MSc Evidence Based Medicine and Practice

Summary 2012/13

• Gain a solid grounding in research methods and statistics underpinning evidence based practice;
• Develop a sound understanding of the evidence underpinning practice and enhance career prospects in accordance with the Modernising Careers Framework;
• Compare treatment results within a framework of clinical governance;
• Provide sound preparation to undertake research within practice;
• Prepare for future PhD / MD research.

With the continued emphasis on the appraisal and utilisation of research evidence and the requirement to compare treatment results within a framework of clinical governance, the MSc Evidence Based Medicine and Practice aims to enable qualified doctors, dentists, nurses, allied health professionals, and other health and social care practitioners to develop research skills to enhance an evidence-based approach to health and social care practice, supporting their postgraduate training or continuing profession development.

2012 Entry Requirements

Prospective participants will be expected to hold a minimum 2:2 Honours Degree or equivalent in a health or social care related subject. Clinical staff will also be expected to have a current professional registration number and, if required, comply with UK visa regulations. You will normally be expected to have extensive subject knowledge or experience working within the chosen field. You will need to demonstrate a capacity for self-directed learning and critical analysis, a minimum level of engagement in research and/or data handling, and ICT skills with appropriate standards of literacy and numeracy.

Summary 2013/14

• Gain a solid grounding in research methods and statistics underpinning evidence based practice;
• Develop a sound understanding of the evidence underpinning practice and enhance career prospects in accordance with the Modernising Careers Framework;
• Compare treatment results within a framework of clinical governance;
• Provide sound preparation to undertake research within practice;
• Prepare for future PhD / MD research.

With the continued emphasis on the appraisal and utilisation of research evidence and the requirement to compare treatment results within a framework of clinical governance, the MSc Evidence Based Medicine and Practice aims to enable qualified doctors, dentists, nurses, allied health professionals, and other health and social care practitioners to develop research skills to enhance an evidence-based approach to health and social care practice, supporting their postgraduate training or continuing profession development.

2013 Entry Requirements

Prospective participants will be expected to hold a minimum 2:2 Honours Degree or equivalent in a health or social care related subject. Clinical staff will also be expected to have a current professional registration number and, if required, comply with UK visa regulations. You will normally be expected to have extensive subject knowledge or experience working within the chosen field. You will need to demonstrate a capacity for self-directed learning and critical analysis, a minimum level of engagement in research and/or data handling, and ICT skills with appropriate standards of literacy and numeracy.

Details

Who is this course for?

The MSc Evidence Based Medicine and Practice will appeal to health and social care practitioners from a range of backgrounds as part of postgraduate training and in support of continuing professional development.

What will I gain from this programme?

The programme has been developed in response to local and national drivers that require medical, dental, health and social care staff to develop an evidence-based approach to their practice. You will develop a strong grounding in research methods and statistics enabling you to develop a critical understanding of discipline related research.

The programme will enable you to critically appraise the ethical issues raised by the conduct of research within your area of practice. You will develop skills in writing research proposals and reports, systematic reviews and using analytical software for organising, handling, summarising, representing and analysing data.

What will I study?

The programme comprises six distinct 20 credit modules and a 60 credit dissertation that combine to produce a well-rounded qualification in research methods, whilst also providing opportunities to study standalone modules for continuing professional development.

To meet the needs of multidisciplinary participants, the module content has been enriched beyond that, typically found within a single discipline. Several modules will be shared with other programmes. It is envisaged that the diverse range of experience and expertise amongst participants will lead to a highly stimulating learning environment with the potential for a broader level of critical appraisal and debate than would normally be possible.

Topics covered across the programme include:

• Understanding the research process of evidence-based practice;
• Research traditions in social science and their impact on academic and practice-based research;
• The ethics of research involving human beings;
• Approaches to quantitative and qualitative research design issues;
• Data screening, interpreting and reporting outcomes of statistical analyses;
• Univariate analyses, bivariate analyses & multiple regression, factor analysis;
• Evaluating measures: assessing reliability and validity;
• Philosophical underpinnings of qualitative research;
• Critiquing research findings;
• Systematic reviews;
• Writing a research proposal, including planning, the ethical approval process, organisation and management, dissemination and theoretical, practical and/or policy implications.

How will I study?

The delivery of the programme will take place over three years running from September to August with attendance normally on a part-time basis.

The programme is taught through a combination of lectures, seminars/discussions, workshops, individual and group tutorials, negotiated work based assessment and guided independent reading and study tasks.

Various teaching approaches will be used, incorporating both face-to-face, work based learning and Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) mediated delivery. Within modules, there are opportunities for problem-based learning and personal reflection as well as opportunity for independent choice that will enable you to tailor the curriculum to your specific discipline, area of interest, expertise or practice.

Who will be teaching me?

The programme team comprises staff from the Faculty of Health and Social Care, the Evidence Based Practice Research Centre and the Department of Social and Psychological Sciences. Edge Hill University enjoys an excellent reputation for teaching quality and members of the programme teaching team publish in international journals and present at national and international conferences.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment methods include a research proposal, data analysis and interpretation, critical review of relevant research, portfolio of evidence and a dissertation which can either be with an advanced practice project focus or a scientific research focus.

What are my career prospects?

In increasingly competitive health and social care services, staff of all grades will need to continually seek opportunities to add to their portfolio of qualifications in order to advance their careers. This is especially true for more senior health and social care professionals where a postgraduate qualification is increasingly deemed desirable or, in some cases, essential. The MSc Evidence Based Medicine and Practice programme will provide a solid grounding and highly relevant qualification for such professionals and also provides relevant CPD opportunities.

Further study at Edge Hill University

The MSc in Evidence Based Medicine and Practice offers excellent training in research methods and will provide a thorough preparation for the development of PhD or MD research / studies.

A Great Study Environment

Based in 160 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, the Ormskirk Campus is a unique and inspirational place to study. Industry standard resources and cutting edge technology combine to make an interactive and highly advanced teaching and learning environment. Everything you could want is on one site with fantastic modern spaces in which you can study and socialise and 25 acres of sport and leisure facilities.

The University library gives you access to thousands of books, journals, online resources and extensive PC and media provision. You'll get all the support you need to succeed, reflected in Edge Hill University being ranked in the top two in England for students' personal development, and the top three in the country for assessment and feedback, in the 2011 National Student Survey. The University is also featured in the top four in England for graduate employment.

How do I apply?

Apply directly to Edge Hill University. Download the Health Professional Development pathway application form and notes for guidance (pdf).

Fees and Finance

Tuition fees for this programme are £560 per 20 credit module and £900 for the 60 credit dissertation for academic year 2012/13.

Edge Hill graduates joining an eligible postgraduate programme at the University in academic year 2012/13 could benefit from a 20% reduction in tuition fees. If you're a UK or EU student and will be paying the fees yourself, you might be eligible to receive this discount. See www.edgehill.ac.uk/reducedfees for more information.

Not got the entry requirements?

If you do not meet the standard entry criteria you may still be considered for entry to the programme if you can demonstrate relevant experience and an ability to achieve the learning outcomes of the programme. Regardless of academic and/or professional background, you will need to demonstrate a capacity for self-directed learning and critical analysis and a minimum level of engagement in research and/or data handling, ICT skills and appropriate standards of literacy and numeracy (GCSE grade C or equivalent).

Still want more?

If you have any questions you would like to ask the programme leader about this course, please contact:

• Ida Ryland, Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Ormskirk, Lancashire, L39 4QP
• Tel: 01695 650735
• Email: rylandi@edgehill.ac.uk

Modules

HEA 4045 Research - Development of a Research Proposal (20 credits). This module is delivered primarily through the Virtual Learning Environment, with several classroom sessions, and will introduce you to the research process including philosophical debates surrounding both quantitative and qualitative traditions and a range of research methodologies.

You will develop a proposal that demonstrates your abilities to plan a small-scale project in a chosen discipline as well as demonstrating your awareness of the theoretical and practical implications of undertaking such a study. A blended approach is designed to encourage group online interaction as well as independent learning.

SPS 4001 Analysis of Quantitative Data (20 credits). This module is designed to equip you with the ability to organise, analyse, interpret and report findings of research involving quantitative (numerical) data. The focus is on identifying different types of data arising from typical research methods/designs and selecting appropriate analysis to answer relevant research questions.

The module is designed to provide a progression from organising, entering and summarising data through univariate and on to multivariate data analyses. An important component of the module will be the provision of training in the appropriate use of SPSS for Windows as a means of organising, manipulating and analysing data.

HEA 4027 Utilisation of Evidence in Specialist Clinical Practice (20 credits). This is a work based module that provides you with the flexibility and freedom to work closely with both clinical and academic supervisors, to identify how learning can be achieved and assessed in the working environment.

You can exit after these three modules with a Postgraduate Certificate in Clinical Research Methods.

HEA 4019 Systematic Reviews in Health and Social Care Practice (20 credits). This module is designed to enable the development of a sound understanding of systematic reviews and the methods used to identify and synthesise evidence of effectiveness for health and social care and service delivery. It will enable you to read and critique published systematic reviews, developing knowledge and skills to undertake a systematic review.

Key-note lectures and computer-laboratory based workshops will enable you to develop literature searching skills, develop and use a literature search strategy, develop a protocol for undertaking a systematic review, extract data and assess the quality of studies.

HEA 4022 Research Governance and Ethics (20 credits). This module is designed to prepare you to conduct research with living participants by developing your awareness of ethical issues and how these issues relate to the research process.

The module will introduce you to theoretical perspectives underpinning ethical principles which guide research with living participants, either animal or human. The application of such principles to health and social research will be explored through examination of official scrutiny procedures, professional codes of practice, legal obligations, and specific issues such as informed consent, confidentiality, and participants’ rights (e.g. the right to withdraw without penalty).

The module content also includes consideration of broader issues concerning the potential social impact of research, including responsibility for the application of research findings, and research in developing countries.

. You must also choose one optional module from the Faculty of Health and Social Care Postgraduate CPD Portfolio. For example:

• HEA 9083 Leadership within Health and Social Care (20 credits)
• HEA 9080 Application of Epidemiology in Public Health (20 credits)
• HEA 4001 Negotiated Work Based Learning (20 credits)

You can exit at this point of the programme with a Postgraduate Diploma in Evidence Based Medicine and Practice.

To complete the MSc, you will need to select one of the following two dissertation modules:

HEA 4081 Dissertation for Practice Based Professionals (60 credits) is designed to enable you to consolidate and further develop your research knowledge and skills gained during previous modules.

This module will enable you to focus upon a significant piece of investigative enquiry relating to your specialist area of practice from conception through to completion. It builds upon the other modules within your programme, which are concerned with the application of theory, evidence and research to practice. You may elect to undertake empirical research involving qualitative and/or quantitative methods, service evaluation, clinical audit, systematic review or a negotiated investigative enquiry unique to your own field of specialism, such as historical/archival research.

Or

HEA 4002 Advanced Practice Project (60 credits). The Advanced Practice module is designed to enable you to consolidate and develop further your research knowledge and skills gained during previous modules.

This module will enable you to synthesise learning as you apply your specialist knowledge to identify, plan, implement, evaluate and disseminate the findings of a small-scale project that will potentially promote service/treatment/practice development within your area of practice.

In accordance with the professional status and responsibility of an advanced practitioner, the module will also prepare you to share good practice with professional colleagues via written and oral modes of dissemination.