Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 400567

Coordinator Alan Yeung Opens in new window

Description This unit will provide the student with the opportunity to develop the skills necessary to search, understand and critically appraise scientific literature related to Chinese medicine. Basic research methods will be introduced sufficient to support the student through this unit. This unit will introduce and develop concepts and principles of evidence-based practice applied to Chinese medicine and explore specific research developments in Chinese medicine.

School Health Sciences

Discipline Traditional Chinese Medicine

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 2 10cp

Level Postgraduate Coursework Level 7 subject

Assumed Knowledge

Equivalent to undergraduate training in Traditional Chinese Medicine  or acupuncture.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

1. Critically appraise Western and Chinese medicine research in terms of appropriateness and validity of research methodology used and conclusions reached
2. Conduct relevant literature searches on Chinese medicine
3. Describe formalised systems of critical appraisal (eg. CASP, Mc Master)
4. Describe different types and levels of research and their application in Chinese medicine and western medicine
5. Interpret basic biostatistics used in scientific research
6. Describe the complexities and limitations of the application of scientific research methodology to Chinese medicine
7. Describe the evidence-base of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine in the treatment of a variety of disorders
8. Implement change management strategies to incorporate evidence-based practice (i.e. into clinical practice)

Subject Content

1. Foundations of clinical research
2. Concepts of measurement (validity, reliability)
3. Designs in clinical research
4. Basic data analysis in clinical research
5. Relevant computer skills
- database Searching
- Compiling A literature database
6. Evidence-based practice
- how to become ?eevidence-based?f
- The 5-step EBP process
- writing A focussed clinical question prior to doing A search
- levels of evidence
- RCTs: The gold Standard
- other levels and types of evidence, their strengths, biases and limitations, including Qualitative research
- systematic reviews
- skills required for EBP
- Searching: sites and sources of evidence: Cochrane, DARE
- Critical appraisal: checklists to formalise appraisal process (CASP, McMaster)
- change management and strategies to help implement EBP
- Ethical and professional responsibilities in TCM