiotherapists are expected to contribute by critically evaluating services and participating in systematic quality improvement initiatives. Through the work on the bachelor’s thesis, students gain experience in exploring a specific area in depth and have the opportunity to develop the competence necessary for collaborating in groups that contribute to professional development. The course also provides students with training in expressing themselves in written form using professional terminology and within the framework of basic scientific work. Detailed guidelines for the bachelor’s thesis are published on the university’s learning platform.