92453 Evidence for Nursing
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Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Undergraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject develops skills in accessing and appraising research evidence upon which to base nursing practice. This subject builds on students' understandings of the utility of published practice guidelines. Focus is on selection and appraisal of published research studies and applying the evidence to selected clinical situations. Quantitative and qualitative research are introduced and their values in answering different types of clinical questions discussed. Popular health claims are evaluated as a method of understanding how the indicators of clinical effectiveness are used. The appraisal of systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines is also introduced.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Discuss the range of evidence and the role of Evidence Based Practice (EBP) in clinical judgement and its relevance in nursing practice from the perspective of a beginning practitioner who is a consumer of nursing research and who will have responsibility for participating in an EBP culture. (RN Standards for Practice 1, 5, 6) |
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| B. | Examine the place of specific forms of evidence and research evidence in supporting practice. (RN Standards for Practice 1, 5, 6) |
| C. | Demonstrate basic understanding of common types of quantitative research designs (survey, experimental, quasi experimental, cohort, case control) and essential steps in the research process. (RN Standards for Practice 1, 5, 6) |
| D. | Develop focused searchable questions to address areas of clinical uncertainty. (RN Standards for Practice 1, 5, 6) |
| E. | Use information technology to locate articles to support practice: including research evidence, systematic reviews, and clinical practice guidelines. (RN Standards for Practice 1, 5, 6) |
| F. | Appraise quantitative and qualitative research in order to understand the effectiveness and suitability of evidence when applied to clinical nursing problems. (RN Standards for Practice 1, 5, 6) |
| G. | Extract the clinical relevance of published research. (RN Standards for Practice 1, 5, 6) |
| H. | Understand the impact of the evidence-based practice movement on health consumers and the pitfalls for consumers in popular health claims published in the media. (RN Standards for Practice 1, 5, 6) |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Embody a professional disposition committed to excellence, equity and sustainability (1.0)
- Engage in person-centred care that is appropriately sensitive to the needs of individuals, families and communities (2.0)
- Communicate and collaborate effectively and respectfully with diverse groups (3.0)
- Inquire critically to assess a body of evidence to inform practice (4.0)
Teaching and learning strategies
Learning the key concepts of evidence based practice in health care will occur through live online lectures and face to face tutorials including interactive learning activities. The lectures and tutorial will use case studies, scenarios, interactive workshops and practical examples from the contemporary peer-reviewed literature and will enable students to quickly clarify complex research concepts. It is expected that students complete the preparation learning activities before the class. Lectures will be recorded to facilitate self-paced, and time-flexible learning. Students will also benefit from active, engaging, and collaborative learning experiences through working within small groups in the class. Library modules and individual consultations with a health librarian will help students enhance their skills in systematic literature searching. The UTS Canvas site will be used exclusively for posting all lecture materials, preparation readings and staff/student communication.
Content (topics)
Background to the evidence-based practice (EBP) movement and its place in nursing and other health professions: The place of this subject in the curriculum; its relevance to the students as a future practitioner; difference between research and other forms of knowing
Research design and the different forms of quantitative and qualitative research common to support evidence based practice and their relationship to the levels of evidence
What is evidence based practice: Defining the clinical problem and developing a searchable (as opposed to a re-searchable) question; types of research literature available, purposes of each. How to search and extract best available evidence
Critical appraisal of different approaches to research (RCT, systematic review, qualitative research)
- Internal validity: Were groups and subjects representative and comparable?
- Outcome measurements
- Placebo effect and its relevance in research
- Probability, statistical significance, confidence intervals, clinical significance and treatment effect
- Data analysis techniques
- Extracting the clinical message and understanding the relationship between and relevance of research to clinical practice
Unpacking the meaning of claims made in the popular media about the impact of treatments and the prevalence of diseases
Analysing the application of research to practice including understanding and negotiating patients preference of care and outcome of research supported interventions.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: The Cochrane Crowd’s online modules
| Intent: | This assessment will help students develop their understanding of the process of evidence based practice and the key concepts. |
|---|---|
| Weight: | 10% |
Assessment task 2: Understanding of research concepts
| Intent: | The purpose of this assessment is to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of research and evidence based practice concepts and processes, and ability to apply this knowledge to case studies and scenarios. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 |
| Weight: | 45% |
Assessment task 3: Using evidence to inform clinical decision making
| Intent: | The intent of this assignment is to provide students with an opportunity to demonstrate their evidence based practice skills, including critical reading and understanding of research papers, and using the information obtained from research to answer a clinical question. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): C, D and G This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 3.0 and 4.0 |
| Weight: | 45% |
| Length: | 1500 words |
Recommended texts
Aveyard, H. & Sharp, P. (2017). A beginner's guide to evidence-based practice in health and social care. Open University Press
References
Hall, H. R. & Roussel, L. A. (2016). Evidence-Based Practice, Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Lobiondo-Wood, G & Haber, J. (2017). Nursing Research - E-Book: Methods and Critical Appraisal for Evidence-Based Practice, Elsevier Health Sciences.
Portney, L. G. (2020). Foundations of Clinical Research: Applications to Evidence-Based Practice, FA Davis.
Other resources
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