Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Postgraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2008-2009 (archived)

Module HEAS41615: CREATIVE APPROACHES TO HEALTH

Department: Health [Queen's Campus, Stockton]

HEAS41615: CREATIVE APPROACHES TO HEALTH

Type Tied Level 4 Credits 15 Availability Available in 2008/09 Module Cap None.

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • 1. Develop students' understanding of the role of the arts and humanities in the education of health professionals
  • 2. Give students a theoretical knowledge of the role of creative approaches to health improvement within health care contexts and communities, and in turn a broader understanding of what constitutes ‘health’ and ‘wellbeing’
  • 3. Develop students’ ability to incorporate creative approaches into the traditional knowledge and skills repertoire of health professionals.

Content

  • Introduction: Arts in health and medical humanities – their roles in health care
  • Philosophy of health assumed by arts in health
  • Arts, health and social exclusion
  • Research and evaluation
  • Creative approaches to public health
  • Creative approaches to mental health
  • Music and medicine
  • Health environments
  • Arts and humanities in health care education/arts and workforce development
  • Ethical issues

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • By the end of module students will have developed a critical understanding of:
  • The possible roles of arts and humanities in health care
  • The relationship between arts in health and social inclusion and social capital
  • The role of arts and humanities in education and workforce development amongst health care professionals
  • The ethical challenges presented by an unregulated health care sector.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • Students will have gained skills in:
  • Using the arts and humanities in the education of healthcare professionals
  • Using creative approaches within health education and promotion
  • Developing evaluation methodologies specific to particular projects.
Key Skills:
  • The ability to think critically and creatively and to argue coherently;
  • The capacity for sustained independent work and learning at an advanced level and the ability to learn through reflection on practice and experience
  • The ability to think independently, including problem-solving ability and the ability to discriminate and use judgement;

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Lecturing - Explains current theories regarding the role of arts and humanities in the healthcare context - Examines the importance of champions in leading policy in this field - Examines approaches to and challenges in evaluation and research in this sector, - Discusses the potential ethical problems involved - Examines a series of case examples to illustrate the theory.
  • Tutorials and seminars - Allow students to work through concepts in more detail, promoting discussion and developing the interprofessional communication and working skills.
  • Structured reading - Allows students to pursue topics in greater detail enabling both familiarity with key texts and a deeper understanding of the subject knowledge generally
  • Case studies - Case studies will involve visits to particular projects where students will have the opportunity to engage in participant observation for the purpose of 1) illustrating the theoretical concepts presented in lectures and discussed in tutorials and seminars, 2) formative assessment.
  • Art work sessions - Will equip students with ideas and practical methods of using creative approaches to health and healthcare education.
  • Independent study, research and analysis - Focuses student knowledge more deeply by pursuing aspects of the module that are of special interest to themselves.
  • The essay provides the oportunity to assess students' conceptual understanding, imagination and judgement in using the arts and humanities managing compex interventions, and their ability to argue coherently and effectively through written modes in inter-professional contexts.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lecture 10 weekly 1 hr 10
Tutorial/seminar 10 weekly 1 hr 10
Structured Reading 10 sets weekly 3 hrs 30
Case studies/art work sessions 4 (Two visits and two art work sessions) Every 2 – 3 weeks (to be used within/in conjunction with tutorials and seminars) 2 – 4 hours (one visit will be a day trip) 20
Library researching/Independent study Student initiated Student determined Student determined 80
Total 150

Summative Assessment

Component: written work Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
essay 3000 words 100% essay

Formative Assessment:

A short assignment (1500 words) outlining an evaluation plan for an arts in health project visited on the module


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University