| Effective Term: | 2026/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| Unit Title: | Applied Health Research and Evidence Based Practice |
| Unit ID: | HEALT5000 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | Nil |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | Nil |
| ASCED: | 060300 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
This unit addresses the use of contemporary research and theory to inform practice. It will enable the student to develop skills in clinical reasoning and judgment, and in evaluating evidence on which to base practice. Students will critique the application of research evidence in health and identify best practice. Students will compare and contrast existing practices, policies, procedures and protocols against the standards of evidence and best practice and relate this process to quality improvement in their chosen health discipline. Students will develop skills to research aspects of practice that require an evidence basis, to collect and critically examine this evidence, and to formulate strategies for implementation of evidence-based practice. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: | |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | | |  | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Identify the ways in which health disciplines generate, evaluate and apply knowledge to practice. |
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| K2. | Analyse the relationship between research, theory and practice in health care. |
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| K3. | Critically examine selected research in clinical practice. |
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| K4. | Examine various decision-making frameworks and their importance to contemporary health care. |
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| K5. | Discuss principles of safety and quality in health care. |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Engage in skilled reflection for personal practice development. |
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| S2. | Develop skills for conducting research in contemporary Australian health settings. |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Review and analyse the debate on evidence-based health practice. |
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| A2. | Critique an aspect of current health care to identify strengths and weaknesses of practice. |
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| Unit Content: |
Topics covering in this unit may include: - Evidence-based knowledge in health care
- Evaluating evidence
- Best practice principles
- Research skills
- Health care inquiry
- Becoming a life-long learner
- Principles of reflective practice
- Critical thinking, problem solving and decision making
- Clinical decision-making framework and skills
- Collaboration
- Consultation
- Safety and quality
- Applying the systematic review in informing clinical practice
- Occupational health and safety
- Quality audits
- Role of research agencies in contemporary health care
- Data Collection
ANMAC National Accreditation Standards for the Midwife (2014); NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice (2018); NMBA Code of Conduct for the Midwife (2018), Code of Ethics for the Midwife (2014), NMBA Registered Nurse Standards for Practice (2016); NMBA Code of Conduct for nurses (2018), Code of Ethics for nurses (2012) and Maternal and Child Health Service Standards (2010) have substantially informed the syllabus/content of this unit. |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students will demonstrate high-level skills to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups Students will be required to display (in person and/or online) high-level skills in-person and/or online in: • Effective verbal and non-verbal communication via a range of synchronous and asynchronous methods • Active listening for meaning and influencing • High-level empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating extended conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply leadership skills and behaviours Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating, contributing to, and enabling collegial environments • Showing self-awareness and the ability to self-reflect for personal growth • Inspiring and enabling others • Making informed and evidence-based decisions through consultation with others • Displaying initiative and ability to solve problems | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complex and ambiguous environments, using their imagination to create new ideas Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically on complex problems • Synthesising, evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Proposing alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts through deep inquiry • Proposing creative solutions in problem solving | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work proficiently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks Students will be required to display high-level skills in: • Finding, accessing, collating, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and appropriately and securely sharing complex digital information at a high-level • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Using digital tools appropriately to conduct research • Contributing proficiently to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and utilising digital learning opportunities | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to think ethically and sustainably. Students will be required to display skills in: • The responsible conduct of research • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in multiple global economic environmental and societal contexts • Demonstrating commitment to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Generating research solutions which are sustainable,ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable • Extending lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Demonstrate extended actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life. | 1 - Yes |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K1, K2, S1, S2, A2 | Reviewing the evidence base for practice and informing clinical decision making. | Written assessment | 20-40% | | 2. | K3, K4, K5, S1, S2, A1, A2 | Identifying current practice, applying the evidence, and presenting the research. | Quality Audit Project | 60-80% |
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