Health Policy
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA, POLITICAL SCIENCE,
5233 HEALTH POLICY—FALL 2016
Professor: Michael Givel
Office: Cate Center 4, Room 232
Phone: 325-8878
Email: mgivel@ou.edu
Canvas: canvas.ou.edu
Office Hours: Wednesdays 1:00-2:45 P.M. and by appointment
General:
This health policy course is designed to provide students with a clear theoretical and applied understanding of the conceptual nature and dynamics of United States health policymaking. This course will examine major theories in health including: social construction, critical realism, symbolic interaction, fundamental cause theory, lifestyle theory, gender theory, Foucault, power dynamics in the practice of medicine, medicalization, complexity theory, and social capital. Major contemporary issues in health policy will also be examined and analyzed including: health care financing, primary care, inpatient and tertiary care, long-term and community care, mental health care, and community health and prevention. The class will then examine how these applied areas of health care are linked with the various health theories.
Objectives:
- Assess and analyze contemporary social epidemiological trends in the U.S.
- Identify, assess, and describe major theories associated with modern health care
- Analyze and understand the nature of contemporary health policy issues in the U.S.
- Critique, describe, and assess linkages between contemporary health policy issues and the theoretical bases of these policies
Required Readings:
Leiyu Shi and Douglas Singh, The Nation’s Health, Eight Edition
Cockerham, Medical Sociology on the Move: New Direction in Theory
Regarding Free Inquiry and Expression In This Class:
As quoted in the University of Oklahoma Faculty Handbook, Section 3.2.1:
“Membership in the academic community imposes on students, faculty members, administrators, and trustees an obligation to respect the dignity of others, to acknowledge their right to express differing opinions, and to foster and defend intellectual honesty, freedom of inquiry and instruction, and free expression on and off the campus.
The expression of dissent and the attempt to produce change, therefore, may not be carried out in ways, which injure individuals or damage institutional facilities or disrupt the classes of one's teachers or colleagues.”
It is likely that ideas of different members of this class might conflict. But it is not the proper role of the professor or students to attempt to shield members of the class from ideas and opinions they disagree with. In this class while we value civility and mutual respect including no personal ad hominem attacks, there is no justification for closing off discussion of ideas even if some members of the class disagree with them in all or part.
It is the general policy of this class that the only trigger warning as to the manner of analysis and material discussed related to this class is solely the above.
Course Content:
August 25, 2016—Introduction to Class; What is the Study of Public Policy?; Critical Thinking and Methodological Considerations
September 1, 2016--Introduction to Health Theories; Symbolic Interaction Theory; Social Construction Theory
Read: Cockerham, Chapters 1-3
September 8, 2016—Foucault; Critical Realism and Marx; Fundamental Cause Theory
Read: Cockerham, Chapters 4-6
September 15, 2016—Health Lifestyle Theory; Gender Theory; Power Dynamics in the Practice of Medicine
Read: Cockerham, Chapters 7-9
September 22, 2016—Medicalization; Complexity Theory; Social Capital
Read: Cockerham, Chapters 10-12
September 29, 2016--Common Narratives and Hard Realities of the US Health Care System
Read: Nation’s Health, pp. 1-278
October 6, 2014--Organization of U.S. Health and Public Health Care Systems
Read: Read: Nation’s Health, pp. 421-498
October 13, 2016—Health Care Financing
Read: Nation’s Health, Chapter 7, pp. 341-388
Student Class Presentation
October 20, 2016—Primary Care
Read: Nation’s Health, Chapter 11, pp. 499-550
Student Class Presentation
October 27, 2016—Inpatient and Tertiary Care
Read: Nation’s Health, Chapter 12, pp. 551-580
Student Class Presentation
November 3, 2016--Long Term and Community Care
Read: Nation’s Health, Chapter 13, pp. 581-612
Student Class Presentation
November 10, 2016--Mental Health Care
Read: Nation’s Health, Chapter 14, pp. 613-670
Student Class Presentation
November 17, 2016--Non-Medical Interventions
Read: Nation’s Health, Chapter 11, pp. 673-714
Student Class Presentation
December 1, 2016--Conclusion and Review
December 8, 2014--Final Exam
Grades:
Health Policy Theory Paper #1: 20%
Health Policy Theory Paper # 2: 20%
Class Presentation and Discussion: 25%
Final Exam: 35%
Total: 100%
Each point that you receive equals one percentage point of your grade. You can receive a maximum total of 100 points, which would equal 100%, or a perfect score. I will be using the traditional 100-90 (A); 89-80 (B); 79-70 (C); 69-60 (D); and 59 and below (F) grading method.
Health Policy Theory Papers:
Students will receive two-health theory questions handed out, at some point, in class. The papers are designed to provide critical analyses of academic ideas and concepts associated with health theory. Students will have two weeks to write and complete the papers. The total number of points for the papers will be 20 points for each paper. In order to ensure academic integrity and to analyze the scope of analysis for each paper, the electronic version of the paper will be submitted to Turnitin.com.
All papers should be typewritten and double-spaced in 11 or 12-point font with one-inch margins. You should also utilize the American Psychological Association (APA) or Chicago Manual of Style or MLA formats in relation to style and format for such items as footnotes, bibliography, and so on. I will also take off some points for consistently improper grammar or spelling. Papers should be no more than 10 pages with title page, abstract, references and appendices not counting in the page count. All material that is quoted or not original or is paraphrased in any form should have an appropriate footnote or endnote. Papers should be submitted in class by hard copy and in turnitin.com in ou.canvas.edu the day the papers are due.
Class Presentation:
Students will be expected to actively lead one class discussion on one applied general US health care issue area for one and a half hours hours including questions and answers. The discussion will include the following elements:
- Introduction
- Overview and description of history of policy area as adopted and implemented in the US
- Linkage of theoretical underpinnings of the policy area with the applied policy area
- Current trends in implementation including impact on general public health
- Short overview of peer reviewed scientific studies for the past five years on the impact of implementation
- Current applied major issues, strengths and weaknesses, and controversies of the policy area
- Conclusion
- Questions and Answers
You may utilize any format to make your presentation such as oral material, videos, and so on. You should bring to class a three page or less outline of the major themes you will cover. The outline should follow the format suggested by the OU writing Center, here: http://www.ou.edu/content/writingcenter/guides/prepare_to_write/outline.html . A bibliography of one or two additional pages should be attached to this outline.
On the day of the presentation the outline and bibliography should be handed to each member of the class and the instructor.
Final Exam: This is a closed book essay style exam covering key concepts in class lectures and readings for the entire class.
Attendance and Tardiness: All students are expected to attend all scheduled class sessions on time.
Extra Credit and Ad Hoc Requests to Raise Grades
There are no extra credit assignments in this course. Requests to raise your grade with no reason other than you think your grade should be raised will not occur in this class.
Accommodation for Students With Disabilities: Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent her or him from fully demonstrating her or his abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so we can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your educational opportunities.
Religious Observance: It is the policy of the University to excuse absences of students that result from religious observances and to provide without penalty for the rescheduling of examinations and additional required class work that may fall on religious holidays.
Electronic Devices: All audible electronic devices, including but not limited to cell phones, must remain off at all times while the class is in session.
Cheating and Plagiarism: Any student who willfully violates the cheating and plagiarism policy, may be subject to disciplinary proceedings within the scope of university due process grievance and hearing rights.
E-mail: You should only use email as a tool to set up a one-on-one meeting with me if office hours conflict with your schedule. Use the subject line “Meeting request.” Your message should include at least two times when you would like to meet and a brief (one-two sentence) description of the reason for the meeting. Emails sent for any other reason will not be considered or acknowledged. I strongly encourage you to ask questions about the syllabus and assignments during class time. For more in-depth discussions (such as guidance on assignments) please plan to meet in person or call my office. Our conversations should take place in person or over the phone rather than via email, thus allowing us to get to know each other better and fostering a more collegial learning atmosphere.
Course Summary:
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