Behaviour Change and Public Health

POPH65062 Behaviour Change and Public Health 15 Semester 2 Postgraduate Taught Level 6 Michaela Goodwin Unit coordinator Georgios Kitsaras Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 7.5 <p>Behaviour change for health, especially public health, has become one of the most prominent topics of discussion within academic and lay circles in recent times. Behaviour change encompasses all aspects of human behaviour and how they are linked to overall health including physical and mental health. Behaviour change has endless applications within and beyond health with research concentrating on how we can change individual behaviours to achieve optimal health outcomes and how to sustain changes in behaviour over a critical amount of time for behaviours to become habits. The need for a specific module in behaviour change for public health arises from the expanding interest and research on behaviour change in public health. This is a relatively new area but has had some major indicative’s which have been taken on not just in public health but across different fields. Major public organizations including the World Health Organization, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and Public Health England have either recently published specific guidelines or are in the process of collating information to form guidelines on the use of behaviour change and behaviour science in public health. Moreover, more and more industry players are focusing on behaviour change creating an ever-increasing demand on this area. Finally, a significant number of behaviour change consultancies (Behaviour Insights Team, Behavioural Architects, The Decision Lab etc.) have appeared in a short period of time outlining the growth potential in this area. </p> <div> This module concentrates on how to best change individual behaviours in order to improve public health. Individual behaviours are amongst the top contributor for public health problems around the world ranging from smoking to obesity. Changing people’s behaviours and maintain changes over a critical period of time is key for improving health. In order to understand and subsequently change individual behaviours robust theoretical and practical frameworks are necessary. This course will introduce students to those frameworks while exploring their application to public health problems considering wider societal and ethical aspects. </div><div>  </div><div> This fully online course fits within the current MPH and could be taken alongside evidence-based practice, digital public health and health promotion: theories and practice. </div><div>  </div><div> <em>This is an interactive online course. Students must work through the online course material. Students are encouraged to use the Blackboard discussion boards to ask questions and check their understanding of the course material.</em></div> <div> This unit aims to: </div><ul> <li> Introduce behavioural science within the context of Public Health</li> <li> Develop students understanding of how public health interventions can change behaviour (including the potential unintended consequences of this), and the theory behind behaviour change in public health</li> <li> Develop students understanding of how individual behaviours can contribute to public health issues</li></ul> <table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:500px"> <tbody> <tr> <td>Category of outcome</td> <td>Students should be able to:</td> </tr> <tr> <td>A. Knowledge and understanding</td> <td><p>A1 (KNOWLEDGE) Define behaviour change theories relating to health</p><p>A2 (COMPREHENSION) Explain differences between theories with emphasis on their application to public health</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td>B. Intellectual skills</td> <td><p>B1 (APPLICATION) Apply behaviour science and behaviour change techniques in public health intervention design</p><p>B2 (ANALYSIS) Analyse and debate the use of behaviour change and its impacts </p></td> </tr> <tr> <td>C. Practical skills</td> <td>C1 (SYNTHESIS) Develop behaviour change interventions using robust theoretical and methodological approaches focusing on the COM-B model</td> </tr> <tr> <td>D. Transferable skills and personal qualities</td> <td>D1 (EVALUATE) Appraise and evaluate behaviour change interventions within public health</td> </tr> </tbody></table><p> </p> Analytical skills Students will critically analyse the principal methods and theoretical approaches to behaviour change within public health using robust, evidence-based and theory-driven practical behaviour change approaches. Innovation/creativity Students are encouraged to develop a new and innovative intervention as part of the final assignment. Project management Students will be required to consider the development, planning, and evaluation of behaviour change programs using appropriate behaviour change techniques for a given public health program. Research Students will explore the available research and published literature as part of their learning and within developing their intervention for the final assignment. Written communication Assessment takes the form of a written assignment and students are encouraged to share ideas and experiences within our discussion boards. Other Planning and Organisation, Time management, Action planning, Adaptability, Self-awareness, and Personal impact-confidence. <ul> <li> How individual behaviours can contribute to public health issues</li> <li> How public health interventions can change behaviour (and the theory behind this)</li> <li> Understand the key methodological considerations around behaviour change/behaviour change interventions (for example the Behaviour Change Wheel)</li> <li> Developing a Behaviour change intervention for a public health issue</li> <li> Evaluating real world behaviour change interventions in public health </li> <li> Inequalities in health and behaviour change</li> <li> The unintended consequences of behaviour change on public health </li> <li> Engaging the public and differing specialities in the design and implementation of behaviour change interventions</li></ul> <p>This unit will include text provided by the tutors, online videos/podcasts/recorded lectures plus required and additional reading material including articles and relevant literature. Reflective study tasks, and topic-based discussions hosted on Canvas will also be used alongside reading material and core course content. An alternative way of assessing students is proposed for the final assessment.  The final assessment will include two distinct pieces, this will include a 500 word blog describing and critically discussing a public health issue and the associated behaviours affecting the issue and then one of two options based on the initial work from the blog. This will include either a 2500 word report or a 20 minute presentation which presents the development of a behaviour change intervention. Material provided will be diverse in nature. Peer-reviewed publications will be highlighted (and accessed through the University library). Media articles and videos will also be included to demonstrate the implications and impacts of behaviour change in health both from research carried out and behaviour change implemented in the real world.</p><p>There will be regular interaction with the tutors through scheduled webinars (which will be recorded and made available) and through the online discussion boards. Students will be encouraged to use self-reflection to think about the ideas discussed, and take part in discussion board activities. Students should work through the unit in a logical sequence. The individual course unit timetables will guide what should be done and when. Participation in the discussion boards is greatly encouraged, and can help enhance your learning experience and prepare you for your assessment.</p><p>In line with guidance from the Office for Students and Quality Assurance Agency, the programme will be augmented by the Programme Director Seminar Series to deliver study skills, written English, academic writing, research skills, critical thinking and understanding arguments, careers and employability skills, revision/assessment/examination skills including time management. </p> 2 Written assignment (inc essay) 100% <div>Students will be provided with personalised feedback for their final summative assignment within 20 working days.</div><div> </div><div>Further opportunities for formative feedback (on non-assessed work) will also be provided during a course unit.</div> PG Dip in Public Health PGDp Pub.Hlth (Public Health) PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Dip in Public Health PGDp Pub.Hlth (Global Health) PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Dip in Public Health PGDp Public Health (Imp Sci) PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Dip in Public Health PGDp PH (Environmental Health) PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Dip in Public Health PGDp PH Occupational Health PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Dip in Public Health PGDp PH (Communicable Disease) PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Dip in Public Health PGDp PH (Dental PH) PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Dip in Public Health PGDp PH Evidence Based Healthc PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Dip in Public Health PGDp PH (Health Sciences) PGDT Taught Component Optional Public Health Prof Dev Public Health Prof Dev PGDT Taught Component Optional Public Health Prof Dev Public Health Prof Dev (ACF) PGDT Taught Component Optional Masters of Research (60) MRes Primary Care (60) PGDT Taught Component Optional Masters of Research (60) MRes Public Health (60) PGDT Taught Component Optional Masters of Research (60) MRes Primary Care (ACF) PGDT Taught Component Optional Masters of Research (60) MRes Public Health (ACF) PGDT Taught Component Optional Masters of Research (60) MRes Dental Public Health PGDT Taught Component Optional Masters of Research (12) MRes Primary Care (12) PGDT Taught Component Optional Masters of Research (12) MRes Public Health (12) PGDT Taught Component Optional Masters of Research (12) MRes Dental Public Health PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Cert in Public Health PG Cert in Public Health PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Cert in Public Health PG Cert PH (Global Health) PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Cert in Public Health PGCert PH (Imp Science) PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Cert in Public Health PGCt PH (Environment & PH) PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Cert in Public Health PGCert Pub Health (Occ Health) PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Cert in Public Health PGCt PH (Communicable Disease) PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Cert in Public Health PGCert PH (Dental PH) PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Cert in Public Health PGCert Public Health (EBH) PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Cert in Public Health PGCert PH (Health Sciences) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (60) MPH (Public Health) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (60) MPH (Global Health) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (60) MPH (GH - ACF) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (60) MPH (PH - ACF) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (60) MPH Implementation Science PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (60) MPH (Environment and PH) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (60) MPH (Occupational Health) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (60) MPH (Communicable Disease) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (60) MPH (Dental Public Health) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (60) MPH (EBH) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (60) MPH (Health Sciences) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (60) MPH DPH60 - ACF PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (12) MPH (Public Health) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (12) MPH (Global Health) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (12) MPH Implementation Science PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (12) MPH (Environmen & PH) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (12) MPH (Occupational Health) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (12) MPH (Communicable Disease) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (12) MPH (Dental Public Health) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (12) MPH (EBH) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (12) MPH (Health Sciences) PGDT Taught Component Optional MSc Occupational Hygiene MSc Occupational Hygiene PGDT Taught Component Optional MSc Occupational Hygiene MSc Occupational Hygiene 2yr PGDT Taught Component Optional MSc Occ Med MSc Occ Med PGDT Taught Component Optional MSc Occ Med MSc Occupational Med (ACF) PGDT Taught Component Optional MSc Occ Med MSc Occupational Medicine 2Yr PGDT Taught Component Optional PG Dip in Public Health FT PG Dip Public Health (PH) FT PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (PT) MPH (Public Health) (24) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (PT) MPH (Global Health) (24) PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (PT) MPH - Implementation Sci 24 PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (PT) MPH - Environment & PH 24 PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (PT) MPH Occ Health 24 PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (PT) MPH Communicable Disease 24 PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (PT) MPH Dental Public Health 24 PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (PT) MPH Evidence Based Health 24 PGDT Taught Component Optional MPH: the evidence bsd app (PT) MPH Health Sciences 24 PGDT Taught Component Optional Masters of Research (PT) MRes Public Health (24) PGDT Dissertation Optional Masters of Research (PT) MRes Primary Care (24) PGDT Taught Component Optional Masters of Research (PT) MRes DPH - 24 PGDT Taught Component Optional MSc Occupational Hygiene FT MSc Occupational Hygiene FT PGDT Taught Component Optional N eAssessment 50 Seminars 8 0 92 <p>If you have any questions about the content of this unit, please contact the course unit leaders, Michaela Goodwin (<a href="mailto:michaela.goodwin@manchester.ac.uk">michaela.goodwin@manchester.ac.uk</a>) and Georgios Kitsaras (<a href="mailto:georgios.kitsaras@manchester.ac.uk">georgios.kitsaras@manchester.ac.uk</a>), via email. If you have any other queries, please contact the PGT programme administrators via email on <a href="mailto:shs.programmes@manchester.ac.uk">shs.programmes@manchester.ac.uk</a>. </p>