NUR1120 Social Determinants of Health

Contents

• Staffing
• Rationale
• Synopsis
• Objectives
• Topics
• Texts
• Reference materials
• Student workload
• Assessment details
• Important assessment information
• Assessment notes
• Other requirements
• Production date
• PDF version

STAFFING

RATIONALE

Fundamental to nursing practice is an understanding of the social constructs of health, wellbeing and illness. It is important for nurses to develop knowledge about individual, community and societal determinants which impact on health, within the context of the Australian Health Care System. Providing holistic care is dependent on the nurse developing an understanding of how an individual's health behaviour may be influenced by illness, behaviour and lifestyle and developmental life events and changes.

SYNOPSIS

Students will be able to identify socio/economic/biological/environmental determinants influencing health at an individual, community and societal level. Students will be able to identify positive or negative influences on an individual's health and wellbeing. Students will examine a range of health and illness models and will apply this knowledge the context of the Australian Health Care System. Students will begin to develop knowledge of significant health issues in Australia including indigenous and rural health issues. Students will develop critical thinking skills by using the sociological imagination template to develop a broader understanding of health issues and reflect on how these beginning understandings may influence their practice as nurses to provide holistic health care.

OBJECTIVES

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1. Examine models of health, wellbeing and illness and apply this knowledge to the Australian Health Care System; (Self Reflection, Group Presentation and Exam)
2. Identify determinants which may have positive or negative influences on a person's health and their health behaviours; (Self Reflection, Group Presentation and Exam)
3. Find and retrieve appropriate literature from a variety of sources to examine a significant health issue; (Self Reflection and Group Presentation)
4. Analyse health issues by using the sociological imagination template; (Self Reflection and Group Presentation)
5. Apply theories of developmental psychology to individuals across the lifespan; (Exam)
6. Discuss the role of power and politics in the provision of health care and health related polices of the Australian Health Care System; (Self Reflection and Group Presentation)
7. Develop a personal philosophy of nursing that includes consideration of an individuals determinants of health for the purpose of providing holistic care. (Exam)

TOPICS

TEXT and MATERIALS required to be PURCHASED or accessed

ALL textbooks and materials are available for purchase from USQ BOOKSHOP (unless otherwise stated). Orders may be placed via secure internet, free fax 1800642453, phone 07 46312742 (within Australia), or mail. Overseas students should fax +61 7 46311743, or phone +61 7 46312742. For costs, further details, and internet ordering, use the 'Textbook Search' facility at http://bookshop.usq.edu.au click 'Semester', then enter your 'Course Code' (no spaces).

USQ Publication 2008, Instruction Guide (Available: USQ StudyDesk).

Willis, K & Elmer, S 2007, Society, Culture and Health: An Introduction to Sociology for Nurses, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne.

REFERENCE MATERIALS

Reference materials are materials that, if accessed by students, may improve their knowledge and understanding of the material in the course and enrich their learning experience.

Germov, J 2005, Second opinion: an introduction to health sociology, 3rd edn, University Press, South Melbourne.

Jones, K & Creedy, D 2007, Health and Human Behaviour: An introduction, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne.

Keleher, H & Murphy B 2004, Understanding health: A determinants approach, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne.

Peterson, C 2005, Looking forward through the lifespan, 4th edn, Pearson, Frenchs Forrest.

Rogers-Clark, C, Martin-McDonald, K & McCarthy, A (eds) 2005, Living with illness:psychosocial challenges for nursing, Elsevier, Marrickville.

Smith, J 2004, Australia's rural and remote health: a social justice perspective, Tertiary Press, Victoria.

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

Presentations will be run between weeks 11 - 14

IMPORTANT ASSESSMENT INFORMATION

1. Attendance requirements:
   It is the students' responsibility to attend and participate appropriately in all activities (such as lectures, tutorials, on-line topic exploration) scheduled for them, and to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course-related activities and administration.
2. Requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily:
   To satisfactorily complete an assessment item a student must achieve at least 50% of the mark. Refer to Statement 4 below for the requirements to receive a passing grade in this course.
3. Penalties for late submission of required work:
   If students submit assignments after the due date without prior approval then a penalty of 5% of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment will apply for each working day late.
4. Requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course:
   To be assured of receiving a passing grade a student must achieve at least 50% of the total weighted marks available for the course.
5. Method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade:
   The final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the aggregate of the weighted marks obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course.
6. Examination information:
   Exams in this course are restricted: Candidates are allowed access only to specific materials during a Restricted Examination. The only materials that candidates may use in the restricted examination for this course are: writing materials (non-electronic and free from material which could give the student an unfair advantage in the examination); Students whose first language is not English, may, take an appropriate unmarked non-electronic translation dictionary (but not technical dictionary) into the examination. Dictionaries with any handwritten notes will not be permitted. Translation dictionaries will be subject to perusal and may be removed from the candidate's possession until appropriate disciplinary action is completed if found to contain material that could give the candidate an unfair advantage.
7. Examination period when Deferred/Supplementary examinations will be held:
   Any Deferred or Supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the next examination period following this course offering and the examiner will advise students involved in writing of the date time and location of any such examination
8. University Regulations:
   Students should read USQ Regulations 5.1 Definitions, 5.6. Assessment, and 5.10 Academic Misconduct for further information and to avoid actions which might contravene University Regulations. These regulations can be found at the URL http://www.usq.edu.au/corporateservices/calendar/part5.htm or in the current USQ Handbook.

ASSESSMENT NOTES

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

1. Students will require access to e-mail and internet access to USQConnect for this course. Students can expect that questions in assessment items in this course may draw upon knowledge and skills that they can reasonably be expected to have acquired before enrolling in the course. This includes knowledge contained in pre-requisite courses and appropriate communication, information literacy, analytical, critical thinking, problem solving or numeracy skills. Students who do not possess such knowledge and skills should not expect to achieve the same grades as those students who do possess them.

This version produced 27 May 2008.