Course overview
This course will provide graduate students with the knowledge and skills to search for, and critically review quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods research evidence in a systematic and rigorous manner, that informs a clinical question and enables them to become educated consumers of health research which can be used to inform advanced clinical care and lifelong learning. The theory and practice of systematically searching for, critically reviewing and extracting the literature relevant to a clinical question; the design and conduct of experimental studies relevant to Allied Health contexts and practice; and the design and conduct of observational studies relevant to Allied Health contexts and practice. Critical thinking and reasoning in translating evidence into practice.
Course learning outcomes
- Design a well framed clinical review question relevant to clinical practice
- Develop a structured search strategy which enables access to, and search of, sources of research evidence
- Explain the design and conduct of experimental and observational studies relevant to Allied Health contexts and practice
- Identify risk of bias and rigor of primary and secondary research evidence using critical appraisal processes
- Synthesise findings from relevant primary research into a body of evidence
- Discuss how review findings could be effectively translated into clinical practice contexts taking into account clinical expertise, clinical contexts and client's values and circumstances
- Apply advanced knowledge of critical thinking and reasoning in self-reflection of current clinical practice.