Foundations of Public Health Practice: The Public Health Approach
The Public Health Approach course is the first instalment of the wider Foundations of Public Health Practice specialisation from Imperial College London's Global Master of Public Health (MPH). The scope and content of this course has been developed from the ground up by a combined team of academics and practitioners drawing on decades of real-world public health experience as well as deep academic knowledge.
Monthly Subscription Starting at AED 99 + VAT
- Level Foundation
- Duration 13 hours
- Course by Imperial College London
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Offered by
About
The Public Health Approach course is the first instalment of the wider Foundations of Public Health Practice specialisation from Imperial College London's Global Master of Public Health (MPH). The scope and content of this course has been developed from the ground up by a combined team of academics and practitioners drawing on decades of real-world public health experience as well as deep academic knowledge. Through short video lectures, practitioner interviews and a wide range of interactive activities, learners will be immersed in the world of public health practice. Designed for those new to the discipline, over four modules (intended for four weeks of learning), learners will become familiar with the scope, origins, ethics, principles and paradigms of public health practice. But there is also important foundational content for those coming from more experienced practitioner backgrounds. The 'Public Health Approach' is a phrase that is used widely to describe an up-stream, preventive, values-driven and evidence-based approach to improving population health. By the end of this course, learners will be confident with identifying and describing a wide range of public health challenges using the language and reference points of the public health profession. The subsequent courses require the knowledge from this course, as learners will be introduced to the public health toolkit of health needs assessment and evaluation, before taking deeper dives into behaviour change and health protection.
Modules
Welcome to Imperial College London
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5
Videos
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4
Readings
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- Nice to meet you!
5
Videos
- Meet the Team (Optional): Richard Pinder
- Meet the Team (Optional): Samantha Alvarez Madrazo
- Meet the Team (Optional): Katharine Collet
- Meet the Team (Optional): Talia Boshari
- Meet the Team (Optional): Carolyn Sharpe
4
Readings
- About Imperial College London & the FPHP Team
- How to be successful in this course
- Grading policy
- Glossary
Welcome to the Course and Module 1: Principles of Public Health Practice
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1
Videos
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- What is public health?
1
Videos
- Welcome to the course: The Public Health Approach
Lesson One: So what is public health?
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6
Videos
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4
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Categorising public health initiatives
6
Videos
- Breaking down public health: conceptual frameworks and the four domain model
- An introduction to health improvement (domain 1)
- An introduction to health protection (domain 2)
- An introduction to healthcare public health (domain 3)
- An introduction to health intelligence (domain 4)
- Practitioner interview: the domains of public health, why are they important?
4
Readings
- Examples of health improvement activities
- Examples of health protection activities
- Examples of healthcare public health activities
- Examples of health intelligence activities
Lesson Two: Achieving better global health
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4
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- SDGs: Where are we now?
4
Videos
- A history of public health: origins and genesis
- A history of public health: the modern world
- A movement for global health
- International governance
1
Readings
- The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Lesson Three: An introduction to public health ethics
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6
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Ethics in public health practice
6
Videos
- What is ethics?
- Ethics in public health practice
- Utilitarianism in public health
- An introduction to social justice
- The challenge of autonomy in public health practice
- Conclusion
1
Readings
- A public health approach to ethics
Lesson One: Thinking wider on the drivers of health and wellbeing
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1
Videos
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2
Readings
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1
Discussion
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2
Plugin
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- The wider determinants
1
Discussions
- What influences your health and wellbeing?
1
Videos
- Introducing the wider determinants of health
2
Readings
- The Marmot Report and the social determinants of health
- Causal pathways and complexity in public health practice
Lesson Two: Social and environmental influences
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2
Videos
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3
Readings
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1
Discussion
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2
Assignment
2
Assignment
- Socioeconomic Status
- Deprivation
1
Discussions
- Understanding deprivation
2
Videos
- Socio-economic status (SES)
- Deprivation - a spatial measure
3
Readings
- International comparisons of SES
- How deprivation is quantified
- Deprivation: masking and the limitations of inference
Lesson Three: The importance of inequalities
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4
Videos
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1
Discussion
1
Discussions
- Identifying inequalities
4
Videos
- Equity and equality
- Examples and implications of inequality
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
- Conclusions
Lesson One: An introduction to prevention and resilience
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2
Videos
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1
Readings
2
Videos
- Prevention and early intervention
- Resilience
1
Readings
- Prevention and early intervention
Lesson Two: Screening and the Wilson-Jungner Criteria
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6
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
Discussion
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1
Assignment
1
Assignment
- Screening
1
Discussions
- Example of a screening programme
6
Videos
- Introducing screening: definition and approaches
- The epidemiological implications of screening
- Risks, bias and consequences of screening
- The Wilson-Jungner Criteria for screening programmes
- Practitioner interview: Screening in practice
- The Prevention Paradox & Conclusion
1
Readings
- Improving awareness and uptake of screening programmes
Lesson One: Political thinking
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2
Videos
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1
Readings
2
Videos
- Political theory
- Practitioner interview: Power and politics
1
Readings
- Where do you stand politically?
Lesson Two: Power and influence
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5
Videos
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3
Discussion
3
Discussions
- Types of authority in typical public health settings
- Stakeholder Mapping
- Systems thinking and systems leadership
5
Videos
- Sources of power and types of authority in public health practice
- Approaches to influencing effectively
- Stakeholder mapping and influencing
- Stakeholder mapping and influencing
- Practitioner interview: Working with stakeholders
Lesson Three: Collaborating for impact
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1
Videos
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1
Readings
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1
PeerReview
1
Peer Review
- Peer review: Make recommendations on a proposed national screening programme
1
Videos
- Conclusion to the course
1
Readings
- Collaborating in public health: the example of climate change
Auto Summary
"Foundations of Public Health Practice: The Public Health Approach" offers a comprehensive introduction to public health, perfect for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Developed by Imperial College London, this four-week course uses video lectures, interviews, and interactive activities to explore public health's scope, ethics, and principles. Learn to address public health challenges confidently and prepare for advanced topics in health needs assessment and behavior change. Available on Coursera with professional and starter subscription options.
Dr Richard J Pinder