96341 Policy, Power and Politics in Health Care
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2021 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 92050 Policy, Power and Politics in Health Care
Description
This subject aims to provide students with essential knowledge and skills relevant to the policy and political environments in which health services operate. It is important for clinicians, health service managers, health service planners and those intending to work in the health service environment to understand the political environment in which decisions are made, how government health policies are formulated and enacted, and how they are received. The subject covers the ideological frameworks underpinning public policy development; the policy formulation process; power differentials in the development and acceptance of health policies; how the health and political systems manage complex and grey issues; facilitators and challenges to policy implementation; and the influence of stakeholders and the media.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Examine how government policy is formulated within legal and ethical frameworks |
|---|---|
| B. | Differentiate between the political ideologies that underpin the delivery of healthcare services |
| C. | Judge the implications of the use of power in public policy decision making |
| D. | Assess and apply the competencies and skills required to effectively evaluate existing and emerging health policies in the management and planning of health services |
| E. | Evaluate the role of senior management, governments and interest groups (advocacy organisations, media, health professions/coalitions, private sector) in managing emerging issues, setting the health policy agenda and in policy development |
| F. | Create a variety of ways in which complex issues can be effectively communicated for a variety of target audiences. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Are reflective, critical thinkers who influence practice, policy and research to achieve clinical excellence and transform healthcare services (1.0)
- Effective, collaborative and responsive leader who considers health care in a global context (2.0)
- Socially, culturally and ethically accountable when engaging with individuals, families, interdisciplinary teams, communities, organisations and jurisdictions (3.0)
- Communicate effectively and appropriately in challenging, complex and diverse situations (4.0)
Teaching and learning strategies
The teaching and learning strategies used in this subject emphasise active and applied approaches to developing students’ ability to understand management in health services and organisations, and apply this knowledge to generate effective, practical solutions to health system challenges.
Understanding and critical thinking skills will be encouraged via a range of activities, including: on-line resources, mini lectures and briefings, problem solving, discovery-based and critical thinking activities.
Assessment range
Students will be given the opportunity to undertake a variety of assessments. Formative and summative feedback will be provided throughout the subject.
Early low-stakes feedback will be provided via three methods:
- Feedback on analyses and examples of authentic experiences posted online
- Results for the first assessment task, worth 20%
Continual feedback will be provided via the following methods:
- Feedback on online tasks and activities
- Progressive assessment tasks, worth 20% and 40%
Content (topics)
- Key forces shaping public health policy today
- Health policy development and analysis
- Power and public policy
- Political ideologies and their influence on health policy
- The ethical ‘politics’ of health policy making
- Impact of poor health policy
- Stakeholders in public health policy
- Media’s role and influence in health policy
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Understanding Public Health Policy
| Intent: | This assessment supports student understanding, recognition and exploration of public health policies. An early, sound understanding of public health policy, and how and why public health policies differ from other health policies, lays the groundwork for knowledge and skill building in effective public health policy development and management. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, D and E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 3.0 and 4.0 |
| Weight: | 20% |
| Length: | 800 words |
| Criteria: |
|
Assessment task 2: Media Analysis
| Intent: | This assessment focuses on investigating peer-reviewed and professional grey literature with the aim of providing a critical analyses of media analysis objectives, key author groups and intended recipients, and why media analysis is an important endeavour. You will then demonstrate how media analysis is conducted through an evaluation of a recent media release related to a public health policy or a public health policy issue. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C and D This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 2200 word essay |
| Criteria: |
|
Assessment task 3: Push and Pull Forces in Public Health Policy
| Intent: | This assessment focuses on examining a potential health policy option and is guided by a purpose designed question set to identify policy feasibility, utility and acceptability. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): D, E and F This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 3.0 and 4.0 |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | 2500 words |
| Criteria: |
|
Required texts
Due to the varied and highly complex nature of policy, power and politics in healthcare, there is no single mandatory text for this subject
Other resources
UTS Student Centre
Building 10
Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)
Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts
For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health).
UTS Library
The Library has a wide range of resources, facilities and services to support you including textbooks, subject readings, health literature databases, workshops and bookable study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help you with your questions available via online chat, phone and in person. W: lib.uts.edu.au, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666.
Improve your academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what you write but also for how you write. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.
HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733.
Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.