Spring 2023 - HSCI 890 G100

Special Topics in Health Sciences (4)

Health Services Research

Class Number: 5741

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 4 – Apr 11, 2023: Mon, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Special topics in areas not currently covered within the graduate program offerings.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Description:

Health services research (HSR) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how people get access to health care, how much care costs, and what happens to patients as a result of this care. The main goals of HSR are to identify the most effective ways to organize, manage, finance, and deliver high quality care; reduce medical errors; and improve patient safety.  This foundational course will introduce students to the fundamental concepts of HSR including the measurement and evaluation of health system performance.

Areas of emphasis related to methodology include: theoretical foundations for the evaluation of health services and systems; measurement; study design; threats to validity; data sources commonly used in HSR; and descriptive analytic methods for HSR.

Expected Course Schedule:

   

 

Date*

Assignments

Unit 1: Introduction

01/09/2023

 

Unit 2: Data & Measurement

01/16/2023

PBL ASSG 1 - DELIVERED

PBL Presentation 1

02/06/2023

PBL ASSG 2 - DELIVERED

Unit 3: Study design in HSR

02/13/2023

EMPIRICAL ASSG 1 - DELIVERED

PBL Presentation 2

03/13/2023

EMPIRICAL ASSG 2 - DELIVERED

Unit 4: Threats to validity

03/20/2023

 

*Dates of specific lectures are approximate.  The instructor may make minor changes to the syllabus throughout the course. Changes will be announced in class and through Canvas.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Learning Objectives:  At the end of this course students should be able to:

    • Describe key themes and research approaches underlying HSR;
    • Identify and apply common research designs used in the study of health systems and programs;
    • Critically appraise the design, analysis, and interpretation of published HSR and be able to identify sources of bias;
    • Demonstrate analytical skills to execute a descriptive HSR study using SAS statistical software

Grading

NOTES:

Course Evaluation**:

-Problem-based Learning Activity (2 components - 40% total)

-Empirical projects (2 components - 40% total)

-Participation (weekly assignments - 20%)

 

**Additional requirements for 890 students, as specified in assignments. Leadership in participation will also be expected.

REQUIREMENTS:

Prerequisites:

 

HSCI majors with 90 units.

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Required Textbooks:

 

N/A – Readings will be made available electronically through the Canvas system.  Readings will be selected from the following texts, as well as articles in the peer-reviewed literature.  All readings should be considered ‘mandatory’ and are intended to reinforce and complement the lecture material.

Angrist JD, Pischke J-S.  Mostly Harmless Econometrics – An Empiricist’s Companion.  Princeton University Press, New Jersey, 2009.

Gordis L.  Epidemiology, 3rd Edition.  Elsevier Inc., Pennsylvania, 2004.

Rothman KJ, Greenland S, Lash TL.  Modern Epidemiology, 3rd Edition.  Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, New York, 2008.

Shi L.  Health Services Research Methods, 2nd Edition.  Delmar Cengage Learning, New York, 2005.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html