Data Ethics in Health and Social Care

Data science is revolutionising how health, social and care services are delivered. However, the use of service user data in health and social care is not free from ethical challenges. Different ethical issues might emerge depending on how data are collected, analysed, stored, shared and used and depending on who gets to make these decisions. Understanding how to identify ethical challenges and knowing how to make ethical decisions is key in any health and care setting. Given the increasing and continued role of data science in these contexts, as well as the high stakes involved in data use, it is extremely important that those working in data science are able to recognize and resolve ethical dilemmas and that they can embed ethical approaches within their own data practices

Through a combination of independent learning, online activities, guest seminars and written assessments, this course will introduce you to some of the key principles, concepts and debates relating to data ethics in health social and care contexts. You will be supported in developing the skills to identify different ethical issues, to engage in ethical debates and to reach ethically defensible judgements. We will consider different rights and responsibilities emerging out of data use. Together we will reflect on some of the key debates and controversies that exist around data use and we will draw on different case studies and examples from across health, social and care settings. We will explore some of the concrete ways that we can translate ethical principles such as fairness or transparency into practice as well as how to include publics in decisions about data. The course will prompt active self-reflection and appraisal and provide students with an opportunity to give and receive constructive feedback. Students taking this course do not need to have any prior exposure to data ethics.

Further information can be found in the University's course catalogue:

Data Ethics in Health and Social Care 

This course is for anyone working in health or social care or a computational role who is interested in starting a career in data science OR graduates who are seeking to develop data science skills that can be applied in health, social and care services.

This is an introductory Masters-level course (SCQF Level 11). It provides foundational skills and/or an overview of the subject - no prior knowledge is required. Masters-level courses are relatively intensive and require independent learning, critical thinking, analysis, and reflection.

As this course is designed mainly for health and care professionals, we expect our students to have qualifications or work experience in such environments (e.g. NHS National Services, Acute/Community/Public health), Third sector organisations, Social Services, Nursing homes, pharmaceutical companies, diagnostic laboratories, etc.).

You should be educated to a degree level as this course is catering for those seeking postgraduate academic credit. However, professionals who are involved with managing services and caseloads and have 5 years of work experience may also apply even if they do not hold a degree qualification.

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

Entry requirements by country 

Before you apply for this course, you will need to complete a Byte Size Learning course (Data Ethics for Health and Social Care) which will provide an introduction to Data Ethics in Health and Social Care.

Our Byte Size Learning is hosted on the Federation for Informatics Professionals in Health and Social Care (FEDIP) Hub. Data Ethics for Health and Social Care contains approximately an hour of content, and you will be able to apply for a CPD certificate upon completion.

To complete your Byte Size Learning, you will need to request access to the FEDIP Hub. Anyone can access the Hub for a 6-month trial for free, after which they must become FEDIP registered in order to maintain access.

Request your free 6-month trial to the FEDIP Hub 

You will be required to upload proof that you have completed this course at the point of application for Data Ethics in Health and Social Care.

You must be comfortable studying and learning in English if it is not your first language.

1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of ethical challenges and data ownership issues associated with the use of service user data in the health, social and care service contexts.
2. Apply logical, analytical and problem-solving skills to identify and assess current ethical challenges and data ownership issues to make informed decisions when addressing these within the health, social and care services sector.
3. Apply professional critical judgement and demonstate the ability to effectively communicate about data ethics and ownership issues.

This is a 5-week online course, comprising a total of 100 hours of study.

Assessment is 100% coursework

Course Duration: 5 weeks

Total Hours: 100 ( Lecture Hours 5, Seminar/Tutorial Hours 1, Online Activities 35, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 5, Formative Assessment Hours 5, Revision Session Hours 1, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 46 )

Method of Assessment: Coursework 100%

Level:

This is an intermediate Masters-level course (SCQF Level 11). It develops your skills and/or provides a broad understanding of the subject in some detail - some foundational knowledge is required. Please see the entry requirements for further details. Masters-level courses are relatively intensive and require independent learning, critical thinking, analysis and reflection.

Course fees for 23/24 are £1,065 but funded places are available for people employed or unemployed in Scotland (residency requirements apply).

Funding

Through the Scottish Funding Council (SFC) Upskilling Fund, a limited number of fully-funded places are available on Data Upskilling Short Courses at The University of Edinburgh.

Eligibility

Funded places are available to those who meet SFC fee waiver criteria:

“Courses/provision is open to all Scottish-domiciled/’home fee’ students, which is consistent with SFC’s policy for core funded student places. Students from the rest of the UK (rUK) are not normally considered eligible for SFC funding. If however a university is working with a Scottish/UK employer which has a physical presence or operating in Scotland, rUK employees of that employer would be eligible.”

If you are from outside Scotland, you need to have settled status in the UK and meet other residency criteria:

1. be ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man for the three years immediately before course start date, and
2.  have ‘settled status’ in the UK (as set out in the Immigration Act 1971) at the course start date, and
3.  be ordinarily resident in Scotland at the course start date.

You can find out more about residency criteria on the SAAS website  or in this summary 

Funding eligibility will be assessed at the point of each application for each course; you may be asked to provide further information if you do not meet the general residence conditions. You can check your likely fee status here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/tuition-fees/fee-status/work-out Please email us at upskilling@ed.ac.uk if you would like to discuss your funding eligibility before applying.

Please note that full-time students (including full-time PhD students) are not eligible for funding.

You will receive a certificate of completion after the final assessment date if you have submitted your coursework.

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Systems Thinking in Health and Social Care

User-Driven Service Design for Health and Social Care 

This course is offered as part of Data Science for Health and Social Carer, an innovative online programme looking to equip students with the data science skills, capabilities and competencies to realise the value of data in a healthcare setting. You can use credits achieved on this course towards postgraduate study on this programme (MSc, PG Diploma or PG Certificate), subject to approval by the Programme Director.

You may also be able to use credits achieved on this course towards other University of Edinburgh postgraduate programmes, subject to the approval of the relevant Programme Director.

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