Not available in 2020/21
HP434      Half Unit
Methods and Data for Health Systems Performance Assessment

This information is for the 2020/21 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Irene Papanicolas COW3.04

Availability

This course is available on the MSc in International Health Policy and MSc in International Health Policy (Health Economics). This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Students will not be permitted to take both HP402 Measuring Health Systems and Methods and Data for Health Systems Performance Assessment courses. 

Course content

This course aims to present a framework to discuss the opportunities and challenges with performance measurement in health care, examine the various dimensions and levels of health system performance, identify and apply the measurement instruments and analytic tools needed, and examine the implications of these issues for policy makers and regulators. Lectures generally focus on measuring health system performance in high-income countries but draw on the experience of other countries where relevant. 

After taking this course student will be able to:

1. understand the complexity of different health systems

2. appreciate the challenges, approached and opportunities in performance measurement in four dimensions; population health, patient outcomes, equity, quality adn appropriateness of care, and productivity

3. be familiar with the construction of key indicators used by health systems and providers to measure population health, patient outcomes, equity, quality of care and productivity

4. apply different methodologies used for risk adjustment, to develop composite measures, and to measure attribution and causality

5. identify key issues relevant to policy makers relating to policy evaluation using measures of performance 

 

Teaching

15 hours of lectures and 18 hours of seminars in the LT.

Formative coursework

Students will be expected to produce 1 project in the LT.

1x 1500 word group research project. Student will be able to submit a short 1500-word individual report based on analysis conducted in class during one of the seminars and in collaboration with other students. This will be graded and feedback given to students to inform their summative submission. This allows students to learn from their peers and work on data analysis in a group. 

Indicative reading

• Papanicolas I, Smith P (Eds) Health System Performance Comparison: An Agenda for Policy, Information and Research. Maidenhead: Open University Press, 2013;

• P Smith, E Mossialos, I Papanicolas S. Leatherman (Eds), Performance measurement for health system improvement: experiences, challenges and prospects. Cambridge University Press, 2010.

• Institute of Medicine, Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century. Washington, DC, National Academies Press, 2001;

• OECD, Measuring up: improving health system performance in OECD countries. Paris: OECD, 2002. World Health Organization (WHO), (2000)

• The world health report 2000:Health systems: Improving performance, Geneva: WHO Publications

Assessment

Project (100%, 3500 words) in the ST.

Students will be asked to pick one research project among two. The project will involve data analysis using specialist software used in class seminars. 

Important information in response to COVID-19

Please note that during 2020/21 academic year some variation to teaching and learning activities may be required to respond to changes in public health advice and/or to account for the situation of students in attendance on campus and those studying online during the early part of the academic year. For assessment, this may involve changes to mode of delivery and/or the format or weighting of assessments. Changes will only be made if required and students will be notified about any changes to teaching or assessment plans at the earliest opportunity.

Key facts

Department: Health Policy

Total students 2019/20: Unavailable

Average class size 2019/20: Unavailable

Controlled access 2019/20: No

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Team working
  • Problem solving
  • Application of numeracy skills