Inequality in health and health care: theoretical and empirical considerations

WHAT THE COURSE IS ABOUT

This short online course will cover theoretical concepts on inequity and inequality in health as well as its measurement. It will also provide an overview of selected available (longitudinal) household survey data and cohort studies that combine socio-economic and demographic variables along with various health measures – these datasets provide good sources for empirical inequality in health research. Overall, the course will combine theory and applied methods using case studies, real-word evidence, and data analysis using Stata. 

Course Description

COURSE AIMS

For researchers and analysts interested in the measurement of socio-economic inequality in health, including (but not limited to): Ph.D. students, post-doctoral researchers and third sector organisations. 

This is an entry and intermediate-level course so no strong a-priory knowledge in economics or inequalities research is assumed. 

FORMAT

The course is divided into 3 main modules:- 

Module 1: Inequality in health and the concept of health poverty (Prof Guido Erreygers) 

• Core concepts such as the measurement of inequality in relative and absolute terms;
• Rank- & level-dependent health inequality measures;
• Measuring health poverty;
• Methods to understand health inequalities (e.g. decomposition methods); 

Module 2: Avoidable/unavoidable health inequality (Assistant Professor Apostolos Davillas) 

• Theoretical considerations on avoidable/unavoidable health inequality;
• Separating avoidable from unavoidable health inequality – measurement and practical considerations;
• Fairness and avoidable socio-economic inequality in health – advanced topics on measurement;
• Real-world evidence and empirical examples; 

Module 3: Measuring health inequality in practice (Prof Philip Clarke) 

• Types of inequality comparisons (i.e. cross-section, comparisons across time and over every long periods of time
• Defining research questions and sources of data
• Estimating inequalities in practice including issues with the measurement of socio-economic status and health
• Reporting of health inequality studies 

Modules will be delivered live, synchronously using online platforms with the lecturer to go over both theoretical issues and practical exercises as well as provide several opportunities for questions. 

Access to the online course materials, exercises, and other supporting documents will be provided two weeks in advance of the live sessions.

The language of the course is English. 

A certificate of participation will be provided (electronically) post-course

Note:  Places on the course are limited. Book early to avoid disappointment.

For booking enquiries, please contact the HERC Administration team at [email protected]