PY0773 - Systems Approaches to Understanding Health and Disease

You will participate in interactive lectures designed to provide an overview of the concepts, theories and models at each system level.
Additionally, the key concepts, outlined in each lecture, will be exemplified through an in-depth examination of a specific illness, disease or
health behaviour, using up-to date examples from the literature and from current practice (e.g. comparison of health promotion campaigns in
the UK and USA to prevent texting whilst driving). Independent study will give you further opportunity to enhance your skills in critical analysis
and explore key theoretical underpinnings and practical contexts relating to both theory and practice.

You will be supported through in-class feedback from tutors and peers. Resources will also be available via the e-learning portal, including
lecture slides and related supplementary materials, recommended readings and useful glossaries and governmental/organisational reports.
Discussion boards will support you to critically explore the key concepts as a group.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. You will be expected to be able to critically
evaluate the systems approach in the
context of health behaviours and disease
progression
2. You will be expected to demonstrate a
critical understanding of how 'caseness' is
defined at macro through to micro levels
and how differences in definition relate to
health-care prioritisation, provision, and
uptake
3. You will be expected to demonstrate a
systematic understanding of how illness
representations are created and managed
at one system level and how these relate to
health care policy and practice
Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities
1. You will be expected to be able to both
interpret and apply advanced
epidemiological research methods,
including associated statistical techniques,
which are relevant to the practice of a
Health Psychologist
Personal Value Attributes
1. You will be expected to be able to look
beyond traditional systems models of
health and illness and provide an
alternative viewpoint drawn from a variety of disciplines

Summative assessment:
The module assessment will comprise one submission with two parts:

You will respond to a commissioning brief, from a Local Authority, and create a health promotion campaign that addresses one of their strategic priorities. Additionally, you will write an accompanying needs assessment and outcome analysis (1,000 words) to add clarity for the choices made in terms of the health promotion campaign and how the campaign fits within the current social-ecological model of health and disease.

Combined, the assessment assesses all the MLOs (KU1, KU2, KU5, IPSA4 and PVA2). As such, both parts must be completed to gain a mark.

Feedback will be given through in-script comments on the online submission, responses via the marking rubric and summary feedback addressing their assignment as a whole. Additionally, a summary of the average marks with more generic feedback drawn from the cohort will be distributed via the e-learning portal.

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The aim of this module is to provide you with a thorough understanding of how differing health and illness states are defined, measured, and
prioritised at various systems levels (e.g. government bodies, the hospital, the GP surgery, family and peers) and how decisions made at
each level can impact on your health and wellbeing. Using examples from the research literature, government reports and from in-class
discussion and debate you will examine questions like: Why are the prevalence rates of HIV so different between the UK and China? Who
creates a health policy and why? Should marijuana be legalised for medical use? Are soap operas better than adverts for delivering health
messages? All topics will be taught using interactive lectures using contemporary research findings but rely on critical thinking and debate.