Social Health
Unit Points
| 1 or 2 Semester Unit: | 2 |
| Research Points: | 75 |
| Coursework Points: | 25 |
Overall Objectives
Social Health is a broad area of study that focuses on issues of health and health care in their social context. Social Health research investigates issues such as:
- how people in the community understand their medical conditions;
- how patients experience various forms of medical treatment, including hospitalisation, surgery, medication, visiting a GP, and so on;
- the ways in which doctors understand and interact with their patients;
- how doctors are influenced by the social, cultural and institutional context of medicine;
- medical students' experience of medical education; and
- people's use and understanding of complementary therapies.
Students in the Social Health Unit will usually undertake a project involving some form of data collection or fieldwork, such as conducting interviews or focus groups, or doing structured observation. Projects of this sort require ethics approval, and training in the ethics approval process is part of the unit. Less commonly, students will undertake a literature- or document-based project. The decision about which sort of project to undertake will be made by the supervisor and student, on the basis of which methodology best suits the proposed research project.
There are opportunities for students to undertake fieldwork or library research in overseas locations for part of the AMS year (usually 3Ð4 months maximum). CHS staff members have research contacts in a number of overseas locations, e.g. Thailand, New Zealand, UK. Joint placements may also be available through the Harm Reduction Unit at the Burnett Institute, which operates programs in many different countries. Research contacts already made by the Centre would be the main basis for overseas AMS placements. Overseas placements can only take place if the AMS Academic Co-ordinator is satisfied that the placement is safe and worthwhile, and that appropriate local supervision and support are available.
NB: There is some flexibility to transfer to the Medical Humanities Unit after Semester 6 has begun, if that unit turns out to be more suitable to a student's needs and research interests.
Assessment Breakdown
Research Component
The research component consists of a supervised 7000-9000 word written research report, and is worth 75 points. The mark for this component is made up of 2 elements: a) the research report worth 85%; and b) a supervisor's mark worth 15%, based on an oral presentation done at the beginning of Semester 7.
NB: Students must pass the research component to complete the AMS year successfully.
Coursework Component
Qualitative Health Research (12.5 points), Semester 6.
One other subject (12.5 points) in Semester 6, as recommended by the supervisor, in consultation with the student.
NB: The Jamkhed course run by the Australian International Health Institute can be one of the coursework options. This subject is largely self-funded by students.
Student Numbers
Number of places available: 12