REMH8015 Research and Evidence Based Decision Making

2019

4.5

1 x 9-hour independent study weekly
1 x 50-minute on-line tutorial weekly

1 Admission into GDPRHP-Graduate Diploma in Remote Health Practice
1a Admission into GCRHP-Graduate Certificate in Remote Health Practice
1b Admission into MRIH-Master of Remote and Indigenous Health
1c Admission into MD-Doctor of Medicine
Must Satisfy: ((1 or 1a or 1b or 1c))

HLTH8210 has been successfully completed

Assumed knowledge to practice as a remote health professional..

Assignments; Tutorial Participation

This topic focuses on developing practitioners' confidence and skills in critical appraisal and consumption of literature to inform evidence based decision making in isolated, remote and Indigenous Primary Health Care settings. The topic is formulated around critically appraising both qualitative and quantitative literature. Students select a topic of relevance to their own practice to contextualize literature searching skills. They are guided through evaluating retrieved papers for: ethical conduct of research; examining consistency between stated aims, objectives and methods used; establishing validity and rigor of the work; interpreting qualitative and quantitative data; critiquing conclusions against data presented; identifying limitations of the research; and evaluating the relevance and practicality of recommendations. As a background to inform this process, students are provided with an overview of common research and evaluation methods and issues, with a particular focus on public health audits.

This topic aims to develop the skills and knowledge of health professionals so that they can identify, appraise and utilise research and evaluation as an evidential base for practice in remote and Indigenous Primary Health Care settings.

On completion of this topic, students will be able to:

• Identify methods commonly used for public health research and evaluation and describe the practical application of qualitative and quantitative research paradigms

• Apply knowledge to interpret data relevant to remote and Indigenous Primary Health Care settings

• Formulate a clinical question/s and associated literature searches relating to remote and Indigenous health

• Outline the principles and processes for ethical research and apply this knowledge to critically appraise literature for ethical conduct

• Describe the concept of dominant discourses and critically appraise literature for the balance between western knowledge and inclusion of Indigenous knowledge

• Identify the components of a research paper and critically appraise each section and the paper as a whole, utilising an appropriate critical appraisal tool

• Establish strategies to organise literature, including a literature grid and suitable bibliographical database

• Compare and contrast a number of papers to formulate a literature review

• Interpret clinical audits and plan a clinical audit relating to remote and Indigenous health.