INTHE4119 – Evidence Informed Health Policy
Course description
Course content
This course explores health policy making as a process from an analytical point of view and from a normative perspective; how can we understand public policy processes, how can and should research findings be utilised to inform policies?
A normative framework for evidence informed health policy will be explored. Its strengths and weaknesses will be examined and related to debates about the role of research, what evidence is and how research and researchers can inform policies.
The course will focus on policies related to governance, financial and delivery arrangements within health systems, and implementation of these. The course will through examples and case based group work introduce an approach to making policy briefs based on research evidence.
Learning outcome
Knowledge
You will:
- understand and critically reflect on framework for public policy making and evidence informed health policy
- understand and discuss evaluation methods and methods for analyzing the effectiveness and impact of interventions
Skills
You will be able to:
- systematically search for, identify and assess systematic reviews of the effectiveness of health system interventions
- critically analyze systematic reviews and policy briefs that address strategies to improve health systems
- analyze and describe options for addressing a health policy relevant issue
- develop policy briefs where a health policy problem and options for addressing it are informed by evidence from research
General Competence
- You will be able to reflect on and critically assess how health policies and reform are developed and informed by research findings and reflect on the ethical implications of how interests and stakeholders are involved
Admission
Students enrolled at the M.Phil in International Community Health programme will get first priority to the course, as long as they register before 10 January. The deadline for register in Studentweb and apply for courses is February 1.
Students enrolled in other Master's degree programmes at the UIO can, on application to helsam-studentinfo@helsam.uio.no, be admitted to the course if this is cleared by their own study programme. We prioritize students at other programmes at the Institute and Faculty. You will get an answer latest 20 January.
External applicants, not already enrolled as a student at UIO, are welcome to apply. Please fill out the form at /english/studies/programmes/ichealth-master/admission/ to check if you meet the requirements and which documents to you need to provide. In short you need to provide:
- A completed Bachelor’s degree or a period of study comparable with a Norwegian Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution.
- A minimum grade point average (GPA) of C (in Norwegian scale) or equivalent from the specialization in your degree.
- A English language test of a certain level.
- The applicants must have a specialization either within health sciences or social sciences.
To apply, please email helsam-studentinfo@helsam.uio.no before 10 January with all the relevant documents (see the link above). Applicants who have not attached all the nessecary documents will not get admission.
Note: all documents must be official certified copies
Read more about admission for international applicants
You will get an answer latest 20 January.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with HME4211 – Evidence informed health policy (discontinued)
- 10 credits overlap with HMAN5170 – Evidence informed health policy (discontinued)
Teaching
It consist of lectures, seminars and group work based on cases. All seminars and participation in group work are compulsory.
Examination
The exam is three part: 1) group presentation and discussion, 2) term paper, and 3) oral exam.
- Each group of 3-4 students will be examined as a group.
- Presentation of the case/policy brief (20 min). All students need to be active and take part in the oral presentation.
- Examination/discussion (30 min). Each student will be given one question that she/he will need to answer, others will then have the opportunity to comment and reflect. Examiners may also continue with a follow up question.
- Grades will be based on seminar presentations and discussions (20%), a term paper (50%) and a final oral presentation and exam (30%). The group will be given a joint grade. However, if it is clear from presentations and examinations that there is unequal contribution or performance, students may be given individual grades. All three parts have to be passed in order to get a total grade.
- Term papers will be scanned to identify potential misconduct by URKUND.
Examination support material
No examination support material is allowed during the oral examination.
Language of examination
English
Grading scale
Grades are awarded on a scale from A to F, where A is the best grade and F is a fail. Read more about the grading system.
Explanations and appeals
Resit an examination
Withdrawal from an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
Special examination arrangements
Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.