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School for Health, Unit Catalogue 2008/09


FH50082 Evidence into practice

Credits: 6
Level: Masters
Modular: no specific semester
Assessment: CW 100%
Requisites:
Aims: To provide an overview of evidence based practice. To present knowledge and develop competence in searching, accessing and using information relating to health. To critically evaluate the quality of evidence sources that are used in clinical and health practice.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the unit the student will be able to:
1. Describe the type and functions of commonly available information resources (knowledge and understanding) and list the types of evidence from an EBM perspective (knowledge and understanding).
2. Critically appraise common types of literature (intellectual skill).
3. Describe and critically appraise the key components of a systematic review (knowledge and understanding).
4. Compare and critically evaluate the use of specialist centres, NHS bodies, the DoH, the pharmaceutical industry, private agencies and other sources in the provision of information for health (knowledge and understanding).
5. Describe and critically evaluate the role of national and international bodies producing reviews (knowledge and understanding, intellectual skill).
6. Reflect on their own interaction with the evidence base and identify areas for continuous improvement (transferable skill).
7. Use evidence to manage or implement change / Critically evaluate the use of evidence as an agent of change to practice.
Skills:
As above.
Content:

* Introduction to evidence based practice
* the type and functions of commonly available information resources (primary, secondary and tertiary printed and electronic literature, including specialist resources)
* the structure, use and limitations of databases (for example Pharmline, Medline, EMBase)
* the content of commonly used web sites (DoH, NICE)
* trial design (patient selection, sample size calculation, blinding, controlling, randomising) and critical appraisal of trials
* Systematic reviews and meta analysis
* Tools of evidence based medicine
* Critical Appraisal
* Searching
* Change management to enhance practice.