| Credit |
6 points |
| Availability |
Semester 1 |
| Outcomes |
Students are able to describe the principal forms of control in public health; describe the role and centrality of prevention and screening in disease control; identify the techniques used in applying public health interventions; improve their skills in communicating about public health problems and solutions; understand the multidisciplinary approach to disease control that draws on the subject matter of the biomedical, behavioural and social sciences to create an integrated view; value the use of new public health knowledge to develop, implement and evaluate interventions aimed at advancing the health of the community, while maintaining and improving the use of well established public health practices and services; and appreciate multidisciplinary teamwork and participative learning. |
| Content |
The unit examines disease control from a community perspective, including issues in Western Australia, as well as nationally and globally. The initial sessions provide a focused review of the principles of prevention and screening, and of the major determinants of public health. The role of host/genetic factors and environmental conditions is emphasised. The unit then explores specific interventions related to both communicable and non-communicable diseases, including the role of nutrition and health promotion. Public health problems in developed and developing countries are outlined. Examples of control are presented and reviewed in the practical sessions. Topics include strategies for control of cardiovascular disease and diabetes; important cancers in Australia and how the principles of primary prevention and screening are applied to current programs; infectious disease control from a national and global perspective; control of mental illness; the meaning of health and sickness for Aboriginal Australians and implications for control; principles of environmental risk assessment; control priorities in developed versus developing countries; and management of disease in children and the elderly. |
| Assessment |
This comprises participation (20 per cent), a mid-semester test (10 per cent), research report (30 per cent) and a final examination (40 per cent).
Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit. |
| Unit Co-ordinator(s) |
Associate Professor Angus Cook |
| Location |
UWA (Crawley) |
| Mode |
on-campus |
| Unit Rules |
| Prerequisites: an undergraduate degree |
Contact hours—lectures: 2 hrs per week; tutorials: 1 hr per week
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| Unit Outline | http://webct.uwa.edu.au/webct/logon/361663862031 |
| Texts | |
Farmer, R. D. T. and Lawrenson, R. Lecture Notes in Epidemiology and Public Health Medicine, 5th edn: Blackwell 2004
Schneider, M. J. Introduction to Public Health, 2nd edn: Jones and Bartlett 2006 |
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- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change.
- Assistance with study skills, including English language skills, is available free of charge from Student Services for all enrolled students (see http://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/ss/learning). Student Services location: Second Floor, South Wing, Guild Village; telephone: 6488 2423.
- Books and other materials wherever listed may be subject to change. Book lists relating to 'Preliminary Reading', 'Recommended Reading' and 'Textbooks' are, in most cases, available at the University Co-operative Bookshop (from early January) and appropriate administrative offices for students to consult. For first-year units the Bookshop will endeavour to make available photocopies of book lists for individual units. Books marked with an asterisk (*) are available in paperback.
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