Course Description
This course examines health and wellness from individual and social perspectives. Principles, practices and approaches related to individual and community health are examined, with a particular emphasis on the core concepts of health promotion discussing the broad determinants of health, health inequities and their relevance to leisure and therapeutic recreation. A range of health promotion interventions are explored.
Course Content
The following global ideas guide the design and delivery of this course:
Course content will be guided by research, empirical knowledge, and best practice. The following values and principles, consistent with professional standards, inform course content.
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There are many competing definitions of health, well-being and wellness; through a critical examination of health concepts from different perspectives, we can appreciate the many factors that influence health and health behaviour.
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The relationship between human health, health behaviours and environment is a complex, developing field. Understanding the relationship between health outcomes and personal and social determinants of health fosters interventions that promote resilience and social change.
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Social position(s) and social circumstances contribute to people’s health and overall well-being. Applying a social determinants of health lens allows for exploration of why and how social advantages and disadvantages influence health of marginalized populations.
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Attention to social factors plays an important role in enabling access to health promoting interventions. Understanding the purpose of health systems, community health, and health promotion supports making informed personal health decisions.
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Social and behavioural theories of health behaviour help to identify and assess personal and social factors that influence health. Understanding the connection between health promotion theory and research, policy and community practice builds critical knowledge for improving health literacy and designing effective health promoting leisure and recreation programs and interventions.
Learning Activities
Methods of instruction for this course will include some or all of the following:
- Lecture
- Small group activities
- Case studies
- Use of Media
Means of Assessment
This course will conform to the Douglas College Evaluation Policy regarding the number and weighting of evaluations
Typical means of evaluation may include some or all of the following:
- written papers
- exams
- presentations
- participation
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Define domains of health and the concepts of wellbeing, wellness, disease and illness and the differences between them
2. Describe current health issues that influence health behaviours and health outcomes and understand personal health decisions
3. Define and explain personal and social determinants of health
4. Explain how and why personal and social determinants influence the health of populations and result in health inequities
5. Describe current approaches to health promotion including the relationship between health literacy and personal and social determinants of health
6. Apply leisure and recreation to promote health and reduce risk of disease
Textbook Materials
A list of textbooks and materials is provided for students at the beginning of the semester.