PHVIT9510 Concept and Theory Development in Health Sciences Course description

This course covers research into key phenomena originating from human experience of health and illness. Such phenomena can be perceptions of quality of life, hope, coping, pain, body, dignity, and suffering, and serve as the basis for developing concepts and theories in the health sciences. The course covers different methods for concept and theory development; for example, the hybrid model of concept development, semantic concept analysis, Walker and Avant's model for theory development, and grounded theory. The methods are applied to selected phenomena, concepts, and theories.

Public health work is society's organized effort to maintain, improve and promote the population's health, both locally and globally. Interventions are directed towards factors that contribute to better health and factors that might represent a health risk. Public health work is concerned with reducing health inequalities through work on equity, accessibility and quality of services.

An increase in disease rates, long-term conditions and lifestyle illnesses are expected in the future. This is a consequence of demographic changes and a result of people's health behaviour. Competence in inter-professional and inter-sectoral collaboration in both public and private sectors is crucial to meeting challenges.

Regulations: Lov om universiteter og høyskoler and Forskrift om studier og eksamen ved OsloMet.

ECTS-Distribution

Theory and method

• Part I: 0,5
• Part II: 1,0
• Sum ECTS: 1,5

Ethics

• Part I: 0,5
• Part III: 0,5
• Part IV: 1,0
• Sum ECTS: 2,0

Governance

• Part I: 3,0
• Part II: 3,0
• Sum ECTS: 6,0

Communication

• Part I: 0,5
• Part III: 1,0
• Part IV: 1,0
• Sum ECTS: 2,5

Health Promotion & Preventative Work

• Part I: 0,5
• Part II: 1,0
• Part III: 3,5
• Part IV: 1,0
• Sum ECTS: 6,0

Sum

• Part I: 5,0
• Part II: 5,0
• Part III: 5,0
• Part IV: 3,0
• Sum ECTS: 18

No prerequisites

Work and teaching methods consist of lectures, seminars, and self-study. The outcomes of the seminars are presented and discussed in plenary sessions.

Part I - The Scope of Global Public Health

5 ECTS.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this part, the student will achieve the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student is able to

• describe the challenges in welfare systems, relevant national legislation, and international agreements
• describe the past, and present developments and achievements of public health and discuss possible future challenges within the field
• describe social inequalities in health and their consequences nationally and globally
• describe epidemiology and different cost analyses, and discuss inter-professional, inter-sectoral and evidence-based interventions with target groups
• discuss the principles of universal design from a human rights and democratic perspective

Skills

The student is able to

• address challenges in public health and demonstrate how to intervene professionally in collaboration with others
• demonstrate communication skills to improve health literacy
• search for relevant research, analyse these and apply to the findings in their assignment

General competences

The student is able to

• apply the tools of innovation and entrepreneurship in public health issues and communicate the results to an audience
• reflect upon ethical issues and discuss intercultural perspectives in public health

Part II - Environmental Conditions and Population Health

5 ECTS.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this part, the student will achieve the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student is able to

• discuss the interactions between the environment and sustainable development, and their effect on health
• describe health care emergency interventions following different types of disasters, and discuss challenges encountered
• discuss inter-professional and inter-sectoral interventions focusing on communicable and non-communicable diseases, including mental conditions
• describe how inter-professional and inter-sectoral practice might contribute to improve and promote mental health
• describe the distribution of different types of injuries nationally and globally and how to prevent them
• discuss how to promote occupational health and to prevent occupational health hazards
• discuss theoretical models for behavioral change and their application

Skills

The student is able to

• reflect upon priorities in public health and the consequences for population health
• demonstrate communication skills to strengthen social capital through social marketing and reflect on intervention strategies and their efficacy
• reflect upon a comprehensive view of humanity and human rights

General competences

The student is able to

• reflect upon diversity and how different ethnic, religious and cultural background may influence communication between people
• demonstrate how to disseminate public health knowledge collaboratively with target groups and stakeholders
• apply research methods in solving public health problems

Part III - Family Health

5 ECTS.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this part, the student will achieve the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student is able to

• discuss theoretical models for behavioral change and their application
• reflect on the complexity of health determinants throughout the life cycle
• discuss the role of activities and social participation in health promotion (occupational science)
• describe national and global vaccination programs, and discuss their impact and challenges involved including ethical issues

Skills

The student is able to

• reflect upon communication and collaboration within an inter-professional team
• develop interactive and critical health education information to improve family health
• identify and describe different information channels to promote health education and knowledge sharing

General competences

The student is able to

• reflect upon ethical issues, conflicts in personal values, and inter-professional and inter-sectoral approaches in family health
• reflect upon the role of public-private partnership as an asset in public health
• describe social entrepreneurship and societal transformation as a tool for implementation of a public health activity

Part IV - Inter-professional Health Care in International Public Health

3 ECTS.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this part the student will achieve the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student is able to

• describe the core elements of their own profession in health and social services in their own country, and discuss the contribution to inter-professional and inter-sectoral collaboration
• describe strategies and decision-making in health and social services, and discuss different approaches in health promotion

Skills

The student is able to

• reflect upon clinical reasoning in evidence based practice, from client-centered theoretical perspectives
• reflect upon ethical dilemmas in their own profession
• apply health care processes and procedures to promote interventions for individuals and groups

General competences

The student is able to

• communicate intercultural awareness and reflect on ethical dilemmas

Candidates must write an essay based on a concept and/or theory of their choice and apply principles from the methods of concept and theory development presented in the course. The essay must consist of up to 5,000 words and must be submitted no more than 2 weeks after the end of the course.

All

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

Group assignments, part I:

• submit a written interactive lecture in English, including an oral presentation of the lecture in English, max 20 minutes
• submit a written innovation/business plan in English, max 350 words, including an oral presentation of the plan in English, approx. 2 minutes

Group assignment, part II:

• submit a written project plan in English, max 1500 words, including an oral presentation of the plan in English, max 15 minutes

Group assignment, part III:

• submit and present a 3-minutes digital story (approx. 300 words) in English

Group assignment, part IV:

• submit a written assignment, approx 1000 words, including a presentation performed as a role-play

All group assignments must be published on the course web site in Canvas. The assignments must be signed electronically by all members of the group.

One internal and one external examiner will assess the answer papers submitted by all candidates.