Please note: there may be some adjustments to the teaching arrangements published in the course catalogue for 2020-21. Given current circumstances related to the Covid-19 pandemic it is anticipated that some usual arrangements for teaching on campus will be modified to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and staff on campus; further adjustments may also be necessary, or beneficial, during the course of the academic year as national requirements relating to management of the pandemic are revised.

Research Methods for Palliative Care MED5599

  • Academic Session: 2022-23
  • School: School of Cancer Sciences
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
  • Typically Offered: Summer
  • Available to Visiting Students: No
  • Available to Erasmus Students: No
  • Taught Wholly by Distance Learning: Yes

Short Description

A greater evidence-base is needed to develop clinical practice in palliative care and understand better the needs of the population. It is, therefore, essential that practitioners in palliative care understand the importance of research; how to appraise existing literature; how to ask a pertinent research question and importance of selecting appropriate methodologies to conduct research in palliative and end of life care.

Timetable

This course consists of lectures weekly, tutorials and forum discusssions.

Requirements of Entry

None

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

i) Poster - 20%

ii) Research proposal (3,000 words approx.) - 80%

Course Aims

This course aims to provide  students with a detailed knowledge and understanding of the importance of evidence-based practice and research in palliative and end of life care.On this course students will learn to critique the literature in palliative and end of life care in order to provide them with, an in-depth knowledge, understanding and skills in research methodologies used in palliative and end of life care. The course will give students the opportunity to develop a research proposal in an area of palliative or end of life care.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Critically discuss the importance of evidence-based practice in palliative and end of life care.

■ Critically assess the ethical, moral and logistical challenges that arise in research in palliative and end of life care

■ Utilise knowledge and understanding of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies to critically evaluate and select the most appropriate method for addressing a research question in palliative or end of life care.

■ Critically appraise existing literature to formulate a rationale for and design a research project proposal.

■ Develop skills to conduct their own research and analyse, interpret and disseminate the data generated including ethical consideration.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.