Program Overview

This course focuses on searching for, appraising and synthesising evidence from health care research. Students are introduced to a range of electronic databases for accessing evidence and to the principles of systematic review. Learning is facilitated through lectures, workshops and a student-directed search for evidence to address a question emerging from their own practice. The course aims to develop skills for healthcare practitioners, managers and educators in accessing, appraising, synthesising and using research findings. It is grounded in evidence-based practice and therefore the focus is on practice research. Material from the field of evidence-based health care will be presented, supplemented by relevant material from other disciplines such as the psychology of knowledge and epidemiology.