UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA Course Guide for SPH 600 Winter 2015 Campus

HEALTH POLICY DEVELOPMENT Wednesdays: 1300 hrs. - 1550 hrs. 7 January to 8 April 2015 Room 1-144 ECHA Course instructor:

Dr. Dev Menon, 3032 Research Transition Facility Tel: 780-492-9080 E-mail: [email protected]

Office hours:

By appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION: An overview of health policy and decision-making in health care. It will include critical review of policy cycles, and elements of these cycles, such as agenda setting, policy formulation, decision-making, policy implementation and policy evaluation. The roles of the various policy actors and institutions will also be discussed. Current cases of health policy development in Canada will be used to demonstrate concepts. The purpose of this course is to prepare advanced graduate students to understand and interpret policy actions in health care.

OBJECTIVES: Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:     

Describe the influences (e.g., societal, financial, political, scientific) that come into play during health policy development Explain how topics get to the policy agenda of governments, and why some go on to policy implementation while others do not Describe the different decision-making models that appear to be used by governments in making health policy Identify the roles of specific individuals, groups or institutions in the development of a particular health policy Critically analyze policy decisions made by provincial or federal ministries of health

COMPETENCIES:  Able to discuss the cycle of policy development and information needed for policy development  Able to communicate information clearly in reports appropriate to the recipient  Understands the planning, implementation and evaluation of policies  Ability to discuss key issues affecting the current Canadian health care system LIBRARY: The University of Alberta library system’s website www.library.ualberta.ca details the range of services offered to students on and off campus. If you need further information or assistance, contact the Library's Electronic Reference Desk at www.library.ualberta.ca/ereference/index.cfm or call 1-800-207-0172 COURSE EVALUATION: Mid-course evaluation: As is the case with all SPH instructors, I am interested in improving the course. I need to hear from you in order to do that well. I will gather feedback and recommendations from you at the mid-point of the course, by asking a student to administer and deliver an anonymous course evaluation back to the instructor(s). Final course evaluation: Following completion of the course, you will receive a standardized summative evaluation. Course evaluations will be done online by Test Scoring and Questionnaire Services. An invitation to participate in the survey is emailed to each student. One email will be sent for each start date, i.e., if a student has surveys with different start dates, they will receive multiple messages. Note that the message includes a login button.

REQUIRED READING: Readings will be specified prior to each session. Students are expected to have read the material before the specific session.

EVALUATION OF COURSEWORK: Mid-term quiz (February 25) Participation Final paper (due April 8)

30% 30% 40%

GRADING See ‘Assignments and Marking Criteria’. University of Alberta Calendar Section 23.4 Regulations and Information for Students Evaluation Procedures and Grading System The University of Alberta Grading System The University of Alberta uses a letter grading system with a four-point scale of numerical equivalents for calculating grade point averages. Grades reflect judgments of student achievement made by instructors. These judgments are based on a combination of absolute

achievement and relative performance in a class. Some instructors assign grades as intervals during the course and others assign marks (e.g. percentages) throughout the term and then assign a letter grade at the end. Instructors must adapt their approaches to reflect the letter grading system. Grade distribution should reflect those shown in this document. (EXEC 03 FEB 2003) Grading in Graduate Courses Descriptor Letter Grade Excellent A+ A AGood B+ B Satisfactory BC+ Failure C CD+ D F

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Grade Point Value 4.0 4.0 3.7 3.3 3.0 2.7 2.3 2.0 1.7 1.3 1.0 0.0

Plagiarism is a serious offence

The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.ualberta.ca/Codeof StudentBehaviour) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University. University of Alberta policy on course outline can be found in Section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar (GFC 29 SEP 2003)

DESCRIPTION OF SESSIONS Session 1 (7 January): Organization of the course; discussion of students’ perceptions of what “health policy” is and how decisions in health care are made in Canada; refresher on responsibility for health care services in Canada; definitions of terms; the policy cycle. Readings: 1. Maioni A (2002): “Roles and responsibilities in health care policy”, Discussion Paper #34, Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada. Available at http://dsppsd.pwgsc.gc.ca/Collection/CP32-79-34-2002E.pdf 2. Lomas J (2000): “Connecting research and policy”. ISUMA: Canadian Journal of Policy Research 1(1):140-144. Available at http://portals.wi.wur.nl/files/docs/ppme/lomas_e.pdf

Session 2 (14 January): Critical review of readings from Session 1; roles of various actors (e.g., elected officials, the public) and institutions (e.g., international, labour, etc.) in policy development Readings: 1. Petry F (1999): “The opinion-policy relationship in Canada”, Journal of Politics 61(2):540550 2. Waddell C, Lavis JN, Abelson J, Shepherd CA, Byrd-Gayson T, Giacomini M, Offord DR (2005): “Research use in children's mental health policy in Canada: Maintaining vigilance amid ambiguity”, Social Science & Medicine, 61(8):1649-1657

Session 3 (21 January): Critical review of readings from Session 2; setting the policy agenda; policy formulation Readings: 1. Richard P (2008): Agenda-Setting and the Media Amplification of Fear: The Case of Pandemic Influenza Coverage (MPA thesis, University of Manitoba), available at http://proquest.umi.com/pqdlink?vinst=PROD&attempt=1&fmt=6&startpage=1&ver=1&vname=PQD&RQT=309&did=1858512651&exp=01-052016&scaling=FULL&vtype=PQD&rqt=309&cfc=1&TS=1294344300&clientId=12301 2. Schwartz R, Johnson T (2010): “Problems, policies and politics: A comparative case study of contraband tobacco from the 1990s to the present in the Canadian context”, Journal of Public Health Policy, 31:342-354

Session 4 (28 January): Critical review of readings from Session 3; decision-making theories/models; decision-making in the “real” world Readings: 1. Williams D (2004): The Canada Health Act, Federal Funding, and the Future of Health Care in Canada. Available at http://www.cpsa-acsp.ca/papers-2004/Williams,%20David.pdf 2. Henstra D (2010): “Explaining local policy choices: A multiple streams analysis of municipal emergency management”, Canadian Public Administration, 53(2):241-258

Session 5 (4 February): Readings: 1. “Touati N, Roberge D, Denis J-L, Pineault R, Cazale L, Tremblay D (2007): Governance, health policy implementation and the added value of regionalization”, Healthcare Policy, 2(3):97-114

Session 6 (11 February): Policy implementation; role of evidence in decision-making Readings:

18 February NO CLASS

Session 7 (25February): Mid term examination

Session 8 (4 March) Case study 1: Guest lecturer:

Session 9 (11 March) Case study 2: Wellness policy in Alberta Guest lecturer: Dr. James Talbot, Chief Medical Officer of Health Alberta Health

Session 10 (18 March) Case study 3: Guest lecturer:

Session 10 (25 March) Case study 4: Guest Lecturer:

Session 11 (1 April)

Case study 5: In vitro fertilization policy development in Alberta Guest lecturer: Dr. Tania Stafinski, Director, Health Technology & Policy Unit, School of Public Health

Important notice: Policy about course outlines can be found in Section 23.4(2) of the University Calendar. The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm) and avoid any behaviour which could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University