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Module

BMS3015 : Health and Illness: Professional and Societal Perspectives

  • Offered for Year: 2023/24
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Kate Gibson
  • Lecturer: Dr Courtney McNamara, Professor Katie Brittain, Professor Rachel Cooper, Professor Gill Rowlands, Professor Allyson Pollock, Dr Lutz Sauerteig, Dr Michele Castelli
  • Owning School: Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Scien
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 10
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

1. To provide an introduction to health care organisation and practice
2. To demonstrate the ways in which health and illness is shaped by science, society and individuals.
3. To develop understanding of how health and social care organisations shape the practices of professionals working within them

Outline Of Syllabus

This undergraduate module, based on multi-disciplinary research expertise and teaching strengths in relation to Health Service Research and Public Health within the University, provides an introduction to health and social care organisation, practice and policy.

Historical and social understandings of the body, illness and health are identified. The National Health Service (NHS) and international health care systems are introduced along with the roles of health and social care workers and multi-agency working. Health care policy and its importance is also introduced. Key features of current and future trends in health care practice and delivery are identified, including the impact of ageing, the health of the population and public health. The key challenges to maintaining the health of society, particularly in relation to health inequalities, are also discussed.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion201:0020:00Case study review and preparation of essay response
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture111:0011:00In person
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching21:002:00In person - Introductory and Assessment sessions
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching21:002:00In person - Formative interactive seminars
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study165:0065:00Writing up lecture notes, revision and general reading
Total100:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Lectures are used to impart information in a concise manner, to highlight areas of importance and to interrelate with directed reading and self-directed study.

Formative seminars will allow students to self-check knowledge and understanding throughout the module. Private study is used for self-directed learning including further reading and preparation for assessments.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Exams
Description Length Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Digital Examination601M30PIP Inspera Invigilated Exam: comprising of 50 multiple choice questions.
Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Essay1M70Extended Essay (1500 words)
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The Essay requires students to draw on the course material to think critically about a case study (a health care problem that has stimulated public debate) from alternative perspectives (eg. individual, societal, economical, professional), and to present a coherent argument in answering the set essay question.

The exam will be administered through Inspera and consist of 50 multiple choice answer questions, each worth 2 marks. The exam encourages students to learn the material presented, and is designed to assess comprehension and retention of the course material.

MDiet candidates must obtain an overall mark of 40 or above to pass the module, however, if the module has more than one assessment students must also achieve a mark of at least 35 in each component of the assessment to pass the module.

Reading Lists

Timetable