92672 Translating Research into Midwifery Practice

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2024 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Health
Credit points: 6 cp

Subject level:

Postgraduate

Result type: Grade and marks

There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.

Description

This subject provides students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be able to effectively translate evidence into midwifery practice as well as be aware of the value and utility of research within the practice environment. Students gain a broad understanding of quantitative and qualitative approaches to research and explore the different study designs that are common in maternity care. The ability to critique the evidence assists students to understand how evidenced-based protocols/guidelines are developed and used in practice. A focus on using woman-centred language helps students develop the skills needed to share and discuss research evidence, not only with women and their families but also within the broader maternity care team.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:

A.	Describe the role of evidence in midwifery practice and the advantages, disadvantages and constraints of evidence-based practice from the perspective of midwives, women and policy makers.
B.	Locate current research literature from a range of methodologies related to a specific topic.
C.	Critique the validity and reliability of the methods used in different studies.
D.	Understand how evidence-based protocols/guidelines are developed and used in practice
E.	Identify the midwives role in generating an evidence-based practice culture.
F.	Demonstrate the ability to use woman centred language when discussing and sharing the research evidence, not only with women and their families but also within the broader maternity care team.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:

Practise woman-centred care (1.0)
Are professionally competent midwives who provide safe and effective midwifery care using intelligent kindness (2.0)
Demonstrate critical thinking and sound clinical judgment that is based on evidence and reflects appropriate reasoning within the relevant professional codes and guidelines (2.2)
Are professionally engaged critical thinkers who take a lively and questioning approach and embrace lifelong learning (6.0)

Teaching and learning strategies

In this subject, students participate in a range of teaching and learning strategies that are designed to encourage them to develop the necessary knowledge and skills to translate research into practice.

ONLINE LEARNING MODULES
This subject is structured in 10 online learning modules. Modules contain lectures, videos, readings and interactive activities. Lectures enable students to develop subject concepts. Videos and readings explaining key concepts are made available to students so that they can go back and clarify concepts, especially in relation to understanding study designs. Students use videos and other resources to understand research methodologies, statistics in practice and getting evidence into practice when working through the modules. Students are expected to work through the modules listed in the folder for each week.

ON CAMPUS WORKSHOPS
There will be two (4) compulsory on-campus workshops:

Workshop One: Welcome to TRIMP - Thursday, 10th August 2023
Workshop Two: Critiquing and interpreting research papers - Thursday, 7th September 2023
Workshop Three: Translating Evidence into Practice - Thursday, 5th October 2023
Workshop Four: Reflecting on the importance of evidence-based midwifery practice - Thursday, 2nd November 2023.

OPTION ZOOM SESSIONS
Optional Zoom Q&A sessions will be held in weeks 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7. These are NOT compulsory. The optional Zoom sessions will be student lead and tailored to meet the needs of those attending. It is expected that students have completed the modules for the previous week and participated in the relevant discussion board before attending the Zoom session. Additional sessions will be planned based on student feedback.

STORIES AND SCENARIOS
Stories and scenarios are used to help students explore health and wellbeing-related situations. The teaching team encourages students to bring real-life scenarios to class highlighting where they have seen research translated into practice and where they have not. Group activities include class discussions and feedback on the utility of evidence in practice and understanding why some evidence is easy to get into practice and some is hard.

SIMULATED IN-CLASS ROLE PLAYS/ PRESENTATIONS
Presentations and role plays are used to assist students in understanding how to share evidence and the importance of respectful, woman-centred language.

COLLABORATIVE LEARNING ACTIVITIES
This subject involves collaborative group activities reflecting on the translation of research into practice. Students spend time working on their small group assignment with formative feedback and assistance provided by the teaching team.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
An aim of this subject is to help you develop academic and professional language and communication skills to succeed at university and in the workplace. During this subject, you will complete a milestone assessment task that will, in addition to assessing your subject-specific learning objectives, assess your English language proficiency.

Content (topics)

Evidence based midwifery practice

Principles of translating evidence into practice
The 5 steps to evidence-based midwifery care
Strengths and limitations of using an evidence-based approach in practice

Research methods

Common research methods in maternity care: design, sample, data collection and analysis
Evaluation of the evidence presented in different methodologies
Translation of different methodologies into practice settings

Translating research into practice

Translation of evidence into midwifery practice by understanding how clinical policies and guidelines are developed and used in practice
Use of woman-centred and respectful ways to communicate best evidence with women and their families, as well as within the broader maternity care team

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Reading and Reflecting on Research (Assessment 1A and 1B)

Intent:	Assessment 1A: Reading Research Part A is designed to build students’ confidence in their ability to identify and assess the key components/elements of published research. Assessment 1B: Reflecting on the Evidence for Midwifery Practice Part B focuses the students learning on the evidence and its likely relevance to childbearing women, families, other practitioners, and the Australian maternity care context.
Objective(s):	This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C and E This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.0, 2.2 and 6.0
Type:	Essay
Groupwork:	Individual
Weight:	60%
Length:	Part A: Approximately 3 - 4 pages Part B: Minimum 500 words
Criteria:	This assessment will receive a grade. Further information: Information about Assessment 1 will be provided in Workshop One as well as in Canvas. There will also be class discussions related to both aspects of this assessment item.

Assessment task 2: Critically appraising, interpreting, and sharing the evidence to support evidence-based midwifery practice and inform women�s decision making (Assessment 2A and 2B)

Intent:	Assessment 2A: Critically appraising, interpreting, and sharing the evidence to support evidence-based midwifery practice and inform women’s decision making Part A is an authentic activity that students will repeatedly be required to undertake as they journey through their midwifery careers. Having the confidence to search, find, review, apply and share the evidence, using a woman centred framework, is an important and lifelong skill. This assessment item is also designed to foster the student's ability to work in partnership with women and the multidisciplinary team and use appropriate woman-centred language to facilitate their ability to support women to make informed decisions about their maternity care. Assessment 2B: Peer Review Part B is designed so that students can access evidence-based information on various important midwifery topics. It will foster the student’s ability to critically reflect on the information that is being presented and develop skills in providing constructive feedback to their colleagues.
Objective(s):	This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C, D, E and F This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.0, 2.0, 2.2 and 6.0
Type:	Presentation
Groupwork:	Group, group and individually assessed
Weight:	40%
Length:	Part A: 15 minutes max. Part B: 1 - 2 pages
Criteria:	Part A: Students will receive a grade. Part B: Students will only receive a pass or fail for completing this part of the assessment. Students who pass will receive full marks.

Required texts

Pairman, Tracy, S. K., Dahlen, H., & Dixon, L. (2018). Midwifery: Preparation for Practice. Elsevier Australia. (Available online as an ebook from the UTS Library). Required reading Chapter 7: Tracy, S.K. 'Ways of looking at evidence and measurement '

Recommended texts

Hoffmann, T., Bennett, S. & Del Mar, C. (2017). Evidence-based practice across the health professions (3rd ed.). Churchill Livingstone.

Walsh, D. (2012). Evidence and skills for normal labour & birth: A guide for midwives (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Whitehead, D., Ferguson, C., LoBiondo-Wood, G., & Haber, J. (2020). Nursing and Midwifery Research: Methods and Appraisal for Evidence Based Practice (6th ed.). Elsevier.

References

Leap, N. & Hunter, B. (2016). Supporting women for labour and birth: a thoughtful guide. Routledge London.

Page, L. & McCandlish, R. (2020). The new midwifery: science and sensitivity in practice, 3rd edn. Churchill Livingstone Edinburgh.

Walsh, D. (2012). Evidence and skills for normal labour and birth: A guide for midwives, 2nd edn. Routledge London.

Other resources

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Tel: 1300 ASK UTS (1300 275 887)

Details for student centres: www.uts.edu.au/current-students/contacts/general-contacts

For other resources/ information refer to the Faculty of Health website (www.uts.edu.au/about/faculty-health) and Canvas at: https://canvas.uts.edu.au/.

UTS Library
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Improve your academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what you write but also for how you write. If you would like the opportunity to improve your academic and English language skills, make an appointment with the HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support) Service in Student Services.

HELPS (Higher Education Language & Presentation Support)
HELPS provides assistance with English language proficiency and academic language. Students who need to develop their written and/or spoken English should make use of the free services offered by HELPS, including academic language workshops, vacation intensive courses, drop-in consultations, individual appointments and Conversations@UTS (www.ssu.uts.edu.au/helps). HELPS staff are also available for drop-in consultations at the UTS Library. Phone (02) 9514 9733.

Please see www.uts.edu.au for additional information on other resources provided to students by UTS.

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