Courses

Each university site offers graduate courses in health services research and health policy, as well as a regular seminar series for WRTC students. All students are required to attend the WRTC seminar series. Full students are required to enroll in two courses in health services research and health policy; affiliate students are required to enroll in or audit one course in the area.

In addition to the WRTC seminar series, some courses currently offered at the six universities include:

University of Alberta

  • Health Care Research Methods
    An overview of research methods for the health and social sciences fields. Content includes both quantitative and qualitative approaches to theoretical foundations, reliability, validity, research design, sampling, data collection, and data processing. Discussions on survey research, measurement issues, statistical analyses, and current and relevant publications in public health sciences complete this course.
  • Introduction to Health Systems and Health Policy
    A review of the Canadian health and social system and its structure and functions. An analysis of selected issues in the delivery of health and welfare services.

University of British Columbia

  • Health Services Research Methods
    An introduction to the basic methods for undertaking health services research studies. Includes concepts and theoretical frameworks for assessing health services and systems; basics of research design including quasi-experimental approaches, measurement reliability and validity; common data sources used in health services research; measurement of quality of care; measurement of effectiveness and outcomes, risk assessment and risk adjustment; measurement of access, continuity and satisfaction; and strategies for knowledge translation into effective policy.
  • Issues in Canadian Health Policy
    The course is structured to introduce students to the “policy cycle” and how it applies in health care policy making. Students learn about the nature of objectives that public policy might strive to meet, discuss dilemmas when policy objectives are in conflict, and learn to examine the agendas of stakeholders in major policy debates. Includes the history and fundamental features of the Canadian “medicare” system, and how it compares with health care systems elsewhere.University of

University of Calgary

  • Foundations of Health Services Research
    A foundation course that introduce students to the fundamental concepts of health services research including topics related to health systems and methods in health services research, as well as evaluation of health systems performance, with emphasis on knowledge translation and health policy creation and analysis.
  • Health Policy: Policy Issues in the Canadian Health Care System
    An advanced level course focussed on developing and deepening participants’ understanding of critical policy issues affecting the management and delivery of health services. While the course will review health policy in the context of systems of care within Canada, a more global comparative frame of reference will be used to test, challenge and contrast both the historical and current underpinnings of health policy in Canadian jurisdictions.

University of Manitoba

  • Epidemiology of Health Care (CHSC 7310) An overview of health services research that relies on administrative data banks. While some attention is paid to research methods, the primary focus of the course is on application of methods to substantive issues. The major objective is to familiarize the student with approaches necessary to use data for research and policy purposes
  • Health Policy and Planning (CHSC 7300)
    Observers of western health systems note that three perspectives on services delivery reform are frequently active in health care policy debates. These perspectives are represented by what are termed health expanders, health improvers, and cost controllers. This seminar explores the ongoing debate over the direction of Canadian health services policy among representatives of all three perspectives. In the context of this exploration, the role of public policy and administrative theory in framing policy goals and resultant management practices will be given particular attention.
  • Organization and Financing of the Canadian Health Care System (CHSC 7320) Students will study the historical development and current structure of the Canadian health care system and relate its development to changes in social and political factors. The course provides an economic perspective on current policy issues in the organization, financing, and delivery of health care in Canada.

University of Regina

University of Saskatchewan