Global health addresses health problems that affect many countries and requires coordinated international efforts. A new programme of online courses from Physiopedia Plus (Plus) has been created specifically to support rehabilitation professionals in understanding these complex health systems and critical global health challenges.
Global health, as defined by Koplan et al. (2009), is a diverse field that incorporates study, research and practice dedicated to enhancing health and achieving health equity for all individuals globally. It prioritises worldwide health challenges, their underlying factors and potential solutions. This interdisciplinary field relies on collaborative approaches by a wide range of disciplines within and beyond the health sciences. These disciplines range from medicine and public health to social sciences, economics and environmental studies. Their collaboration brings together the varied perspectives, builds strong partnerships and shares knowledge, resources and expertise to strengthen the impact of global health initiatives.
Consider your recent patients. How many have delayed treatment due to cost? How many live in areas with limited healthcare access? How many face barriers that have nothing to do with their physical condition but everything to do with their social circumstances?
Understanding global health could affect how you approach every patient interaction, from the refugee with chronic pain to the elderly patient whose medication costs force impossible choices. This is global health in action, whether you are practicing in the UK, Ghana, India or the USA.
This new 4-course programme of courses on Physiopedia Plus (Plus) has been created specifically for rehabilitation professionals to introduce the concept of global health, its history and the interconnected systems and determinants that affect health outcomes. The first course in the series, Emerging Trends and Challenges in Global Health, introduces participants to the complex system of global health and encourages professionals to adopt systems thinking – challenging traditional perspectives and promoting a more refined understanding of health burdens and inequities.
Recognising that global health exceeds geographical, national and cultural boundaries, the course explores how interconnected factors influence individual and population health.
Subsequent courses in the programme – Global Health for Rehabilitation Professionals, Social Determinants of Health and Commercial Determinants of Health – offer a comprehensive exploration of factors that extend beyond conventional medical interventions.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.” – The World Health Organization (WHO)
The Social Determinants of Health course highlights how socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural conditions impact rehabilitation access and functional outcomes. By understanding these non-medical factors, rehabilitation professionals can develop more holistic and effective care strategies, especially for vulnerable populations.
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From medical device marketing to pharmaceutical influence on treatment guidelines, commercial forces shape healthcare delivery in ways we rarely acknowledge. The commercial determinants of health course will help you critically evaluate these influences and advocate for patient-centred care.
Essential Podcast: Commercial Determinants of Health: A Conversation With Anna Gilmore A compelling discussion about how commercial practices influence public health policy and clinical decision-making.
This educational initiative represents more than a series of courses; it’s a whole new approach to understanding global health. By encouraging rehabilitation professionals to unlearn traditional paradigms and embrace a more interconnected view of health, these courses aim to prepare a new generation of healthcare practitioners who can effectively navigate the complex global health landscape.
Global health is not about abandoning clinical expertise. It is about expanding your toolkit by recognising that the most evidence-based intervention will not succeed if delivered without understanding the patient’s broader context. In our interconnected world, every rehabilitation professional is potentially a global health practitioner. Global health affects every rehabilitation practice. Are you prepared to recognise and respond to these influences effectively? Get started on the Plus Overview of Global Health programme today.
How does global health apply to your specific practice setting? We love discussing how these concepts translate to real-world rehabilitation practice, get in touch!
Physiopedia Plus is a subscription site that offers internationally accredited continuing education and professional development opportunities for the global rehabilitation community in 6 languages.
Your subscription fees fund the Physiopedia charity website to keep it updated and openly accessible to all.
Your subscription also provides FREE access to Plus for rehabilitation professionals in low income countries.
There are also discounts available depending on where you live and for students.