Evidence-based Public Health

The course provides a practical introduction to evidence-based public health. A primary aim is that students should be able to apply the knowledge gained in the course when working with specific public health challenges and interventions within a well defined topic of choice, preferably related to the student's own field or community. In this way, the student's work can contribute to improved population health. Advice will be given on choice of topic when the course starts. The course focuses on conducting a community assessment, developing a statement of the issue, as well as planning and evaluation of interventions. The value of evidence-based pratice and the use methods to ensure such practice, will be emphasized throughout the course. The students will gain experience of searching for knowledge, critically evaluate research on health promoting or disease preventing interventions for groups or populations and how this knowledge can be implemented in practice.

Upon completion, students have aquired: General competence: * Evaluate the need for health promoting or disease preventive interventions related to a defined population health concern, and contribute in planning, implementation and evaluation of such interventions. * Present key elements of a topic in health promotion and/or disease prevention in an organized and clear manner Knowledge: * Explain general principles and theories in health promotion and disease prevention * Lay out key instruments and methods in health promotion and disease prevention, in particular work targeting groups or populations * Describe key national and local stakeholdes in public health and their responsibilities * Outline the basic prinsiples of how public health is regulated in national law, recommendations and guidelines * Explain key nasjonal programs for primary and secondary prevention * Provide examples of local public health interventions * Explain key elements of planning and implementation of a public health intervention Skills: * Retrieve and evaluate information on measures of health and disease occurrence * Retrieve information on public health interventions and evaluate its reliability, including its relevance and feasibility for a particular group or population * Assess choice of study design for evaluation of a public health intervention * Consider benefits and harms of various public health interventions * Discuss ethical aspects of public health

Lectures/seminars and group exercises. Preparation for teaching-learning activities. The students work on their course assignment throughout the term. The course will only be offered if a sufficient number of students register.