Prefix and Course Number: HSMP 6670
Long Course Title: Introduction to Health Policy Analysis and Communication
Course Title: Intro to Health Policy
Semester and Year: Winter Intercession 2012-2013 (January 2013)
Instructors:
Susan Rifkin, PhD
Adjunct-Professor, Health Systems, Management, and Policy
Susan.Rifkin@ucdenver.edu
Elaine Morrato, DrPH MPH
Associate Professor, Health Systems, Management, and Policy
Elaine.Morrato@ucdenver.edu
Office Hours: To be announced
TA: applicable if student enrollment is 30 or more
Credit Hours: 1 (course is not repeatable for additional credit)
Introduction:
This course introduces students to a framework for systematically and critically evaluating the health policy
literature (and to use these skills and knowledge to present a policy analysis). Students will learn effective
oral and written communication skills for presenting their health policy analysis. This course prepares
students to effectively write policy analysis papers and briefs for evaluation in the health policy courses
offered by the HSMP department. Evaluation is based on a written analysis of a health policy paper of the
student’s choosing and class participation in small group exercises and oral presentations.
Catalog Description:
Introduces a framework for systematically and critically evaluating the health policy literature. Reviews
effective oral and written communication skills for presenting policy analyses. Evaluation is based on a
written analysis of a policy paper of the student’s choosing.
Course Delivery:
Five 3-hour class periods involving lectures, small group exercises and oral presentations. (see tentative
Course Schedule for more detail)
Prerequiste(s): None
Required texts:
Buse K, Mays N, Walt G. “Policy Implementation” Making Health Policy www.openup.co.uk 2005.
Smith, Catherine (2009). Writing Public Policy: A Practical Guide to Communicating in the Policy Making
Process, 2d ed. (Oxford UP) [note: 3rd edition will publish in the summer of 2012]
CSPH Competencies:
Educational Objectives
Competencies
1. Identify key components in a
framework for analyzing health
policy, including the policy
development process,
implementation, and outcomes.
Demonstrate an understanding of tools used
to analyze public policy issues (CR-HSMP 5)
2. Apply this framework to critically and
systematically evaluate U.S. and
global health policies through the use
of published case examples.
Apply the core functions of assessment, policy
development, and assurance in the analysis of
public health problems and their solutions
(BPHS/CC 17)
3. Identify principles of effective written
and oral communication when
summarizing key learning from the
analysis of the case example and
making recommendations.
Communicate effectively both in writing and
orally (BPHS/CC 6)
4. To apply the above skills to present
an analysis of a health policy of their
choosing and to provide
recommendations for a policy
decision maker.
Identify, retrieve, and synthesize current
scientific evidence relevant to health and
public health issues. (BPHS/CC 10)
Effectively present [health policy analysis and
recommendations] based on scientific
information for professional and lay audiences
(BPHS/CC 7)
Course Schedule (tentative)
We propose a Tues/Thursday schedule. Each class session is 3 hours. We could conduct the class late
afternoon/early evening to better accommodate working students.
Class
Period
Date
Course Activity
1
Jan 4, 2013
Lecture: Framework for critically and systematically
evaluating health policy literature.
(Thursday)
Lecture: Effective oral communication skills for presenting
policy analyses.
Group Work #1: Evaluation of a written report on policy
development using a published case example from the U.S.
2
Jan 9, 2013
(Tuesday)
Due: Proposed paper for the final paper. Instructors will
approve the selection.
Due: Oral presentation of their policy analysis of the U.S.
case example (Group Work #1). Class will discuss and
critique the presentations.
Lecture: HSMP rubric for evaluating written health policy
analyses and briefs. (based on the rubric developed by the
London School of Economics)
3
Jan 11, 2013
(Thursday)
Lecture: Effective written communication skills for
presenting policy analysis. Examples will be discussed and
critiqued.
Group Work #2: Evaluate a second written report on policy
outcomes using a published case example from a non-U.S.
setting.
Homework: Find an example of a policy analysis brief to
share in the next class session.
4
Jan 16, 2013
(Tuesday)
Due: Oral presentation of their policy analysis of the non
U.S. case example (Group Work #2). Class will discuss
and critique the presentations.
In-Class Exercise: Examples of written policy analysis
briefs will be discussed and critiqued.
Homework: Students draft their policy analysis paper.
5
Jan 19, 2013
(Friday)
In-Class Exercise: Peer-review critique of draft analysis
paper. Summarize key lessons learned.
Final revised analysis paper due by Jan 26, 2013.