Module: Perspectives on Health

Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title	Perspectives on Health
Module Code	NS134 (ITS) / HEA1000 (Banner)
Faculty	Science & Health	School	Nursing, PsyT & Comm Health
Module Co-ordinator	Therese Leufer
Module Teachers	-
NFQ level	6	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	Not Available
Co-requisite	Not Available
Compatibles	Not Available
Incompatibles	Not Available

None

Description

In this module, learners explore various arguments about health which orientates them to some key health issues subsequently encountered through their programme of study. Learners also focus upon the quality of health argumentation and how to judge the credibility of claims that are made about health matters. This contributes to their capacity for making scholarly arguments.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify the principal elements in a well formed argument about health.
2. Describe some essential claims that are commonly made in accounts of health: as a matter of well-being; medical provenance; luck and choice; or justice.
3. Discuss these claims by reference to the quality of supporting arguments in terms of evidence, reasoning and response to counter-arguments.
4. Explore the practical, moral, social and political implications of various essential health claims.
5. Make a reasoned health argument which is informed by evidence and takes account of alternative viewpoints.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full-time hours per semester
Lecture	16	Face to face/Synchronous contact
Tutorial	4	Engaging in discussion related to module content/requirements.
Class Presentation	10	Preparation for & delivery of group presentation
Independent Study	95	Asynchronous engagement with module tasks i.e. completion of online elements and preparation for assessment components.
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Judging and making health arguments
The elements of a well-formed argument are explored by reference to what counts as a justified claim about health. The role of doubt in scholarship is emphasised along with matters of supporting evidence, explicit reasoning, and taking account of alternative viewpoints.

Health as a matter of well-being
The idea of health as a state of "complete well-being" is considered in terms of the origins and value.

Health as the provenance of medicine
The benefits of medicine are examined in terms of the health of populations and in the light of criticisms which emphasise "medical iatrogenesis" and "narratives of suffering."

Health from cosmic luck and personal choices
The "givenness" of health status is explored along with arguments about its moral and social implications. This is compared with health accounts in which matters of personal choice and responsibility are emphasised.

Health from justice
The notion of inequality is examined along with ideas about the relations between social justice and health.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Course Work Breakdown
Group presentation	Group presentation on assigned topic relating to module content.	35%	As required
Assignment	Assignment relating to health argument aspects encountered on the module.	65%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories: Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module. Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module. Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 1

Indicative Reading List

Cederström, C.: 2015, The wellness syndrome, Polity Press, Malden,
Marmot, M.: 2016, The Health Gap: The Challenge of an Unequal World, Bloomsbury, London., 978-140885797
Scriven, A, Morgan, G, Woodall, J.: 2023, Ewles and Simnett's Promoting Health: A Practical Guide, 8th Ed., Elsevier,
Wills, J.: 2022, Foundations for Health Promotion, 5th Edition, Elsevier, London,UK., 978-070208506
Radley, A.: 2004, Making Sense of Illness: The Social Psychology of Health and Disease, 2nd Ed., Thousand Oaks : Sage, London,
Aveyard,H.: 2023, Doing a Literature Review in Health and Social Care: A Practical Guide, Open University Press, Oxford,
Bambra, C.: 2016, Health divides: where you live can kill you, Policy Press, Bristol,
Galanti, G.: 2014, Caring for Patients from Different Cultures, 5th Edition, University of Pennsylvania Press, Pennsylvania, USA.,
Illich, I.: 1976, Limits to medicine, M. Boyars, London,
Wilkinson, R. & Pickett, K.: 2010, The spirit level: why equality is better for everyone, Penguin, London,
Wilkinson, I. & Kleinman, Arthur, A.: 2016, A passion for society: how we think about human suffering, University of California Press, Oakland,
Segall, S.: 2010, Health, luck, and justice, Princeton University Press, Princeton,
Smith, K., Bambra, C., Hill, S.: 2015, Health Inequalities: Critical Perspectives, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK., 978-019870335

Other Resources

None