HLTH 4002 Evidence-Based Practice (Advanced)

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 400944

Coordinator Rosalind Bye Opens in new window

Description In this subject, students incorporate previous research and biostatistics knowledge to develop new skills for using evidence to inform all aspects of their professional practice. Evidence-based practice uses an enquiry led approach to manage expanding and uncertain knowledge by formulating answerable questions, effectively searching literature, critically appraising evidence validity and results, and to assess its significance in clinical practice and healthcare decision-making. Students will incorporate evidence in communication and shared decision-making processes for patient scenarios relevant to their program. Students will embark on research training through studying the theory and application of research methods to honours research in their chosen field and practising the skills to analyse evidence in the health sciences.

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 4 subject

Pre-requisite(s) Students need to have done HLTH2024 Research Methods in Health PLUS students in Occupational Therapy Physiotherapy and Podiatric Medicine must have done ONE clinical subject from their specific program These are outlined below
Students enrolled in Program Code 4663 (Continuing) or 4711 (Current) must have completed REHA 2007
Students enrolled in Program Code 4663 (Continuing) or 4711 (Current) must have completed REHA 2004
Students enrolled in Program Code 4663 (Continuing) or 4711 (Current) must have completed REHA 3004 AND
HLTH 2024 - Research Methods in Health AND
REHA 3049 - Speech Pathology Practice 3 for students enrolled in 4788 - Bachelor of Speech Pathology (Honours)

Incompatible Subjects HLTH 3005 - Evidence-Based Practice

Restrictions

Students must be eligible to enrol in honours in the nominated programs. This subject is only relevant to honours students in clinical health sciences and is specifically tailored to accommodate the program and progression requirements of such students. It is not appropriate as a general elective.

Assumed Knowledge

Knowledge and skills of Foundations of Research & Evidence-based Practice 400863 and Research Methods (Qualitative and Quantitative) 400864 AND at least one clinical subject of the student’s program.

Learning Outcomes

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

  1. Conduct sensitive and specific PICO search strategies
  2. Identify key classification, design and result information from research studies
  3. Critically appraise validity and clinical significance of research
  4. Justify value of evidence according to its level, quality and applicability
  5. Incorporate evidence into clinical reasoning and decision making
  6. Negotiate evidence-informed shared decision-making
  7. Formulate an appropriate design and research protocol for the honours investigation in conjunction with the honours supervisor
  8. Analyse the organisational and ethical issues of research in health practice settings, and practically apply this to the honours research topic
  9. Justify the selection of specific data analysis techniques for use in the student�fs research question

Subject Content

1. Exploring reasons for EBP
- history of EBP development in health care
- management of professional disagreement, situation effects and bias
- management of information overload
- management of uncertainty
2. Appraising evidence
- for studies of interventions, diagnostic tests, prognosis, experiences and systematic reviews and guidelines
- level of evidence
- Internal Validity
- statistical and clinical significance
- Generalisability, Applicability and Usefulness
3. Implementing evidence into practice
- incorporating evidence with expertise, values and situations
- limitations of EBP paradigm
- using evidence in clinical reasoning and decision-making
- communicating evidence to clients
- evidence-informed shared decision-making
- evaluation of EBP
4. Honours research development knowledge and skills
- transition Issues: Becoming A clinical health science Honours researcher and Understanding The Honours research training process
- Working with your supervisor and developing good research practice skills
- Scholarly writing and using library resources
- research design of Honours Projects
- ethics of research in The health sciences
- developing, writing and Presenting An Honours research proposal
- data analysis techniques and managing data in Honours Projects

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.

Type Length Percent Threshold Individual/Group Task
Critical Review 600 words plus search strategy 15 N Individual
Viva Voce 20 minutes 25 Y Individual
Final Exam 90 minutes 35 N Individual
Proposal 2,000 words 25 N Individual

Prescribed Texts

  • Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). Los Angeles: Sage
  • Hoffman, T., Bennett, S., & Del Mar, C. (2013). Evidence-based practice across the health professions (2nd ed). Sydney, New South Wales: Churchill Livingstone