Title:	Equity and Health
Keywords:	Socio economic status Ethics Equity
Country:	Sweden
Institution:	Sweden - Department of Epidemiology and Global Health, Umeå University
Course coordinator:	Lars Lindholm
Date start:	2024-09-18
Date end:	2024-10-01
About duration and dates:	2 weeks. There are no required activities (e.g., reading or assignments) before or after these dates.
Classification:	advanced optional
Mode of delivery:	Face to face
Course location: Department of Epidemiology and Global Health Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå Sweden
ECTS credit points:	3.5 ECTS credits
SIT: 92 SIT’s ● Interactive lectures: 24 SIT’s ● Group Work: 16 SIT’s ● Seminars (three article seminars and the last one includes a role play) : 12 SIT’s ● Self-study hours including completing the written home assignment (part of the examination of this module): 40 SIT’s
Language:	English
Description: At the end of the module, the student is expected to be able to: ● Describe how moral theories included in the course (utilitarianism, Rawl’s theory of justice, communitarianism, feminism and fair procedures) treat equality in different respects. ● Analyse the relationship between moral theories and contemporary normative statements in global public health and healthcare. ● Critically assess the view of ethical aspects on inequity in health problems, as well as in suggested solutions. ● Critically review and explain the student’s own perspectives in relation to the moral theories under study.
Assessment Procedures: The assessment of the course comprises of 2 elements: (1) Compulsory group work (2-3 students) that analyse the moral theories in research articles. The group assignment ends by doing an oral group presentation (15 minutes) in which all participants need to contribute. Each participant also needs to ask at least one question to other groups’ presentations. The presentation has the grading scale Fail or Pass and Rubrics are used for grading (see appendix). If an individual student receives the grade Fail, the student needs to resit the presentation within the timeline decided by the examiner. (2) An individual home assignment (essay, 4-6 A4 pages). The purpose of the assignment is to apply the concepts/theories introduced during the course. Students can argue from the perspective of a specific theory or applying various theories giving a balanced view. The home assignment has the grading scale Fail, Pass or Pass with distinction. Rubrics are used for grading (see appendix). If a student receives the grade Fail, the student needs to improve the assignment within the timeline decided by the examiner. It is only allowed to revise a Fail. To revise for being awarded a higher grade is not allowed. In order to be awarded the grade Pass for the entire module, it is required that both the presentation and the written home assignment are awarded the grade Pass. In order to be awarded the grade Pass with distinction for the entire module, it is required that the presentation is awarded the grade Pass and the written home assignment is awarded the grade Pass with distinction. Grades and feedback are available within 15 working days after the assessment/examination. To further support the translation of grades, the ECTS Grading Table is used at Umeå University. For more information, see here
Content: Inequities in health have been given more and more attention in the global agenda. This course covers: ● Introduction to different opinions regarding the definition of equity ● Introduction to the concept moral philosophy ● Description and discussion of the theories in moral philosophy most influential in global health regarding equity (e.g. utilitarianism, Rawl’s theory of justice, communitarianism and feminism) ● Discussion about different opinions of equity and equality and how these are related to moral philosophy ● Investigation on how the above-mentioned theories have influenced scientific disciplines of importance for global public health and health care ● The relationship between moral philosophy and political decisions ● Ethical argument in relation to prioritization in health care
Methods: Teaching is conducted through interactive lectures (50%), group work (30%) and seminars (20%). The group work is performed in groups of 2-3 students and the aim of the group work is to discuss different research articles. The group work is presented and discussed at seminars. Students are encouraged to read relevant course literature before lectures.
Prerequisites: Participants must previously have gained 120 ECTS of academic studies at any level, of which a minimum of 30 ECTS are within one of the following: health sciences, environmental health, or social sciences. Proficiency in English equal to Swedish upper secondary education B/6. IELT - An overall score of 6.5 and no section below 5.5. TOEFL – Score of 20 (scale 0-30) in written test, total score of 90. For more information see: here
Attendance: Maximum number of students is 40. Number of tropEd students is not limited. There is no minimum number of students
Selection: Students in the master programmes in public health at Umeå University have guaranteed admission to this course. In addition to those, students (among them tropEd students) applying for the course as a single subject course may be accepted (up to 40 students). The selection process for single subjects’ students is based on merit rating from previous university studies.
Fees: 1) There are no application and tuition fees for students who are citizens of countries within the European Economic Area (EEA), namely EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway or of Switzerland. 2) Students who are not citizens of a country covered by the EEA agreement or of Switzerland at the time they apply for studies must pay an application fee of 900 SEK to the university. Those in 2) above who are admitted and start studying at the university must pay tuition fees. The present fee 2024 for this course is 8657 SEK.
Scholarships: There are no scholarships available at this time
Major changes since initial accreditation: The organisation of the course has been stable since first accreditation in tropEd. Some discussion examples have been updated.
Student evaluation: Students are very happy with the course (4-5) on different evaluation questions on a scale 1-5. Students especially appreciate reflecting on the concept of equity which is used often in Global Public Health. Students like the application of different theories in group work and discussions.
Lessons learned: Students like the possibility to reflect on their own perspectives and discuss with others.
tropEd accreditation: Accredited in Berlin, Oct 2018; re-accredited in EC TelCo in March 2024. This accreditation is valid until March 2029.
Email Address:	lars.lindholm@umu.se
Date Of Record Creation:	2018-11-01 04:54:29 (W3C-DTF)
Date Of Record Release:	2018-11-01 09:10:36 (W3C-DTF)
Date Record Checked:	2018-11-01 (W3C-DTF)
Date Last Modified:	2024-03-22 13:55:31 (W3C-DTF)