CQUniversity Unit Profile
ALLH12006 Evidence Based Practice for Health Professionals
Evidence Based Practice for Health Professionals
All details in this unit profile for ALLH12006 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit will introduce you to the principles of evidence-based practice (EBP) and develop your key skills for conducting EBP within clinical settings as an Allied Health Professional. You will be introduced to models of EBP that can be used to guide clinical decision making at an individual patient level and also at a service delivery level, and be required to identify the impacts of EBP on current practice across a variety of fields. During this unit you will gain experience in developing clinically answerable questions, performing information searches, undertaking critical appraisal and synthesising information.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 2
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre-requisite: ALLH11009 Research Methods for Health Professionals

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2023

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 20%
2. Written Assessment
Weighting: 40%
3. Presentation
Weighting: 40%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Student 'SUTE feedback'

Feedback

The weekly tutorials were fantastic in translating and applying the theory to a real world setting.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the weekly tutorials continue to take the theoretical content of the unit and apply it to a real world setting, to enhance student understanding.

Feedback from Student 'SUTE feedback'

Feedback

The relevance of this unit to a health professional is somewhat unclear.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the relevance of this unit be more closely linked to each of the health disciplines, on a more frequent basis to help students understand the importance of evidence-based practice.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Formulate a clinical research question using the PICO (Population-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome) format
  2. Plan, carry out and evaluate information searches to address specific clinical questions
  3. Critically appraise and evaluate the quality of original research within health professions using established critical appraisal tools
  4. Present a synthesised evaluation of a clinical topic using information acquired from multiple sources
  5. Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental evidence-based practice concepts.

N/A

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Presentation - 40%
2 - Written Assessment - 40%
3 - Online Quiz(zes) - 20%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

Additional Textbook Information

There is no prescribed textbook for this unit.

However, the following text is of great benefit to students and can be purchased or borrowed from the CQUniversity Library to support learning:

Evidence-Based Practice Across the Health Professions, 3rd Edition, authored by Tammy Hoffmann et al (2017).

Limited copies are available at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the unit code)

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
  • Zoom (both microphone and webcam capability)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Melanie Hayman Unit Coordinator
m.j.hayman@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1: INTRODUCTION TO EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE Begin Date: 06 Mar 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2: INFORMATION NEEDS & ASKING QUESTIONS Begin Date: 13 Mar 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3: FINDING THE EVIDENCE Begin Date: 20 Mar 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4: INTRODUCTION TO CRITICAL APPRAISAL Begin Date: 27 Mar 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5: CRITICAL APPRAISAL - TREATMENT Begin Date: 03 Apr 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

BREAK WEEK Begin Date: 10 Apr 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6: CRITICAL APPRAISAL - DIAGNOSIS Begin Date: 17 Apr 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online Content Quiz 1 Due: Week 6 Friday (21 April 2023) 9:00 am AEST

Week 7: CRITICAL APPRAISAL - PROGNOSIS Begin Date: 24 Apr 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

PICO question, systematic information search and critical appraisal Due: Week 7 Friday (28 Apr 2023) 9:00 am AEST
Week 8: CRITICAL APPRAISAL - OTHER STUDY DESIGNS Begin Date: 01 May 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9: IMPLEMENTING EBP INTO ROUTINE & CLINICAL CARE Begin Date: 08 May 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10: PROVIDING OPTIMAL PATIENT CARE Begin Date: 15 May 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11: EBP IN ACTION Begin Date: 22 May 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12: Q&A (NO NEW CONTENT) Begin Date: 29 May 2023

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online Content Quiz 2 Due: Week 12 Friday (2 June 2023) 9:00 am AEST


The impact of Evidence-Based Practice on patient care Due: Week 12 Friday (2 June 2023) 9:00 am AEST
Term Specific Information

This unit consists of lectorials, H5P activities and tutorials.

Lectorials are a series of short pre-recorded videos that provide fundamental knowledge.

H5P activities consist of various types of activities and are usually situated between lectorials, as they are designed to help reinforce your theoretical knowledge and understanding.

Tutorials are designed to enable you to apply your theoretical understanding in a practical manner.

It is expected that you work through all lectorials and H5P activities PRIOR to attending your weekly tutorial.

Assessment Tasks

1 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Content Quizzes

Task Description

For this task, you are required to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of important content delivered throughout the term by completing two online content quizzes in the allocated timeframes, as detailed below:

  1. Quiz 1: This quiz will assess content covered during weeks 1 - 5: Due Week 6, Friday 21st April, 9:00am AEST
  2. Quiz 2: This quiz will assess content covered during weeks 6 - 11: Due Week 12, Friday 2nd June, 9:00am AEST

Each quiz will open two (2) weeks prior to the due date, as listed above.

You should engage with ALL learning materials and resources, readily available via the ALLH12006 Evidence-Based Practice for Health Professionals Moodle page.


Number of Quizzes

2


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Please refer to the Task Description section above.


Return Date to Students

You will receive an immediate mark upon the competition of each quiz. Further insight (e.g., which specific questions you got correct and/or incorrect) will be available once the quiz is closed for all students.


Weighting
20%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

Students are required to answer 40 multiple choice or true/false questions per quiz, and will be allocated 60 minutes to complete each quiz.

This assessment task has a combined (cumulative score from Quiz 1 and Quiz 2) minimum pass mark of 50%. Thus, you must pass this assessment task to be eligible to pass the unit.

Please refer to the ALLH12006 Evidence-Based Practice for Health Professionals Moodle page for additional information.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
You should complete your online content quizzes via the ALLH12006 Evidence-Based Practice for Health Professionals Moodle page.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Demonstrate knowledge of fundamental evidence-based practice concepts.

2 Written Assessment

Assessment Title
PICO question, systematic information search and critical appraisal

Task Description

For this task, you are required to:

  • Develop an answerable research question that is consistent with the PICO format
  • Carry out a systematic information search, using at least three (3) electronic academic databases, available through the CQUniversity Library
  • Search, review and refine your articles using a modified version of the PRISMA search template
  • Critically appraise one (1) journal article reporting a Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT), using the appropriate CASP tool. This journal article should report original research and not be a review of any nature.

Please refer to the ALLH12006 Evidence-Based Practice for Health Professionals Moodle page for additional information, including a detailed task description.


Assessment Due Date

Week 7 Friday (28 Apr 2023) 9:00 am AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 9 Friday (12 May 2023)

NOTE: If your assessment is not submitted in accordance with the due date, grades and feedback will be returned two weeks after submission date.


Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

For this task, you will be graded against the following criteria:

  • PICO Question - Identification of PICO elements, development of research question
  • Search Strategy - Selection of academic databases and search strategy
  • Systematic Information Search - PRISMA flow diagram
  • Section A of CASP - All elements of Section A (Are the results of the trial valid) of the CASP tool
  • Section B of CASP - All elements of Section B (What are the results) of the CASP tool
  • Section C of CASP - All elements of Section C (Will the results help locally) of the CASP tool
  • Formatting and Layout - In accordance with task sheet instructions
  • Academic Writing - Formal, objective clear and concise language

IMPORTANT: It is a requirement of this assessment task that you provide a PFD copy of the Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) that you critically appraised as a part of your assessment submission. Without this document, your assessment cannot be graded, thus a fail mark will be award as you have not met the requirements of this task. It is your responsibility to ensure you include this information within your assessment prior to completing your assessment submission.

This assessment task has a minimum pass mark of 50%. Thus, you must pass this assessment task to be eligible to pass the unit.

Please refer to the ALLH12006 Evidence-Based Practice for Health Professionals Moodle page for additional information, including a detailed criteria sheet.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Your submission must contain two (2) documents including: (1) a single word file (doc. or docx. format) of your critical appraisal and; (2) a PDF of the RCT that you critically appraised. Your submission should be uploaded via the ALLH12006 Evidence-Based Practice for Health Professionals Moodle page. Ensure that you upload the correct document and that you complete the submission process in its entirety, as late submissions are penalised.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Formulate a clinical research question using the PICO (Population-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome) format
  • Plan, carry out and evaluate information searches to address specific clinical questions
  • Critically appraise and evaluate the quality of original research within health professions using established critical appraisal tools
  • Present a synthesised evaluation of a clinical topic using information acquired from multiple sources

3 Presentation

Assessment Title
The impact of Evidence-Based Practice on patient care

Task Description

For this task, you are required to:
  • Select an allied health research topic of interest (it can be the same allied health topic you used for your PICO assessment task)
  • Investigate how a treatment / diagnosis / prognosis / patient care approach has changed based on EBP, and the impact it has had on the quality of patient care
  • Present a 6-8 minute pre-recorded presentation, using audio, visual and a PowerPoint presentation

Please refer to the ALLH12006 Evidence-Based Practice for Health Professionals Moodle page for additional information, including a detailed task description.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Friday (2 June 2023) 9:00 am AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (16 June 2023)

NOTE: If your assessment is not submitted in accordance with the due date, grades and feedback will be returned two weeks after submission date


Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

For this task, you will be graded against the following criteria:

  • Summarise the background of the condition or issue
  • Discuss the history of the treatment / diagnosis / prognosis / patient care approach
  • Detail the changes to the treatment / diagnosis / prognosis / patient care approach based on EBP (or the failure to apply EBP) and highlight the research that has informed these changes
  • Argue the benefits and risks of the current treatment / diagnosis / prognosis / patient care approach
  • Make recommendations for future research required to inform the current treatment / diagnosis / prognosis / patient care approach
  • Use appropriate referencing throughout presentation
  • Ensure PowerPoint formatting is consistent
  • Use a variety of presentation skills to engage the audience

This assessment task has a minimum pass mark of 50%. Thus, you must pass this assessment task to be eligible to pass the unit.

Please refer to the ALLH12006 Evidence-Based Practice for Health Professionals Moodle page for additional information, including a detailed criteria sheet.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Your submission must be uploaded as a single mp4 file via the ALLH12006 Evidence-Based Practice for Health Professionals Moodle page. Ensure that you upload the correct file and that you complete the submission process in its entirety, as late submissions are penalised.

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Formulate a clinical research question using the PICO (Population-Intervention-Comparison-Outcome) format
  • Plan, carry out and evaluate information searches to address specific clinical questions
  • Critically appraise and evaluate the quality of original research within health professions using established critical appraisal tools
  • Present a synthesised evaluation of a clinical topic using information acquired from multiple sources

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?