Systematic Public Health Work

The course provides an introduction to systematic, evidence-based public health. A primary aim is that students will apply the knowledge gained in the course in working with a current public health challenge and interventions within a defined area. The topic will be defined in collaboration with field workers and teachers. Thus, the student may contribute to current public health, and at the same time become qualified to address future public health challenges.

The value of evidence-based practice and useful tools to ensure such practice will be emphasized throughout the course. The course focuses on systematic work processes, such as the Trøndelag model for Public Health, including community assessment and issue statement, planning, development and implementation of interventions, as well as evaluation and improvement of interventions. In case of discrepancy between the Norwegian and the English course description, the Norwegian version should be considered as the most accurate.

Upon completion, student is capable of:

General competence:

• Systematically evaluate the need for health promoting or preventive interventions related to a defined public health concern, and contribute in planning, implementation and evaluation of such interventions
• Present key elements of a public health concern in an organized and clear manner

Knowledge:

• Lay out the purpose, key instruments and methods in evidence-based public health
• Outline the basic principles of how public health is organized and regulated
• Provide examples of local public health interventions
• Explain key aspects of planning and implementation of a public health intervention

Skills:

• Apply models for systematic public health work on specific public health concerns
• Retrieve and evaluate information on measures of health and disease occurrence
• Retrieve research-based knowledge on public health interventions and evaluate its reliability, as well as the relevance and feasibility of the intervention for a particular group or population
• Assess types of evaluation and choice of study design for evaluation of public health interventions
• Assess different approaches and tools to involve users and stakeholders in decision-making and processes of change
• Consider benefits, harms and ethical aspects of various public health interventions

Lectures/seminars and group exercises. Preparation for teaching-learning activities. The students work on their course assignment throughout the term. All teaching-learning activities are held in Norwegian.