| Effective Term: | 2025/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| Unit Title: | Research Methods for Evidence Based Practice |
| Unit ID: | MIDGD6205 |
| Credit Points: | 15.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | (MIDGD6003 or MIDGD6202) |
| Co-requisite(s): | (MIDGD6207) |
| Exclusion(s): | Nil |
| ASCED: | 060303 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
This unit addresses the use of research, clinical expertise and individual preferences to inform practice. It will enable the student to advance skills in evaluating evidence that informs clinical practice. Students will develop knowledge and skills in the research process required for implementation of evidence into practice for improved health outcomes. The unit develops an understanding of planning a research project, formulating a research question, selecting appropriate methodology, and addressing ethical considerations. Students will compare and contrast existing practices, policies, procedures, protocols and professional standards against the evidence to determine best practice and relate this process to quality improvement of clinical care. Students will critically examine real world examples, and will 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 discipline knowledge is generated and used |
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| K2. | Recognise difference between research, clinical expertise and patient preferences when making decisions for individualised care |
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| K3. | Examine the social, political, and economic dynamics that drive research about individuals, families and communities |
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| K4. | Discuss principles of safety and quality in health care |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Develop skills necessary for conducting research |
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| S2. | Identify appropriate research methodologies for application to various research questions |
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| S3. | Examine various research methodologies and their relationship to research question types |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Apply the evidence to a selected topic related to contemporary practice |
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| A2. | Develops a plan to implement the latest evidence into practice |
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| A3. | Designs an original tool to assist implementation of evidence into practice |
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| Unit Content: |
The ANMAC Midwife Accreditation Standards (2021); NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice (2018); NMBA Code of Conduct for Midwives (2018); Code of Ethics for Midwives (2014); NMBA Decision-making framework for nursing and midwifery (2020); NMBA Decision-making framework summary - midwifery (2020); National Digital Health Strategy (2021); and National Safety and Quality Health Services Standards (2019) have substantially informed the syllabus/content of this unit. Evidence based knowledge in midwifery practice Assessing levels of evidence, evaluating evidence Steps of evidence-based midwifery Ethical considerations in evidence based practice, code of ethics Best practice principles Becoming a life-long learner, Midwifery inquiry Methods of inquiry, quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods Choosing a method of inquiry Gathering data, analysing data, applying findings to practice Applying the systematic review in informing clinical practice Clinical decision-making framework and skills - Based on evidence, Experience, Collaboration & Consultation NSQHS Partnering with consumers standard Principles of safety and quality in healthcare: NSQHS; Safer Care Vic Occupational health and safety Victorian Perinatal Data Collection; Digital Health Capability Framework; Digital health electronic medical records; Birthing Outcomes System |
| 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 | Professional Standards |
| 1. |
K1, K2, K4, S1 |
Reviewing the evidence base for a selected clinical practice |
Written assessment |
20-40% |
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| 2. |
K3, K4, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2, A3 |
Research project to implement evidence into clinical practice |
Written assessment |
40-60% |
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| 3. |
S1, A1, A2, A3 |
Communicating research project outcomes |
Oral presentation |
10-20% |
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