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 how health and illness can be conceptualised and what factors determine health at an individual, community and population level. Providing holistic care is also dependent on the nurse developing an understanding of how an individuals' health or experience of ill health may be influenced by developmental life stages. To meet changing health care demands, nurses need to have an understanding of how different models and frameworks used to respond to health priorities are used within the context of the Australian Health Care System.

SYNOPSIS

Students will be able to describe how health, illness and wellness can be conceptualised and how these concepts can be applied in terms of contemporary health models, theories and frameworks. Students will be able to identify a range of determinants which may impact on health and behaviour including social / psychological/ biological/ and environmental. In addition students will also begin to develop knowledge of how social influences, health beliefs and human developmental stages and changes can also impact on an individual's experience of health or ill health. Students will also begin to develop knowledge of a nurse's role in preventing illness and promoting health and apply this at an individual and community / population level. Students will be able to identify significant major health issues in Australia including indigenous, rural health and lifespan issues. Students in this course will develop critical thinking skills by exploring how a determinants approach can be incorporated into their nursing practice.

OBJECTIVES

On completion of this course students will be able to:

1.

Describe how health and illness can be conceptualised (including lay perspectives, models, frameworks and theories of health, wellbeing and illness) (Assignment, Group Presentation, Exam)

2.

Identify and describe significant health issues in Australia (Group Oral Presentation, Exam)

3.

Compare and contrast determinants of health between specific populations e.g. Indigenous and non-Indigenous populations, urban Vs rural (Group Oral Presentation; Exam)

4.

Locate and retrieve appropriate literature from a variety of sources to examine a significant health issue; (Group Presentation)

5.

Apply knowledge of human developmental stages, changes and events for people experiencing ill health and also in promoting health across the lifespan (Exam)

6.

Describe the variables which may influence an individual's behaviour and how this may affect an individual and their family (Exam)

7.

Discuss the role of power and politics in the provision of health care and health related polices of the Australian Health Care System; (Group Presentation; Exam))

8.

Apply understandings of a determinants of health approach to individuals 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).

Jones, K & Creedy, D 2007, Health and human behaviour: an introduction, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne.

Keleher, H & MacDougall, C 2008, Understanding health: a social determinants approach, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne.

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

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, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne.

Keleher, H & MacDougall, C 2008, Understanding health: A Social determinants Approach, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, South Melbourne.

Peterson, C 2005, Looking forward through the lifespan, 4th edn, Prentice Hall, Frenchs Forrest, N.S.W.

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

Smith, J 2007, Australia's rural and remote health: a social justice perspective, 2nd edn, Tertiary Press, Croydon, Victoria.

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

STUDENT WORKLOAD REQUIREMENTS

ASSESSMENT DETAILS

NOTES

1.

Oral presentations will be delivered between weeks 12 & 13 Marks will be allocated for Oral (Presentation) & Written Components (Group Learning Contract & My Final Contribution Document)

2.

Exam will be held during the end of semester examination period (date to be advised)

3.

Exam will be held during the end of semester examination period (date to be advised)

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 11 Dec 2009.