Masters Certificate of Professional Development: Quality Improvement in Healthcare

Program Overview

CPD Masters Certificate of Professional Development: Quality Improvement in Healthcare

Level 7 (postgraduate), 20 credits

Course Aim

The aim of this Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course is to develop your skills and expertise in the evaluation of an area of healthcare practice or service provision and formulation of action plans to improve standards.

Course Content

This course is currently undergoing its scheduled programme review, which may impact the advertised modules. Programme review is a standard part of the University’s approach to quality assurance and enhancement, enabling us to ensure that our courses remain up to date and maintain their high standard and relevancy.

Once the review is completed, this course website page will be updated to reflect any approved changes to the advertised course. These approved changes will also be communicated to those who apply for the course to ensure they wish to proceed with their application.

The final award is Continuing Professional Development for Quality Improvement in Healthcare, 20 credits at Level 7.

You will have access to LJMU's virtual learning environment Canvas and online library resources. Programme content is regularly updated on Canvas, including contemporary reading lists and references to journal articles. You will be assigned an academic project supervisor for support and guidance throughout the programme via email or online tutorials. You can also access the Module Leader via phone contact or email.

The course uses an active blended learning approach, featuring teaching approaches (chosen to meet the stated learning objectives) including:

• Online lectures
• Directed reading
• Quizzes
• Webinars
• Discussion boards
• Work-based examples

Course topics:

• Defining a research problem
• Designing a research project
• Research governance and ethics
• Clinical audit and service evaluation
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods
• Data analysis and statistics
• Action planning
• Report writing
• Dissemination of research

Teaching and Learning

The study mode is part-time distance learning using LJMU's virtual learning environment Canvas and lasts for 6 months. An online study day is delivered in the first month of the course with five hour-long webinars run to support the different stages of your quality improvement project. You will be allocated a project supervisor by the university, who will offer support and guidance as you complete your project.

Acquisition of knowledge and skills are achieved mainly through directed student-centred and work-based learning. The course is designed to give a degree of flexibility in student choice. The learning outcomes associated with these student-selected topics are achieved through open learning with you selecting the most appropriate resource material as applicable to your area of practice around the world. References and guidance for resources will be available on Canvas and you are supported to identify relevant documents as applicable to your practice.

Entry Requirements

• Alternative qualifications considered

Students entering the programme must be a registered Pharmacist with the relevant professional body in the UK, or with a professional body recognised to be of similar standing to the UK regulator bodies. Where English is not your first language, we would normally require a score of 6.5 in the IELTS system (or equivalent), with scores of greater than 5.5 in each of the domains. This is to ensure you can complete the necessary reading, communication with the programme team and assessments, which must all be completed in English. There may be some exceptions to this requirement if you are from a majority English speaking country or you have completed studies in the English language in the UK or another English speaking country, in which case, a recent high school diploma or equivalent course title may be sufficient.

Students must be working in an environment that will allow them to complete an audit or service evaluation project. The programme team will assess the suitability of the access an individual has prior to admission, but guidance can be obtained prior to application by contacting Dr Rachel Mullen, the Module Leader.

Assessment

The module is assessed by a 3,000-3,500 word Quality Improvement Project Report that clearly and concisely describes your evaluation of your chosen area of practice or service evaluation, and places it in context. The report should include key findings and a discussion of these within the context of existing evidence. It should also describe and justify the use of an appropriate quality improvement tool(s) to implement and lead improvement in your chosen area of practice or service provision, based on the project's findings.

CPD Award

This Continuing Professional Development can be studied within the MSc Public Health/Public Health (Addictions) award framework or as a single CPD.

Course Cost

• Home FT per year: £1,365
• International fee: £1,900

Start Dates

• September
• March

Course Length

• 6 weeks FullTime

Location

• City campus

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Masters Certificate of Professional Development: Quality Improvement in Healthcare is a postgraduate level 7 CPD course designed to enhance skills and expertise in evaluating healthcare practices and service provision. The program focuses on developing action plans to improve standards within the healthcare field.

Outline:

The program is delivered through a blended learning approach, combining online lectures, directed reading, quizzes, webinars, discussion boards, and work-based examples. The course content covers:

• Defining a research problem: This module introduces students to the process of identifying and defining a research problem relevant to their area of practice.
• Designing a research project: Students learn how to design a research project that addresses the identified research problem, including choosing appropriate research methods and developing a research plan.
• Research governance and ethics: This module covers the ethical considerations involved in conducting research, including informed consent, data privacy, and research integrity.
• Qualitative and quantitative research methods: This module explores different research methods, including qualitative and quantitative approaches, and their application in healthcare research.
• Data analysis and statistics: Students learn how to analyze data using statistical methods, including descriptive statistics and inferential statistics.
• Action planning: This module focuses on developing action plans based on the findings of the research project, including identifying strategies for implementing change and monitoring progress.
• Report writing: Students learn how to write a clear and concise research report that effectively communicates the findings of their project.
• Dissemination of research: This module covers strategies for disseminating research findings to relevant audiences, including publication in journals, presentations at conferences, and reports to stakeholders.

Assessment:

The program is assessed through a 3,000-3,500 word Quality Improvement Project Report. The report should:

• Clearly and concisely describe the evaluation of the chosen area of practice or service evaluation.
• Place the evaluation in context, including relevant literature and evidence.
• Include key findings and a discussion of these findings within the context of existing evidence.
• Describe and justify the use of appropriate quality improvement tools to implement and lead improvement in the chosen area of practice or service provision, based on the project's findings.

Teaching:

The program is delivered through part-time distance learning using LJMU's virtual learning environment Canvas.

Other:

The program is offered as a single CPD or can be studied within the MSc Public Health/Public Health (Addictions) award framework.

• Home FT per year: £1,365
• International fee: £1,900