University of Technology Sydney

92688 Synthesizing Midwifery and Research Translation (SMART)

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 2025 is available in the Archives.

UTS: Health
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks

Requisite(s): 92672 Translating Research into Midwifery Practice
These requisites may not apply to students in certain courses.
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 critique and translate evidence into midwifery practice as well as be aware of the value and utility of research within the practice environment. Students evaluate the current state of research and demonstrate their knowledge of scholarly debates around a midwifery topic. Students interested in pursuing an Honours degree may submit their Honours proposal for Assessment 1, which includes a literature review.

Subject learning objectives (SLOs)

Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
A. Critique the validity and reliability of the different research methods.
B. Interpret evidence to underpin practice.
C. Utilise information technologies with a high level of literacy.
D. Critically evaluate the literature to provide the state of knowledge on a chosen subject related to midwifery practice.
E. Identify the midwives’ role in generating an evidence-based practice culture.

Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)

This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:

  • Demonstrate woman centred care acknowledging the physiological, psychological, cultural and spiritual needs of women, their babies and family members (1.1)
  • Are professionally competent midwives who provide safe and effective midwifery care using intelligent kindness (2.0)
  • Demonstrate thorough knowledge of the discipline of midwifery (2.1)
  • 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)
  • Communicate effectively using spoken, written and non-verbal language across a range of contexts and to diverse audiences (2.3)
  • Demonstrate information literacy and technology skills and effectively apply these in the exercise of clinical judgement (2.4)
  • Practise midwifery within a primary health care philosophy (5.1)
  • Interpret and value the evidence to underpin practice and influence change (6.1)
  • Demonstrate respect and value for world view differences and in particular Australian Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing (7.1)

Teaching and learning strategies

In this subject, the student will participate in a range of teaching and learning strategies that are designed to enhance their skills to identify, critique and appraise research literature pertaining to the translation of evidence into midwifery practice.

ONLINE LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Students access online learning resources via UTS Canvas to be completed prior to the scheduled tutorials. These learning resources include online readings, lectures and videos. Students will engage in online discussions.

TUTORIAL CLASSES
Tutorials will be undertaken face to face or through an online platform. The tutorials will take place in the scheduled tutorial timeframe. Tutorial activities are provided to enable students to clarify, discuss and develop subject concepts about how research underpins practice and the development of skills in translational research.

Students will engage in a research forum in Week 12 where they will have the opportunity to present an infographic poster and/or a three-minute oral presentation. Students will engage in groupwork during the online tutorials to enable peer to peer learning and will receive peer and tutor feedback.

REVIEWING THE LITERATURE
Students will develop skills in undertaking a review and critique of relevant literature to inform dissemination via an infographic poster and three-minute presentation. By undertaking this course, the student will develop an understanding of literature searching methods, develop the skills to be able to critically appraisal research literature, develop the skills to identify levels of evidence in current research literature. Using current evidence students must show their ability to learn independently, research, cite and reference their ideas, critically read, think, and write in a concise way, and transfer their knowledge to solve problems or create new information.

PROFESSIONAL e-PORTFOLIO
Students will continue to populate their professional e-Portfolio with their infographic poster and three-minute presentation.

ONLINE AND FACE TO FACE AND CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
Using a blended learning approach, students will undertake online and face to face workshops designed to enable them to acquire the analytic and research skills to undertake a literature review of a midwifery topic and design an infographics poster.

Content (topics)

  • To identify career aspirations in relation to research and/or research translation (dissemination and implementation).
  • To develop knowledge and skills in research and/or research translation, as a key midwifery responsibility.
  • To determine what exists in current midwifery scholarly literature about a chosen topic.
  • To identify possible gap(s) in the scholarly literature and identify areas for further research.
  • To plan a translation project on a chosen midwifery topic — accessing information sources, literature search strategies, managing the literature review process, disseminating.
  • To identify opportunities and barriers to change in the clinical environment and prepare a strategy to manage them.
  • To conduct a student led seminar in Week 12.

Assessment

Assessment task 1: Assessment 1: Literature review OR Honours proposal

Intent:

In Assessment 1, students will develop and demonstrate their skills in undertaking a review and critique of relevant literature to inform their chosen topic. A summary of the literature review will be included in the Assessment 2 oral presentation. Building on the skills developed in the 1st year subject 'Translating research into midwifery practice (TRIMP)' students will identify key words, search databases, select and critically appraise relevant literature and develop skills to identify levels of evidence.

Students may choose to submit a stand alone literature review OR an Honours proposal containing a literature review, formatted and structured as per UTS Faculty of Health guidelines for an Honours proposal.

This assessment will be commenced in week 1 and will be completed and submitted after the end of session.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

A, B, C, D and E

This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s):

1.1, 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4 and 7.1

Type: Project
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 60%

Assessment task 2: Assessment 2: Oral presentation and Infographic

Intent:

Students will submit a recorded 3 minute oral presentation with an Infographic as a background slide, in Week 10. Students may elect to be considered for a face to face presentation at the SMART Research Forum in Week 12. Chosen students will be notified by the end of Week 11.

The oral presentation will provide a persuasive argument supporting the student's chosen project. The infographic poster will be designed to disseminate the proposed implementation project to their clinician colleagues in the setting in which the change is proposed to take place. The Infographic is also to be submitted in Canvas as a pdf.

Objective(s):

This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s):

B, C, D and E

This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s):

1.1, 2.1, 2.3, 5.1 and 6.1

Type: Presentation
Groupwork: Individual
Weight: 40%

Minimum requirements

100% attendance is expected at face to face and virtual classes. In the event of illness or absence due to a Continuity of Care Experience birth, make up work is due within 7 days of the missed class. Inadequate attendance may result in an unsatisfactory grade for the subject. All assessment items must be submitted in order to pass the subject.

Required texts

All required readings will be provided in Canvas and available via the UTS Library.

References

De Leo, A., Bayes, S., Geraghty, S., & Butt, J. (2019). Midwives’ use of best available evidence in practice: An integrative review. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28(23–24), 4225–4235. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.15027

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

Other resources

UTS Student Centre
Building 10

Monday to Friday: 9am - 5pm
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
The Library has a wide range of resources, facilities and services to support students, including textbooks, subject readings, health literature databases, workshops and bookable study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help answer questions via online chat, phone and in person. W: lib.uts.edu.au, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666.

Improving academic and English language skills
Marks for all assessment tasks such as assignments and examinations are given not only for what students write but also for how students write. Students who would like the opportunity to improve their academic and English language skills can 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.

The Accessibility and Financial Assistance Service
The Accessibility Service can support students with disabilities, medical or mental health conditions, including temporary injuries (e.g., broken limbs). The Accessibility Service works with Academic Liaison Officers in each Faculty to provide ‘reasonable adjustments’ such as exam provisions, assistive technology, requests and strategies for students to manage their studies alongside a health condition. If a student is unsure whether they need assistance, we recommend getting in touch early to receive advice on how our service can assist. Appointments can be made with an Accessibility Consultant (AC) on +61 2 9514 1177 or Accessibility@uts.edu.au

The Financial Assistance Service can assist students with financial aspects of life at university, including Centrelink information, tax returns and budgeting, interest-free student loans and grants to assist with course-related costs. Check eligibility and apply online and make an appointment on +61 2 9514 1177 or Financial.assistance@uts.edu.au.