Credit Points 10

Coordinator Ryan Sidoti Opens in new window

Description This subject 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 subject 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 fees via the Fees page.

Level Undergraduate Level 1 subject

Restrictions

Students must be enrolled in an existing Destination College Diploma program listed below:

• 7188 Diploma in Culture, Society and Justice
• 7189 Diploma in Health Science
• 7190 Diploma in Business
• 7191 Diploma in Information and Communication Technologies 
• 7192 Diploma in Building Design and Construction
• 7193 Diploma in Engineering Studies
• 7194 Diploma in Creative Industries and Communications 
• 7195 Diploma in Arts
• 7196 Diploma in Science
• 7197 Diploma in Education Studies

Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of this subject, students will be able to: 

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

Subject Content

Evidence-based Practice (EBP) Process

• Introduction to epistemology
• System 1 and 2 thinking
• Heuristics, biases and certainty
• “Why we don’t believe the facts”
• Ethics and evidence
• Reflective practice

Evidence-based Practice (EBP) Process

• 5-step EBP process
• Step 1 Formulating questions
• Step 2 Sources of evidence –
  • Search strategies –
  • Information literacy
  • Reader bias

How to read a paper

• Article sections
• Types of research
• Levels of evidence
• Key research concepts (e.g. measurement, reliability, validity, causality, probability

Communicating evidence

• Integrating evidence in writing
• Evidence justification
• Evidence summaries