MD990-15 Introduction to Health Economics (for non-economists)
Introductory description
This is a separate but closely related module to Introduction to Health Economics (for non economist) (MD990) 20 CAT module.
Module aims
The aim of this module is to provide an understanding of economic concepts and their relevance to decisions around the allocation of health care resources. This understanding will be at the level where participants will be able to critically appraise health economic studies and engage with health economists working with them as advisors or research collaborators.
Outline syllabus
This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.
The syllabus will include the following sections:
Economics applied to health and health care
- An overview of key concepts in economic theory and their application in health care.
Health care systems – economic considerations. - An overview of alternative approaches to funding and providing health care, and a discussion about the degree to which different systems achieve key objectives, such as basic coverage, efficiency and equitable access.
Conducting and appraising economic evaluations - An overview of the principles of economic evaluation and the methods used to measure and value costs and benefits of health care.
Decision modelling and representations of uncertainty in economic evaluation. - An overview of the need for modelling in economic evaluation, the methods used for economic models, and how decision uncertainty is presented in economic evaluation.
Use of economic evaluation findings to inform policy making - An overview of the role, extent and mechanisms though which results of economic evaluation are used to inform decision making in health care.
Learning outcomes
By the end of the module, students should be able to:
- The module will enable students to:- Acquire and demonstrate an understanding of key economic concepts (such as opportunity cost, efficiency, marginal analysis)- Identify approaches and examples of policies countries use in healthcare policy-making. - Acquire and demonstrate an understanding of the methods underpinning economic evaluation in health care, and become aware of key aspects of good practice in undertaking and reporting an economic evaluation.
Indicative reading list
Key course textbooks:
- Morris S, Devlin S, Parkin D and Spencer A. Economic analysis in health care. 2nd ed. London: Wiley, 2012.
- Drummond M, Sculpher M, Claxton K, Stoddard G, Torrence G. Methods for the Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programmes. 3rd edition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2015.
Further reading:
- Folland S, Goodman A, Stano M. The Economics of Health and Health Care, 7th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2014.
View reading list on Talis Aspire
Research element
Research elements include:
- Engagement with existing research through lectures and practical sessions
- Student self directed research for tasks related to post module assessment (e.g. critical appraisal of published evidence)
Interdisciplinary
The module and its learning objectives draw on theory, examples and case studies from economics, health sciences, public policy.
International
In addition to discussing relevant aspects of health economics within the content of the National Health Service in the UK, the module identifies and discusses practice in other countries. For example, the lectures Funding Health Care across the World and Government Intervention in Health Care look at health care systems in both developing and developed countries (e.g. US, Germany, Japan, Kenya, Nigeria).
Subject specific skills
The module will provide the following subject-specific skills
- Understanding of key economic concepts (such as opportunity cost, efficiency, marginal analysis)
- Understanding of approaches to, and examples of, policy making in healthcare policy making.
- Understanding of the methods underpinning economic evaluation in health care, and become aware of key aspects of good practice in undertaking and reporting an economic evaluation.
Transferable skills
The module will offer students the opportunity to acquire the following transferrable skills
- Effective communication of thoughts, ideas, questions, concepts and findings.
- Effective collaboration with fellow students towards a given task
- Identification of relevant sources of information, and ability to summarise and critically appraise existing evidence.
- Ability to work as part of a team, respecting colleagues’ values and opinions
- Ability to work independently when needed, and to engage in and take responsibility for further learning.
Study time
Type | Required |
---|---|
Lectures | 14 sessions of 1 hour (9%) |
Seminars | 2 sessions of 30 minutes (1%) |
Tutorials | 4 sessions of 15 minutes (1%) |
Practical classes | 2 sessions of 2 hours (3%) |
Supervised practical classes | 5 sessions of 1 hour (3%) |
Private study | 125 hours (83%) |
Total | 150 hours |
Private study description
Private study and self directed learning and work on post-module assessment (2 part assignment on health economics)
Costs
No further costs have been identified for this module.
You do not need to pass all assessment components to pass the module.
Assessment group A
Weighting | Study time | Eligible for self-certification | |
---|---|---|---|
Essay titles will depend on subject. | 60% | No | |
Two-part assessment through two distinct essays. Part B: 1 x 2000 word written assignment presenting a critical appraisal of a published economic evaluation study. Pass mark: A module pass mark will be achieved if an overall average mark of 50% or higher is achieved across the two assignment parts (compensation applies). Re-submission and re-examination In cases where an overall pass mark of 50% is not achieved, assignment parts that have been awarded a mark lower than 50% will need to be re-submitted. Any re-submitted assignment part will be capped at the pass mark (50%) and the overall module mark will be capped at 50%. |
|||
Essay titles will depend on subject. | 40% | Yes (extension) | |
Two-part assessment through two distinct essays. Part A: 1 x 1000 word written assignment to demonstrate understanding and critical thinking about key economic concepts. Pass mark: A module pass mark will be achieved if an overall average mark of 50% or higher is achieved across the two assignment parts (compensation applies). Re-submission and re-examination In cases where an overall pass mark of 50% is not achieved, assignment parts that have been awarded a mark lower than 50% will need to be re-submitted. Any re-submitted assignment part will be capped at the pass mark (50%) and the overall module mark will be capped at 50%. |
Feedback on assessment
Written feedback will be provided for the written assignments in line with WMS postgraduate assessment criteria. Further verbal feedback will be made available to students on request.
Courses
This module is Core for:
- MSc Healthcare Operational Management, Warwick Medical School