Course overview
This interdisciplinary course provides foundational principals, knowledge and skills for evidence-based practice in health sciences.
This course focuses on the principles, philosophies and processes which underpin evidence-based practice. Research methods are reviewed: quantitative and qualitative research frameworks, methodologies and methods, and data interpretation. Statistical issues addressed include: hypothesis generation, concepts of probability (including sensitivity and specificity), variance and error and tests for determining differences and associations (such as descriptive and inferential statistics). Key steps in evidence-based practice are introduced including using established frameworks to ask an answerable question, structured searching of the literature, critical appraisal of the literature using a range of tools, including hierarchy of evidence, rigour and trustworthiness and concepts such as sampling and sample size, effect size, odds ratio and number needed to treat, and implementation and translation of evidence to clinical practice.
Course learning outcomes
- Describe principles, philosophies and processes which underpin evidence-based practice
- Discuss key principles of quantitative and qualitative research paradigms, designs, methodologies and methods
- Identify various forms of data, what it means, how it can be analysed and presented
- Describe and apply key steps in evidence-based practice using established frameworks and tools (such as during searching of the literature and critical appraisal)
- Identify potential threats to internal validity and what strategies can be used to avoid bias and improve rigour in research
- Describe issues to consider when implementing and translating evidence to clinical practice.