The Principles and Methods of Evidence Based Practice in Health and Social Care
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| NURS4174 | Nursing | 4 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- NURS4174
- School
- Nursing
- Level
- 4
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
This course will commence with a critical review of the forms of evidence that underpin professional practice in health and social care. The ideology of evidence-based-practice will be analysed and its impact on practice evaluated, including and examination of the barriers to using evidence in practice. The course will then move on to examine the following areas:
- The principles of critical and systematic literature review
- Issues in the application of clinical guidelines and protocols
- Techniques for auditing/evaluating services and policies
- The process of generating evidence through empirical research
- Qualitative and quantitative research paradigms and methods
Target Students
Postgraduate students.
Classes
The course will comprise 60 hours tutor led taught sessions and 140 hours self-directed study and tutorial support.
Assessment
- 70% Assignment: Students will submit a written assignment (project proposal) of up to 2,500 words.
- 30% Exam 1 (0-hour): Students will undertake a 45 minutes multiple choice examination in ExamSys to test their knowledge of both the principles and practice of evidence based practice.
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
The aim of the course is to equip students with an understanding of the principles of evidence-based practice and primary and secondary research methodologies. The course is also designed to assist students by supporting them in the development of a proposal for the study they wish to undertake for their dissertations.Learning Outcomes
To critically evaluate the contribution of evidence-based practice to improving standards of healthcare delivery (locally, nationally and internationally)
To understand ways in which established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge for advancing practice, and to critically consider their application in relation to their own professional contexts
To systematically identify, evaluate and critically appraise research and other forms of evidence informing advanced professional practice in health and social care
To be able to develop a research question and protocol related to a healthcare topic and to critically discuss and justify the associated epistemology, methodology and methods
Communicate effectively in writing following established research reporting standards
To be able to effectively and appropriately use literature databases, information and communication technologies