HLTH 1012 Evidence in Health

This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://hbook.westernsydney.edu.au.

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 401383

Coordinator Nerida Klupp Opens in new window

Description This unit will introduce skills for finding and using the best available evidence in health. This begins with understanding thinking systems, biases and why we often don't accept, or respond, to facts, science and evidence. Students will learn the evidence-based practice process to formulate questions and find appropriate and relevant evidence from the unending amount of information available. The unit covers key concepts in how to read and understand a research paper. Students will develop skills for communicating evidence to strengthen arguments in academic writing and professional practice.

School Health Sciences

Discipline Health, Not Elsewhere Classified.

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 2 10cp

Check your HECS Band contribution amount via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 1 subject

Equivalent Subjects HLTH 1001 - Foundations of Research and Evidence-Based Practice HLTH 1002 - Foundations of Research and Evidence-Based Practice (UWSC)

Learning Outcomes

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

Recognise personal thinking styles and associated biases;
Describe the reasons for the 5 steps of evidence-based practice;
Design a sensitive and specific PICO search strategy to find best available evidence;
Identify type, level and key research concepts in journal articles;
Integrate strength and relevance of evidence findings into academic writing.

Subject Content

1. Critical thinking
- introduction to epistemology
- System 1 and 2 thinking
- Heuristics, biases and certainty
- ?gWhy we don?ft believe The facts?h
- ethics and evidence
- reflective practice
2. Evidence-based Practice (EBP) Process
- 5-Step EBP process
- Step 1 Formulating questions
- Step 2 Sources of evidence
Search strategies
Information literacy
Reader bias
3. How to read a paper
- Article sections
- types of research
- levels of evidence
- key research concepts (e.g. measurement, reliability, Validity, causality, probability)
4. Communicating evidence
- Integrating evidence in writing
- evidence justification
- evidence summaries

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Item	Length	Percent	Threshold	Individual/Group Task
Finding Evidence Exam	1 hour	15	N	Individual
Evidence Selection Assignment	No word limit for PICO table/Search strategy/ Selection criteria table. Selection justification = 100 words.	25	N	Individual
Evidence Summary Assignment	800 words	25	N	Individual
Final Exam	2 hours	35	N	Individual

Prescribed Texts

Greenhalgh, T., Bidewell, J., Crisp, E., Lambros, A. & Warland, J. (2017): Understanding research methods for evidence-based practice (2nd ed.). Milton, Australia: Wiley.

Teaching Periods