92790 Evidence for Informing Practice
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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.
Credit points: 6 cp
Subject level:
Postgraduate
Result type: Grade and marksThere are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Description
This subject expands students' understanding of and commitment to the development of evidence-based practice and helps them develop a broad base of current health care research. Students are introduced to the process of evidence-based practice and learn to critically appraise research evidence relevant to common health problems. Integration of research evidence into practice for the delivery of high-quality care is discussed and the current implementation models are introduced.
Note: This subject is the first subject of two sequential subjects that provide a capstone experience within the Master of Advanced Nursing and Master of Public Health programs.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| A. | Examine the role of evidence based practice in improving the quality of health care. |
|---|---|
| B. | Convert a clinical problem into a focussed question to direct the search for research evidence. |
| C. | Design an effective, reproducible and transparent search strategy to access relevant evidence. |
| D. | Critically appraise available research evidence for rigor, importance, and applicability to a clinical setting. |
| E. | Analyse, synthesise, and apply research evidence to inform decision-making in healthcare. |
| F. | Examine the factors influencing the implementation of evidence-based practice into current healthcare. |
| G. | Identify a gap in the literature, choose a feasible research topic, justify its significance and develop their research aims and objectives. |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the following graduate attributes:
- Identify, synthesise, evaluate and apply the best available evidence for translation into practice to achieve optimal health outcomes (1.1)
- Analyse approaches for building own capacity for leadership and that of the interdisciplinary health workforce and health care consumers (2.1)
- Justify and promote social justice principles to ensure efficient use of resources and equity of access to health care (3.1)
- Consistently adopt a respectful, empathic and person-centred approach that engages and empowers health care consumers and families/significant others (4.1)
- Demonstrate commitment to lifelong learning and ongoing professional development (5.1)
Teaching and learning strategies
In this subject, you will participate in a range of teaching and learning strategies that are designed to encourage you to develop your knowledge of evidence-based practice, within the healthcare context.
Orientation activities
Preparation for the session - You are expected to undertake activities during orientation week. These activities include online readings, videos, interaction with peers, and will assist you to prepare for the subject's assessment tasks.
Independent learning activities
Relevant readings, videos and activities will be made available that relate to the topic of the week. This will support your ability to progress successfully throughout the subject and complete assessment items effectively. The online material aims to enhance your understanding of the topic or delve deeper into a more specific area, compare experiences and ideas with others, and gain feedback. Information and links to all these learning activities can be accessed via Canvas as well as the subject outline.
Zoom meetings
You are strongly encouraged to attend all scheduled Zoom meetings as they will prepare you for the subject’s assessment tasks. Additionally, they provide opportunities for group activities, discussion, self-assessment, peer review and formative feedback from the subject coordinator. Zoom meetings will be conducted at a time that enables the majority of students to contribute and you are expected to attend with the pre-assigned activities completed.
Feedback
Feedback will be frequent and takes several forms including self-assessment, peer review, automatic feedback from interactive activities and from the teaching team. Formative feedback throughout the subject aims to support your performance in summative assessments.
Content (topics)
The content of this subject has been organised to reflect the process underpinning evidence-based practice. This includes formulating a concise and searchable question, searching for evidence, evaluating the quality of the existing evidence, and making health care decisions based on the best available evidence, patient values and preferences, and clinical expertise. Students also learn basic principles of scientific inquiry, quantitative and qualitative research methods and research ethics. They will be introduced to randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, qualitative research, systematic reviews and clinical practice guidelines. Using validated tools, students are engaged in systematically appraising research evidence for validity, significance, and applicability to practice. They read, interpret and discuss research findings in terms of statistical and clinical significance. Individual and organisational issues surrounding the implementation of evidence-based practice are identified and discussed.
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Problem identification and finding the evidence
| Intent: | This assessment will help you to develop the skills to translate a clinical problem that is relevant to your field of practice into a clearly articulated research question. You will demonstrate your understanding of how to identify suitable search terms and limits and conduct a literature search using an appropriate database. The feedback you receive on this assessment will inform your preparation and completion of Assessment 3.? |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, B, C and G This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.1 |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 15% |
| Length: | 500 words +/- 10% |
Assessment task 2: Critical appraisal of research
| Intent: | This assessment task is comprised of two parts and is designed to allow you to demonstrate and apply your critical appraisal skills on an independent paper as well as those related to the papers you identified from your search strategy in assessment 1. Literature reviews require concise and accurate reporting of the methodological processes, including appraisal of the methodological quality of included studies. Accurate reporting of the methodological processes and results provides a transparent audit trail and evidence of the trustworthiness and clinical applicability of the findings. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, D and G This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.1, 2.1 and 5.1 |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 35% |
| Length: | Part B: 200 words (+ table and figure) +/- 10% |
| Criteria: | Marking criteria for the part b reflection is available in the subject canvas site. |
Assessment task 3: Conference Poster: The evidence to support the question
| Intent: | This assessment builds on Assessments 1 and 2 and allows you to demonstrate the knowledge and skills you have learned in the subject. |
|---|---|
| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): A, D, E, F and G This assessment task contributes to the development of graduate attribute(s): 1.1, 2.1, 3.1, 4.1 and 5.1 |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 50% |
| Length: | A1 Poster |
Required texts
Hoffmann, T., Bennett, S., & Del Mar, C. (2017). Evidence-based practice: Across the health professions (3rd ed.). Elsevier.
OR eBook
Hoffmann, T., Bennett, S., & Del Mar, C. (2017). Evidence-based practice: Across the health professions (3rd ed.). Elsevier.
Recommended texts
LoBiondo-Wood, G., & Haber, J. (2018). Nursing research?: methods and critical appraisal for evidence-based practice (9th ed.). Elsevier.
Greenhalgh, T., Bidewell, J., Crisp, E., Lambros, A., & Warland, J. (2020). Understanding research methods for evidence-based practice in health (2nd ed.). John Wiley and Sons.
References
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 you including textbooks, subject readings, health literature databases, workshops and bookable study rooms. There is also a team of librarians to help you with your questions available via online chat, phone and in person. W: lib.uts.edu.au, Facebook: utslibrary, Twitter: @utslibrary Tel: (02) 9514 3666.
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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