Course coordinator
Dr Catherine Kilgour
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 16/11/2024)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Nursing, Midwifery & Social Wk
This course aims to build on students' foundation skills learned over Years 1 and 2, by introducing students to a range of methodologies used in health care environments to inform and improve practice, and ensure care is safe, evidence-based, and of high quality. The course provides students with broad information around concepts related to quality improvement; research and identify their relationship to evidence based practice; knowledge translation and implementation science. The course introduces students to quality improvement tools and basic qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. It further develops students' skills in accessing and evaluating literature and explores methods of analysing, presenting and disseminating data. The centrality of ethical practice in healthcare research is also discussed.
This course aims to provide students with the skills to source and critique quality evidence to guide their practice. Students will apply their learning through the conduct of a self-directed Quality Improvement (QI) project which will be presented as part of the assessment items for this course.ﾠ Students choose an appropriate topic for their QI project with the guidance of an academic mentor. There are six (6) lectures and six (6) mentor group sessions, supervised by an NMSW academic, who will also assist students to develop, undertake and report on their QI activity. The course requires students to undertake searching and reviewing the literature for evidence and developing a project plan (assessment 1), collecting and analysing data, reporting findings and making recommendations for clinical practice.ﾠ The final assessment item is to develop a scientific poster and an oral presentation describing your QI activity.ﾠ
Course requirements
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
30 units in (BN, BMid or BN/BMid)
Companion or co-requisite courses
You'll need to complete the following courses at the same time:
NURS3204, MIDW3104, NUMW3204 or NUMW3214
Restrictions
BN, BMid and BN/BMid
Course contact
Course coordinator
Dr Jacqueline Jauncey-Cooke
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Catherine Kilgour
Dr Jacqueline Jauncey-Cooke
Tutor
Associate Professor Peter Lewis
Dr Lori Delaney
Dr Lisa Peberdy
Dr Jessica Engleman
Mrs Jackie Chaplin
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
The aim of the course is to build on students' foundation knowledge and skill by introducing concepts related to quality improvement and research, and identify their relationship to evidence based practice, knowledge translation and implementation science.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Examine the roles of research and quality improvement (QI) in developing evidence-based practice.
LO2.
Critically analyse how QI activities contribute to improvements in health care delivery.
LO3.
Define a problem and set objectives for QI activities.
LO4.
Explore appropriate methods for systematically gathering data in QI activities.
LO5.
Demonstrate ethical practice around data collection and reporting of QI outcomes.
LO6.
Analyse and interpret data from QI activities.
LO7.
Recognise considerations around data collection and reporting of outcomes of QI activities that promote ethical practice.
LO8.
Examine methods of implementing change based on QI outcomes (implementation science) and how this approach can be used to improve evidence-based practice.
LO9.
Propose methods of implementing change based on QI outcomes and reflect on potential improvements to evidence-based practice.
LO10.
Apply principles of implementation science to critically examine barriers and enablers in translating evidence to practice.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique | Literature Review & Project Plan (including data collection tool) | 40% |
23/08/2024 1:00 pm |
| Presentation, Poster | Poster PDF upload - Part A | 40% |
25/10/2024 1:00 pm |
| Examination, Presentation, Poster | Poster Presentation - Part B | 20% |
2nd November - 16th November |
Assessment details
Literature Review & Project Plan (including data collection tool)
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Paper/ Report/ Annotation, Essay/ Critique
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
23/08/2024 1:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L07
Task description
The aim of this assessment is for students to present a synthesis of evidence relevant to their QI project. Students also submit a project plan inclusive of a data collection tool.
Please refer to the task sheet and marking rubrics under Assessments in Blackboard.
Submission guidelines
All courses require students to submit an electronic version of their assignment via Blackboard.
The anti-plagiarism software Turnitin is being used at UQ. The electronic version of your assignment will be submitted via Blackboard, using the Turnitin software. Work submitted will be subjected to a plagiarism detection process.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Please refer to ITS help if you experience difficulties in submitting your assessment in Blackboard or using Turnitin.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Applying for an extension
Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved.
Information about applying for an extension can be found on my.UQ.
Extension guidelines
- Extension requests should be submitted prior to the assessment deadline.
- Extension requests must state the due date and the due time of the assessment.
- Requests for extensions received after the assessment item submission due date may not be approved. Late requests must include evidence of the reasons for the late request.
- The extension granted should be in proportion to the period of illness or disruption caused by the exceptional circumstances and will typically be no more than the specified maximum extension length.
- Students on a Student Access Plan (SAP) with a clause on extension requests must still adhere to the extensions request policy outlined. Students need to attach the SAP and a note outlining their current situation with the online extension application. A maximum of 7 days will be granted on the basis of an SAP. An extension request beyond 7 days will require additional supporting information as this request will not be considered on the basis of the SAP, but rather additional events (whether they relate to the circumstances of the SAP or not).
Outcome of application
- Extension requests are generally processed within 2 working days. Students can see the outcome of their application by logging in to my.UQ.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Poster PDF upload - Part A
- Mode
- Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
- Category
- Presentation, Poster
- Weight
- 40%
- Due date
25/10/2024 1:00 pm
- Learning outcomes
- L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10
Task description
The aim of this assessment is for students to design a scientific poster, accompanied by a brief presentation, to present their Quality Improvement project. The poster and poster presentation together represent 60% of the total marks for this course. The poster and poster presentation are marked out of 100; the poster is worth 70% of these marks and the presentation is worth 30% of these marks. The rubric that describes the marking breakdown can be found under Assessments on Blackboard.
Submission guidelines
All courses require students to submit an electronic version of their assignment via Blackboard.
The anti-plagiarism software Turnitin is being used at UQ. The electronic version of your assignment will be submitted via Blackboard, using the Turnitin software. Work submitted will be subjected to a plagiarism detection process.
This assessment task evaluates students' abilities, skills and knowledge without the aid of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT). Students are advised that the use of AI or MT technologies to develop responses is strictly prohibited and may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Please refer to ITS help if you experience difficulties in submitting your assessment in Blackboard or using Turnitin.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Applying for an extension
Extension requests are submitted online via my.UQ. Extension requests received in any other way will not be approved.
Information about applying for an extension can be found on my.UQ.
Extension guidelines
- Extension requests should be submitted prior to the assessment deadline.
- Extension requests must state the due date and the due time of the assessment.
- Requests for extensions received after the assessment item submission due date may not be approved. Late requests must include evidence of the reasons for the late request.
- The extension granted should be in proportion to the period of illness or disruption caused by the exceptional circumstances and will typically be no more than the specified maximum extension length.
- Students on a Student Access Plan (SAP) with a clause on extension requests must still adhere to the extensions request policy outlined. Students need to attach the SAP and a note outlining their current situation with the online extension application. A maximum of 7 days will be granted on the basis of an SAP. An extension request beyond 7 days will require additional supporting information as this request will not be considered on the basis of the SAP, but rather additional events (whether they relate to the circumstances of the SAP or not).
Outcome of application
- Extension requests are generally processed within 2 working days. Students can see the outcome of their application by logging in to my.UQ.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
Poster Presentation - Part B
- Mode
- Oral
- Category
- Examination, Presentation, Poster
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
2nd November - 16th November
- Learning outcomes
- L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10
Task description
Examination period commences in 2nd November and concludes on the16th November. Assessment is scheduled within the examination block. Students are required to be in attendance at all scheduled examination events.
Once scheduled presentation dates will be announced on course Blackboard
Prepare a five (5) minute presentation that summarises the information on the poster for your audience. You will also be required to answer questions from the audience about your QI project (total time estimated at 10 minutes). This assessment item is completed on campus in person.
The poster and poster presentation together represent 60% of the total marks for this course. The poster and poster presentation are marked out of 100; the poster is worth 70% of these marks and the presentation is worth 30% of these marks. The rubric that describes the marking breakdown can be found under Assessments on Blackboard.
Exam details
| Planning time | no planning time minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 180 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed Book examination - specified written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Other |
| Invigilation | Not invigilated |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0.1% - 29.9% |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Fails to demonstrate most or all of the basic requirements of the course. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30% - 46.9% |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Demonstrates clear deficiencies in understanding and applying fundamental concepts; communicates information or ideas in ways that are frequently incomplete or confusing and give little attention to the conventions of the discipline. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 47% - 49.9% |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: Demonstrates superficial, partial, or faulty understanding of the fundamental concepts of the field of study and limited ability to apply these concepts; presents undeveloped, inappropriate, or unsupported arguments; communicates information or ideas with lack of clarity and inconsistent adherence to the conventions of the discipline. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50% - 64.49% |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Demonstrates adequate understanding and application of the fundamental concepts of the field of study; develops routine arguments or decisions and provides acceptable justification; communicates information and ideas adequately in terms of the conventions of the discipline. |
| 5 (Credit) | 64.5% - 74.49% |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Demonstrates substantial understanding of fundamental concepts of the field of study and ability to apply these concepts in a variety of contexts; develops or adapts convincing arguments and provides coherent justification; communicates information and ideas clearly and fluently in terms of the conventions of the discipline. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 74.5% - 84.49% |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Frequent evidence of originality in defining and analysing issues or problems and in creating solutions; uses a level, style and means of communication appropriate to the discipline and the audience. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 84.5% - 100% |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: Consistent evidence of substantial originality and insight in identifying, generating and communicating competing arguments, perspectives or problem solving approaches; critically evaluates problems, their solutions and implications. |
Additional course grading information
All items of assessment must beﾠsubmitted for students to be eligible to pass the course.
Attendance at Mentor Group sessions is strongly recommended. Attendance at lectures is an expectation of the course.
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.
Additional learning resources information
Students are provided with a UQ email account and must monitor the account whilst enrolled at UQ. Please see Email and Bulk Messaging Procedure and in particular section 3 (12) Student and Alumni Email for information regarding the appropriate use of email.
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From O-week To Week 13 |
General contact hours |
Online Learning There are five modules on Blackboard to work through across the semester. Module 1: Introduction to the course, EBP and QI - weeks 1 & 2 Module 2: Identifying practice problems, sourcing credible evidence and writing a literature review - weeks 3 & 4 Module 3: Research methodologies and data collection - weeks 5 - 7 Module 4: Analysing and presenting data - weeks 8 & 9 Module 5: Completing a QI project | dissemination of findings and implementation science - weeks 10 - 13 You are expected to spend from to seven (7) to ten (10) hours per week on learning for this course. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L06, L07, L08, L10 |
O-week |
Lecture |
Introduction to the course and Quality Improvement processes Six (6) lectures are provided within this course and will delivered in real time, online via Zoom. All lecture will be recorded and upload to Blackboard within 24 hours. Further details of each lecture can be found in the Learning Resources on Blackboard. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08, L09, L10 |
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 11 |
Team Based Learning |
Mentor Groups Students will be allocated to a Mentor Group that will be facilitated by a Nursing/Midwifery lecturer. The Mentor Groups meet online six (6) times throughout the semester starting in Week 1. Each mentor session runs for 60 minutes and the first session involves discussing and refining your project ideas. As the semester progresses the mentor sessions are where you discuss your project progress with your mentor group and academic mentor. Details on Mentor Group allocations and links to sessions are available on Blackboard. Learning outcomes: L01, L03, L04, L05, L06, L07, L08 |
Week 1 |
Lecture |
Finding and critiquing the evidence | Developing a review of the literature Six (6) lectures are provided within this course and will delivered in real time, online via Zoom. All lecture will be recorded and upload to Blackboard within 24 hours. Further details of each lecture can be found in the Learning Resources on Blackboard. Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03 |
Week 2 |
Lecture |
Planning and managing your QI project Six (6) lectures are provided within this course and will delivered in real time, online via Zoom. All lecture will be recorded and upload to Blackboard within 24 hours. Further details of each lecture can be found in the Learning Resources on Blackboard. Learning outcomes: L02, L03, L09, L10 |
Week 3 |
Lecture |
Research Methodologies & Ethical Considerations around Research and QI Six (6) lectures are provided within this course and will delivered in real time, online via Zoom. All lecture will be recorded and upload to Blackboard within 24 hours. Further details of each lecture can be found in the Learning Resources on Blackboard. Learning outcomes: L04, L05 |
Week 8 |
Lecture |
Analyzing and Presenting Data Six (6) lectures are provided within this course and will delivered in real time, online via Zoom. All lecture will be recorded and upload to Blackboard within 24 hours. Further details of each lecture can be found in the Learning Resources on Blackboard. Learning outcomes: L06, L07, L08 |
Week 10 |
Lecture |
Completing a QI Project & Implementation Science Six (6) lectures are provided within this course and will delivered in real time, online via Zoom. All lecture will be recorded and upload to Blackboard within 24 hours. Further details of each lecture can be found in the Learning Resources on Blackboard. Learning outcomes: L08, L09, L10 |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments - Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
Course guidelines
School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work Assessment Guidelines. Please visit the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work website for information about assessment.