HSC4023 - Biological Approaches to Health

Objectives:

On successul completion of the module, students will be able to:

1 - Explore the normal structure and physiological functioning of the human body systems (e.g., cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, endocrine, immune);
2 - Applyknowledge of anatomy and physiology to understand the primary and secondary effects of common disorders on interlinked body systems;
3 - Discussthe interaction between biological, psychological, and social factors in determining health status and well-being;
4 - Explore current research findings and evidence relating to biological approaches to health and disease, and their implications for practice; and,
5 - Communicate evidence-based knowledge about health conditions to service users and/or carers in an accessible format.

Content:

The module will introduce biological factors which influence health. This module forms the biological part of the biopsychosocial model, which will lay the foundations for the degree in total and enable you to consider the holistic and person-centred care approaches for your future graduate roles and employment. In this module you will develop an understanding of the human body and biological factors in health and illness, while also applying this knowledge to practical care and health promotion. The module will give you an outline of the fundamental aspects of human anatomy and physiology, providing a foundation for understanding health and illness. You will explore the major symptoms, causes (including genetic factors), and physiological mechanisms of a range of common health conditions (e.g., cardiovascular disease, diabetes, mental health issues). You will evaluate the biological impact of diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption on maintaining health and preventing disease.

Learning and Teaching Information:

Lectures will introduce the weekly content of the module identifying key principles/concepts supported by blended learning pre and post session activities on Moodle. The lecture content will be supported by seminars enabling small group discussion, role play, problem-based learning and case study exploration of psychological perspectives in health and wellbeing. Appropriate specialist practitioners and service users will be invited to contribute to sessions to increase the authenticity of the module and highlight employability links. Learning styles will be supported by a variety of resources including videos, reading material, discussion and debate, e-learning modules, problem solving and practical tasks. In the modules, vlogs and blogs serve as powerful tools to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and professional practice. These mediums enhance emotional recognition, digital literacy, and reflective capacity. Blogs and vlogs are increasingly used as teaching methods because they leverage 21st-century technology to promote active learning, increase student engagement, and foster critical thinking. They function as dynamic, flexible, and interactive tools that allow educators to move beyond traditional, passive lecturing, enabling a "flipped classroom" model where learners engage with content before class.

Lectures
Hours: 25
Intended Group Size: Cohort

Seminars/Workshops
Hours: 25
Intended Group Size: 20

Guided independent study
Hours: 250



Further Detail Relating to Assessment

Post session activities submitted through Moodle will facilitate ongoing formative assessment opportunities via lecturer or peer feedback; these may include responses to case studies, quizzes, forum posts or blogs and self-assessment. Information about formative assessment and assessment support will be detailed in the module handbook.

Component 001- Case study (2000 words) of a service user with a specific health condition (e.g., diabetes, a cardiovascular issue, or a mental health condition with a clear biological component).You must analyse the biological factors contributing to the condition, discuss potential biological interventions (e.g., medication, lifestyle changes, surgery), and evaluate the primary and secondary effects on the individual's body systems and overall well-being. You should link the biological factors with the psychological factors.

Component 002- Multimedia Presentation for service user or carer: You will choose a new specific health condition from that which was selected for assessment 001 (e.g., Type 2 diabetes, a cardiovascular issue, or a mental health condition with a biological basis like depression). Students must select a new health condition from that which was chosen for assessment component 001. You will produce a service user or family facing educational resource, this could be a recorded presentation (up to 5 minutes), you could use
- Panopto, screencast or a voice-over presentation, vlog, using software such as PowerPoint or GoogleSlides.
- A story book for a young person, information in ‘easy read’ format, or an information leaflet, or webpage.
- A video recording, that could be shared on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram or YouTube (MP4).
You must use online academic databases and reputable health websites to research the underlying biology, risk factors, symptoms, diagnostic technologies, and biological treatments to ensure your information is accurate. References must be provided. This assessment requires students to use various IT tools to research, analyse, and present a real-life health condition from a biological perspective.

Assessment:

Fact File

Module Coordinator - PRS_CODE=
Level - 4
Credit Value - 30
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 4S2

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