Public health practice: intervention, implementation and evaluation

The course is given as an elective course within the framework of the Master's Program in Public Health Science (M2PHP).

The course can be part of the following programme: 1) Master's Programme in Public Health Science (M2PHP)

To be eligible for the course, the students must have acquired the following:

• MPH211 Public health science: foundations and applications (15 hec) or MGH101 Global health challenges in an interdisciplinary context (15 hec) or equivalent and 
• MPH221 Epidemiology and biostatistics (15 hec) or MGH102 Quantitative and qualitative methods (15 hec) or equivalent and
• MPH212 Health equality and the right to health (7,5 hec) or MPH213 Qualitative methods in public health science (7,5 hec) or MGH201 Governing health and illness in a global perspective (15 hec) or equivalent. 
• As well as taken course MPH222 Health economics: foundations, areas of application and methodology (15 hec), MPH223 Social epidemiology: theories, methods and practical implications (15 hec), MGH202 Global health economics (15 hec) or MGH302 Health promotion and disease prevention in at risk groups; strategies and methods (15 hec) or equivalent.

The purpose of the course is to allow the students to gain knowledge of the assignments and conditions at work places relevant to public health work, and to give the opportunity to link theoretical knowledge to professional practice at a company, an organization, institution or public authority. During the public health work experience, the student engages actively in their own learning process in order to strengthen personal and professional capacity. The student must design a plan for the internship with clear goals and timelines for achieving the course learning objectives, which must be approved by the course coordinator as well as the local supervisor. Examples of public health workplaces include non-profit agencies, government organizations, non governmental organizations (NGOs), and private companies.

On successful completion of the course the student will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Describe essential theories and models for inclusive and context adapted development, implementation and evaluation of public health interventions aimed at structural as well as group-specific determinants of health, 
• Based on central theories and models for the governance of public health work, describe the workplace’s organizational character (e.g. mandate, influence and work processes), and its capacity for identifying and implementing interventions to promote public health,

Competence and skills

• Identify and apply theories and methods for developing, implementing and evaluating interventions of relevance to the internship's public health mission,
• Formulate and propose methods for mapping and collaborating with other stakeholders relevant to the internship's public health mission,
• Apply ethical principles for prioritizing as well as formulate and communicate, to various stakeholders, a strategic plan for how human rights-based public health interventions can be developed, implemented and evaluated,

Judgement and approach

• Critically reflect on the benefits and limitations of different types of scientific knowledge, political agendas as well as specific stakeholder interests as a starting point for policy formulation and other practical public health work.
• Analyze the paradigmatic points of departure that characterize the internship's public health work, as well as whether its focus and mission promote local, national and global goals for sustainable public health development.

The course focuses on practical work. The main form of teaching is 20 weeks of supervised practice in a public health workplace with a clear mission to promote a positive public health development. The majority of the course is at the practice work site where the student works under supervision, yet literature studies and independent
writing are also part of the course. Some of the course learning activities are web-based, such as feedback from other students and teachers.

Language of instruction: English

The language of course material and examination is English, but students can perform the practical experience in another language based upon geographical location and language skills and supervisor competence.

1. Written agreement with the public health worksite supervisor that includes goals for the planned internship and a written work plan containing measureable performance objectives.
2. Written half-time report of the public health work, related to planning, implementation, and evaluation addressed during the practice experience.
3. Complete the full 20 weeks of planned internship and provide verification from the worksite supervisor.
4. Written final report of the public health work, related to planning, implementation, and evaluation addressed during the practice experience.
5. Individual oral presentation of the practice experience for fellow students, teachers, and supervisors.

The grading scale comprises: Pass (G) and Fail (U).
The grading scale comprises Pass (G) and Fail (U). For the grade pass (G) on a whole course, the student must complete a 20 week practice experience and earn a passing grade (G) on all examination components of the course.

Course evaluation takes place in writing and orally. Course teacher compiles analysis of course evaluation and provides suggestions for development of the course. Analysis and suggestions are returned to the students and published on the learning platform. The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who
participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.

The internship can be performed in Sweden or another country at a worksite, which has been quality assured and approved by the course leadership. The student is responsible for any travel and subsistence expenses related to the practice experience. Insurance is obtained via registration with the Sahlgrenska Academy International Office.

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner
may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted
forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local Rules Regarding RIU Students at the University of Gothenburg.