Evidence-Based Health Practice and Research

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Abstract

In this subject, students will develop a strong foundational understanding of evidence-based practice (EBP), including its underpinning principles, steps, and processes. Students will develop skills in translating real-world situations of uncertainty into well formulated questions, and develop an appreciation of diverse evidence sources. Students will learn to find and critically appraise research evidence, as relevant, and to judiciously and collaboratively incorporate that evidence into their professional decision-making. Students will also learn the importance of critically reflecting on their EBP processes and the outcomes. Emphasis will be given to the interconnections between high quality EBP and culturally competent care, particularly in relation to Indigenous Australian cultural competency. Overall, this subject will prepare students for life-long learning as research literate, client-centred, and critically reflective health professionals.

Syllabus

ASK: Types of uncertainty in healthcare practice; Types of 'evidence' in EBP; The risk of bias when judging the credibility of marginalised knowledge; Formulating questions to address situations of uncertainty in healthcare practice; Types of health practice questions research evidence can address; Types of research approaches and designs, including the … For more content click the Read More button below.

ASK: Types of uncertainty in healthcare practice; Types of 'evidence' in EBP; The risk of bias when judging the credibility of marginalised knowledge; Formulating questions to address situations of uncertainty in healthcare practice; Types of health practice questions research evidence can address; Types of research approaches and designs, including the importance of culturally appropriate research; Types of research publications.
ACQUIRE: Where appropriate, constructing search strategies and searching for relevant research evidence; The role of health librarians; Appraising scenario-specific relevance.
APPRAISE: Key methodological concepts in quantitative and qualitative research, including commonly reported statistical concepts; Appraising the validity of conclusions and recommendations in intervention, diagnostic, prognostic, and qualitative research, and in secondary reviews and clinical guidelines.
APPLY: Communication and clinical reasoning in EBP for ensuring client-centred, culturally competent, and context sensitive decision-making.
ASSESS: The nature and importance of critical reflection in EBP.

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this subject, students should:

be able to describe principles, steps, and processes involved in high quality evidence-based health practice;

be able to explain the value of a diversity of evidence sources in evidence-based practice, including cultural knowledge;

be able to recognise health practice questions that research evidence can inform, and identify the broad types of research that can address different question types;

be able to explain the importance of culturally appropriate research approaches with Indigenous Australian peoples with reference to the harms historically caused by unethical research;

be able to formulate questions relevant to particular healthcare scenarios and, as relevant, plan and execute effective literature search strategies;

be able to describe the value and limitations of research publication types and specific research designs in informing healthcare practice;

be able to appraise the relevance of research findings to particular healthcare scenarios;

be able to understand basic methodological and statistical concepts involved in a range of research types, and use this understanding to critically appraise the validity of health-practice relevant findings;

be able to explain the importance of communication, professional reasoning, and critical reflection in evidence-based health practice; and

10.

be able to discuss interrelationships between high quality evidence-based practice and culturally competent practice, including in the context of healthcare with Indigenous Australian people.