Assessing the evidence behind healthcare interventions, programmes and services is one of the core competences identified by the UK Faculty of Public Health. The module has been designed to provide students with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the opportunities and challenges in creating a credible evidence base to guide public health decision making. During the module, we will explore the historical development of evidence-based public health, discover who the main players are, and discuss some of the contemporary debates surrounding its relevance to international public health today.
The module will be delivered through lecture delivery, problem-based learning, small group learning, and self-directed learning, while assessment will consist of two individual assignments; a 2500 word systematic review (worth 50% of the total module mark) and a 2500-word critical appraisal assignment (worth 50%). The module will also highlight how evidence from a wide range of sources can be identified, synthesised, and translated into initiatives aiming to improve health and reduce health inequalities. The module will draw on the work of key public health organisations, namely the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in England, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US and the World Health Organization. The module will also provide an opportunity for students to transfer their learning from other modules such as ‘Epidemiology and Statistics for Public Health 1’ and it is expected that students will complete the assigned pre-reading before each teaching session. This reading will be available via the VLE in advance of the module and the VLE will also be used to provide general module information (e.g. module guide and learning outcomes), communicate with students regarding module-specific issues, and provide the platform to submit their two summative assignments.