HP4C1E      Half Unit
Economic Analysis for Health Policy

This information is for the 2020/21 session.

Teacher responsible

Prof Andrew Street COW 1.02

Availability

This course is compulsory on the Executive MSc in Health Economics, Outcomes and Management in Cardiovascular Sciences. This course is not available as an outside option.

Course content

The course will serve as an introduction to major issues in the economics of health and health care. It will provide participants with a strong understanding of the role economics can play in health policy and health system administration. It will provide a framework with which to understand the demands placed on the health care system, the changing nature of health care supply and delivery, the interactions between patients and providers of health care, and the performance and productivity of the health system. Participants will also be introduced to essential statistical concepts in the evaluation of clinical interventions. Seminar sessions will focus on current policy debates in health care drawing on the theory and evidence from the lectures.

Teaching

This will include 10 x 90 minutes of interactive lectures and 5 x 120 minutes of case-study based seminars.

Formative coursework

An 800-word “mock” blog entry for The Conversation, which covers policy-relevant issues and often has academic contributors. A series of topics will be provided to students to choose from.

Indicative reading

Course textbook

Bhattacharya, Jay, Timothy Hyde, and Peter Tu. Health economics. Palgrave Macmillan, 2013.

Useful pre-readings

Geoffard P-Y. Incentive and Selection Effects in Health Insurance. Chapter 10 Jones A (ed) Elgar Companion to Health Economics, second edition, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham 2012.

Iversen T, Luras H. Capitation and Incentives in Primary Care Chapter 26 Jones A (ed) Elgar Companion to Health Economics, second edition, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham 2012.

Nyman JA. The Value of Health Insurance. Chapter 9 Jones A (ed) Elgar Companion to Health Economics, second edition, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham 2012.

Pocock SJ et al. Making Sense of Statistics in Clinical Trial Reports: Part 1 of a 4-Part Series on Statistics for Clinical Trials. J Am Coll of Cardiol. 2015;66(22):2536-49

Rice T. The Physician as the Patient’s Agent. Chapter 25 Jones A (ed) Elgar Companion to Health Economics, second edition, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham 2012.

Assessment

Essay (70%) and presentation (30%).

The two assessments will be:

2. Individual-based video presentation (30%). Students will be asked to record a video on their own on a topic that will be assigned to them. This will assess the students’ ability to describe, summarise, apply, critically appraise, and communicate the concepts learned in class to a particular case study.

1. Summative essay (70%) of 2500 words. This will be a written discussion of the topic covered in the presentation. This assessment will evaluate the students’ ability in summarising, applying, and critically appraising the relevance of health economics concepts to a health policy issue.

 

Important information in response to COVID-19

Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.

Key facts

Department: Health Policy

Total students 2019/20: Unavailable

Average class size 2019/20: Unavailable

Controlled access 2019/20: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Leadership
  • Self-management
  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of information skills
  • Communication
  • Application of numeracy skills
  • Commercial awareness
  • Specialist skills