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HL50168: Evidenced-based practice in primary care

Follow this link for further information on academic years Academic Year: 2014/5
Further information on owning departmentsOwning Department/School: Department for Health
Further information on credits Credits: 6
Further information on unit levels Level: Masters UG & PG (FHEQ level 7)
Further information on teaching periods Period: Modular (no specific semester)
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Summary: CW 100%
Further information on unit assessment Assessment Detail:
  • Course Work Part 1 (CW 70%)
  • Course Work Part 2 (CW 30%)
Further information on supplementary assessment Supplementary Assessment: Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Further information on requisites Requisites: In taking this unit you cannot take FH50079 or take FH50082
Further information on descriptions Description: This unit will require approximately 100 study hours to complete.
Aims:
To enable participants to use evidence to make informed decisions about health care and to develop a strategy for practice change in a clinical setting. Specifically:
* To provide an overview of evidence based practice/ medicine.
* To identify, critically evaluate and effectively search different sources of evidence
* To critically evaluate the quality of evidence sources used in clinical and health practice.
* To critically evaluate knowledge and develop competence in applying and implementing health-related evidence within clinical and primary care contexts.

Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the unit the student will be able to:
1. describe the principal steps of evidence-based practice
2. evaluate the benefits and challenges of an evidence-based approach in primary health care
3. describe the type and functions of commonly available information sources and evaluate types of evidence from a healthcare perspective
4. utilise a systematic approach to accessing and finding appropriate evidence from those sources to inform practice
5. critique and analyse different types of research evidence ,and their use as agents of change, using different appraisal tools
6. determine the importance and relevance of research studies to individual groups (e.g. patients/service users)
7. identify major barriers to implementing change and strategies to overcome them
8. confidently and appropriately use literature sources as part of their assessment
9. reflect on their own interaction with the evidence base and identify areas for continuous improvement.
These learning outcomes will be taught, facilitated and assessed.

Skills:
On completion of this unit students should be able to:
1. Apply critical appraisal skills to determine the external and internal validity of a range of published research studies (knowledge and understanding; intellectual, professional practical and transferable skills: taught, facilitated and assessed)
2. Identify how research results can be applied in practice for the benefit of patients/ service users. (knowledge and understanding; intellectual, professional practical and transferable skills: taught and facilitated
3. Identify and utilize different change models within their practice-base for the effective implementation of evidence (knowledge and understanding; intellectual, professional practical and transferable skills: taught, facilitated and assessed).

Content:
1. The basis for evidence-based practice (EBP) and evidenced based medicine (EBM). Distinctions between EBM and values-based medicine. Accessing and interpreting evidence. The role of research in primary care practice. The skills required for evidenced-based practice.
2. Framing clinical questions. Developing and employing search strategies. Application of evidence to practice.
3. Making sense of the evidence. Different types of evidence. Application and use of different appraisal tools. Appraising quantitative and qualitative research.
4. Applying the evidence. Statistical checks. Validity and significance. Relative and absolute risk reduction measures, numbers needed to treat. Use of sensitivity and specificity and likelihood ratios.
5. Implementing evidence. Models for managing change. Barriers and strategies.
Further information on programme availabilityProgramme availability:

HL50168 is Compulsory on the following programmes:

Department for Health
Notes:
* This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2014/15 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2015/16 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2014/15.
* Programmes and units are subject to change at any time, in accordance with normal University procedures.
* Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.