Available in 2024
Course code

MEDI6001A

Units

5 units

Level

6000 level

Course handbook

Description

Student enrolment is semester based, MEDI6001A (Semester 1) and MEDI6001B (Semester 2), with the delivery of the academic content occurring across the full year. In this course, students' progress through the stages required for developing a proposal for a small scale research project relevant to medical practice. The course provides students with an understanding of the theoretical and practical aspects of research, study design and protocol development that are essential for conducting research in medical practice. At the end of the course, students will have the ability to complete a research proposal in an area of interest related to medical practice.


Availability2024 Course Timetables

Central Coast Clinical School

  • Semester 1 - 2024

Hunter Clinical School

  • Semester 1 - 2024

Multi-term sequence

This course is part of a multi-term sequence. Both Part A and Part B must be completed to meet the requirements of the sequence. Part A and Part B must be completed in consecutive terms. Students must complete Part A before completing Part B. Students must complete the sequence within a twelve month period. If students complete Part A but are unable to complete Part B within the timeframe, they must re-enrol in Part A. Part A cannot be completed as a standalone course, it will only count towards your program once you have successfully completed Part B.


Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the interrelationship between research and improved health outcomes for individuals and populations, and the influence on medical professional practice.

2. Evaluate and distinguish between major research paradigms.

3. Critically analyse and differentiate between the methods used to determine the properties of health outcomes at an individual and population level.

4. Demonstrate an understanding of the nature and scope of research and quality improvement initiatives in medical professional practice.

5. Synthesise and apply medical and research concepts to generate a specialised research question providing a theoretical and practical rationale.

6. Apply a conceptual framework or established theory to develop a specialised research study.

7. Critically analyse and synthesise a review of pertinent literature into a research proposal.

8. Critically evaluate and address relevant ethical issues when designing clinical research.

9. Explain in detail the appropriate use of patient data and the principles of privacy and confidentiality that apply to clinical research.

10. Select and justify methods for visualising data, displaying data and presenting data to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

11. Critically evaluate and justify methods of data collection and analysis including appropriate sampling procedures, sample size and statistical tests where appropriate.

12. Design and evaluate a timeline and budget to implement a research based project.

13. Demonstrate evaluation and constructive feedback to peers on research proposals.


Content

  • Relationship between research and good clinical practice
  • Research and quality in medical practice and health care
  • Research paradigms and traditions
  • Foundations of clinical epidemiology
  • Considerations when conducting research in clinical settings 
  • Researcher safety in environments in which research occurs
  • Ethical considerations when conducting research with humans or animals
  • Privacy, confidentiality and use of personally identifiable information
  • Ethics of sponsorship of research
  • Developing a research plan and budget
  • Inductive and deductive reasoning
  • Overview and critique of qualitative methods
  • Overview and critique of quantitative methods
  • Data analysis including simple descriptive statistics and triangulation

Review of Progress

This course is a compulsory program requirement and is monitored for academic progress purposes. The course must be completed to progress in the program or meet other program requirements.

Failure or withdrawal from this course will result in students being considered under the Student Academic Progress Procedure.


Requisite

Students must be active in the Bachelor of Medical Science [40046] program and have successfully completed MEDI2101A and MEDI2101B to enrol in this course.


Assumed knowledge

MEDI1101A, MEDI1101B, MEDI2101A and MEDI2101B


Assessment items

Demonstrated competency: Demonstrated competency
Compulsory Requirement: Pass requirement - Must pass this assessment item to pass the course.

Written Assignment: Formative Research Proposal Online
Compulsory Requirement: Submit assessment item - Must submit this assessment to pass the course.

Literature Review: Literature Review
Compulsory Requirement: Submit assessment item - Must submit this assessment to pass the course.

Written Assignment: Formative Initial Research Proposal
Compulsory Requirement: Submit assessment item - Must submit this assessment to pass the course.

Written Assignment: Formative Provide Feedback
Compulsory Requirement: Submit assessment item - Must submit this assessment to pass the course.

Written Assignment: Response to Feedback
Compulsory Requirement: Submit assessment item - Must submit this assessment to pass the course.

Journal: Reflective eJournal
Compulsory Requirement: Submit assessment item - Must submit this assessment to pass the course.

Written Assignment: Final Research Proposal
Compulsory Requirement: Submit assessment item - Must submit this assessment to pass the course.

Professional Task: Formative Student Competence
Compulsory Requirement: Submit assessment item - Must submit this assessment to pass the course.


Contact hours

Semester 1 - 2024 - Central Coast Clinical School

Forum-1
  • Face to Face On Campus 15 hour(s) per term
Online Activity-1
  • Online 2 hour(s) per week(s) for week(s) starting in week 1
Self-Directed Learning-1
  • Self-Directed 3 hour(s) per week(s) for week(s) starting in week 1

Semester 1 - 2024 - Hunter Clinical School

Forum-1
  • Face to Face On Campus 15 hour(s) per term
Online Activity-1
  • Online 2 hour(s) per week(s) for week(s) starting in week 1
Self-Directed Learning-1
  • Self-Directed 3 hour(s) per week(s) for week(s) starting in week 1

Course outline