Introducing health sciences: a case study approach
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| 4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) | 7 Interactive computer-marked assignments (iCMAs) |
| Examination | No residential school |
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Summary
This course explores the scientific and social aspects of disease and disability in a global context through seven case studies: water and health in an overcrowded world; pain; alcohol; screening for breast cancer; chronic lung disease; trauma and accidents; and visual impairment. Each case study integrates the biological, chemical, and physical sciences with psychology, health statistics, and social studies to illuminate underlying causes and personal and societal consequences. You’ll develop skills in: evaluating evidence; understanding and using key scientific terms and concepts; handling numbers; and interpreting graphs and tables. You’ll also learn to study using ICT – including interactive DVDs, internet and online resources.
Course content
If you’re interested in global health issues; how the body works; statistics; or the scientific rationale for common screening procedures and treatments, this course is for you. You’ll also find this course useful if you are, or want to be, working in a health-related occupation and some knowledge of science could enhance your prospects. It’s unique in presenting a global perspective on health topics and in the range of scientific disciplines that contribute to each case study. The impact on individual lives is illustrated by real-life accounts. It’s designed for you if you are new to science, and we’ll support you step-by-step if you’re unfamiliar with using a computer to learn from interactive programs and online sources. The seven case studies covering major topics in global public health are presented in seven books with associated study companions and DVD-ROMs containing videos, computer models and interactive animations.
Book 1 Water and Health in an Overcrowded World. Most people now live in a very different world to the one in which we evolved. Rapid urbanisation and changes in human lifestyles means we inhabit a ‘human zoo’ that, despite many benefits, incurs many costs to health and happiness. We focus on the global shortage of clean water that exposes over a billion people to infectious diseases and chemical pollution.
Book 2 Pain. This case study presents an integrated account of the neurobiology and psychology of pain. It considers the common properties of pain triggered by injuries and the pain of events such as divorce. You’ll study the anatomy and function of the nervous system combined with psychological processes such as classical conditioning to understand how effective drugs, surgery, placebos and cognitive therapies are in treating pain.
Book 3 Alcohol and Human Health. Heavy drinking increases the risk of life-threatening diseases; accidental injury; psychological impairment; and addiction, but moderate intake may have some health benefits. You’ll explore not only global health statistics, but also the chemistry of ethanol: how alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream and its effects on major organs, behaviour and memory.
Book 4 Screening for Breast Cancer. Mammography screening using X-ray imaging to detect early breast cancers occurs in most wealthy countries. This case study examines the physics of mammography, the rationale for screening and the risk factors for breast cancer, and explains how normal and abnormal cells are distinguished in diagnostic tests. It considers the benefits, efficacy, costs and drawbacks of screening.
Book 5 Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Forgotten Killer. Permanent loss of lung function due to COPD affects millions of people worldwide. In richer countries, most are older cigarette smokers, but in poor countries, younger women and children exposed to indoor smoke from cooking fires also suffer. This case study explains the science of respiration and treatment, and the effects of COPD on people’s lives.
Book 6 Trauma, Repair and Recovery. Traumatic injury causes millions of deaths and disabilities globally and cases are rising as road traffic increases. You’ll look at how the body reacts to tissue damage, focusing on limb fractures in younger and older people. The psychological – as well as the physical – effects of injury are considered in the context of variations in access to emergency and longer-term care.
Book 7 Visual Impairment: A Global View. Partial or total loss of sight affects millions of people worldwide. Many cases are preventable or curable, but simple interventions are unaffordable in poorer countries, where even the lack of clean water is a significant threat to sight. This case study explains sight loss and corrective treatments through the anatomy and physiology of the eye and the physics of light and lenses.
Vocational relevance
SDK125 will be attractive to anyone interested in a career in the areas of health care; health promotion; the pharmaceutical and food industries; technical support in the NHS; occupational, environmental and public health; as well as teaching in any of these fields.
Entry
SDK125 is a Level 1 undergraduate course for students who are new to science, as well as those with some background in a science-related subject. Although you’re not expected to have any previous knowledge of science, you should be able to add, subtract, multiply and divide simple whole numbers, and to understand written English of the standard of a broadsheet newspaper (The Daily Telegraph or The Guardian, for example). If you haven’t studied science or maths up to GCSE level fairly recently, or you’re new to using a computer to access online or DVD-based resources, you should expect to spend longer on the course materials. Our Student Registration & Enquiry Service will be able to discuss with you how much extra time you are likely to need and whether you should consider doing some preparatory study before beginning SDK125.
The package Are you ready for science study? offers an interactive quiz to help you decide whether you already have the recommended background knowledge or experience to start the course or whether you should consider first studying an Openings course.
This course provides core subject knowledge and study skills needed for both higher education and distance learning. Completing it will help to prepare you for Exploring science (S104) to Health Sciences courses at Level 2 (for example, Human biology (SK277) or Biological psychology: exploring the brain (SD226)). By the end of the course you will be expected to be working successfully at the level required of first-year undergraduate students. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the course, please contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Preparatory work
If you haven’t studied formally for some time, you might consider taking an Openings course, such as Understanding health (Y158) or Starting with maths (Y162), before commencing SDK125. If you wish to improve your study skills, you are advised to read The Good Study Guide (2005) by Andy Northedge, published by The Open University.
SDK125 includes study materials for an induction week before the official start date to help you begin to develop skills in using a computer to access online learning resources from the course website, communicate with others in your tutor group via an online forum and load the DVD-ROMs. These skills are practiced and reinforced during the rest of the course.
Qualifications
SDK125 is a compulsory course in our:
- Certificate in Health Sciences (C78)
- Foundation Degree in Paramedic Sciences (G11)
- Foundation Degree in Health Sciences (G12)
- Foundation Degree in Operating Department Practice (G19)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Health Sciences (E49)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Paramedic Sciences (E52)
- Diploma of Higher Education in Operating Department Practice (E58)
SDK125 is an optional course in our:
It can also count towards most of our other degrees at bachelors level, where it is equally appropriate to a BA or BSc. We advise you to refer to the relevant qualification descriptions for information on the circumstances in which this course can count towards these qualifications because from time to time the structure and requirements may change.
If you have a disability or additional requirement
Please note that this course makes substantial use of complex visual material in the texts and includes a large number of interactive multimedia packages on DVD-ROMs. You will need to spend at least two hours in most study weeks using a personal computer to access course resources supplied on DVD-ROMs or via the course website or other internet sites. Some assessment tasks are conducted collaboratively within your tutor group and require you to communicate with your tutor and other students via a computer-based forum. At the end of each case study, there is a block of electronic computer-marked assessment questions that are accessed, answered and submitted online via the course website. If you use special hardware or software you must, well before the course begins, find out whether it works with the course software. Students with severe visual impairments may be able to achieve the learning outcomes if they are assisted by a sighted helper.
Written transcripts of any audio components and Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) versions of printed material are available. Some PDF components may not be available or fully accessible using a screen reader and musical notation and mathematical, scientific and foreign language materials may be particularly difficult to read in this way. Large print versions of the course material can be provided on request. Other alternative formats of the course materials may be available in future. Our Services for disabled students website has the latest information about availability.
If you are a new student, or new to courses using a computer or the internet, you will need to inform us of your particular needs as soon as possible, as some of our support services may take several weeks to arrange. Details of how to do this and our range of support services are described in our booklet Meeting your needs which you can download or request from our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
You can also find information about accessible course materials, financial support and the Disabled Students' Allowance, equipment and other services, on our Services for disabled students website. It also includes our contact details for advice and support both before you register and while you are studying.
Course materials
What's included
Seven individual printed course books with study companions; support materials for induction week; glossaries; assignments; DVD-ROMs; course website; and a course index.
Computing requirements
This course includes online computer activities – you can access these using a web browser that can play Flash and Shockwave.
You will need internet access and a computer. If you have purchased a new computer since 2002 it should meet your course computing requirements. Check our Technical Requirements section if your computer is older than this or is otherwise unusual.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You will have a tutor who will help you with the course material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the course. Ask our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you need to know more before you decide whether to register.
Some activities will involve collaborative work among the students in your tutor group, conducted online via the forum network with support from your tutor. Participation in these activities will be essential in enabling you to complete some of the assessed work for this course.
Contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service if you want to know more about studying with The Open University before you register.
Assessment
The assessment details for this course can be found in the facts box above.
You can choose whether to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs) on paper or online through the eTMA system. You may want to use the eTMA system for some of your assignments but submit on paper for others. This is entirely your choice.
Professional recognition
SDK125 is a compulsory course in the Foundation Degrees and Diplomas of Higher Education (DipHEs) in Paramedic Science (G11/E52) and Operating Department Practice (G19/E58), which are all accredited routes to professional recognition by the Health Professions Council. It is also a compulsory course in the Foundation Degree (G12) and DipHE (E49) in Health Sciences, which are expected to become a route to professional recognition in a number of subjects allied to medicine.
Although SDK125 is available for study by all OU students, the foundation degrees and DipHEs are at present restricted to students who are employed within a healthcare setting and are being supported in their practice learning by their employer. See the Qualifications section above for links to details of these qualifications.
For further information on registering, you or your employer should contact our Student Registration & Enquiry Service.
Students also studied
Students who studied this course also studied at some time:
Future availability
The details given here are for the course that starts in October 2009. An induction week for students who are new to studying with the OU is scheduled for the week before the official course starts. We expect this course to be available once a year in October.
How to register
To register a place on this course return to the top of the page and use the Click to register button. For more information and advice about registration see OU Study Explained.
About this page
An undergraduate course in Health and Social Care and Science.
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Student Reviews
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