Module Directory

Dental care professionals (DCPs) are essential members of dental care teams, providing care to all age groups. The ability to self-evaluate practice and to use evidence as a basis for professional judgement is critical to effective delivery of care in an ever-changing environment.

The practice of evidence-based dental care requires DCPs to possess project management, critical appraisal and research skills. This module focuses on the development and implementation of research practices through the design of an applied research proposal through a structured workbook.  Students will be able to engage in independent and supervised study to design research that can make an impactful contribution to oral health services and patients.

The aims of this module are:

• To develop existing understanding of literature review processes, evaluation of literature and critical appraisal skills.


• To embed an evidence-based approach to practice and patient care.

By the end of the module, students will be expected to:

1. Compare and contrast the philosophical and methodological differences between quantitative and qualitative research.


2. Demonstrate critical understanding of the notion of evidence-based practice.


3. Critique the quality of a research paper, demonstrating critical understanding of the concepts of validity, reliability and measures of quality for qualitative research.


4. Demonstrate understanding of statistical concepts.


5. Discuss the relative strengths and weaknesses of different data collection tools.


6. Employ appropriate methods to collect patient sensitive data;


7. Summarize the ethical and environmental obligations associated with being involved in clinical and laboratory research, the creation of new treatment methods, and the implementation of risk assessment and management principles.


8. Discuss specific issues relating to dental practice, e.g. the use of epidemiological techniques to determine the influence of behavioural, economic and environmental factors on oral and dental health


9. Evaluate the impact of new techniques and technologies in clinical practice.

Indicative syllabus

• Developing a research question and selecting the appropriate research design:
  
  
  
  • Be able to develop appropriate research question;
  
  
  • Select the correct study design for the question and be able to discuss the reasoning behind this selection.
  
  
  
  


• Sampling in research:
  
  
  
  • Define and describe different sampling methods used in research;
  
  
  • Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different sampling methods;
  
  
  • Be able to select the most appropriate sampling method based on the question being asked and overall study design being used.
  
  
  
  


• Designing and using tools for research:
  
  
  
  • Define and describe different tools commonly used in research;
  
  
  • Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of different tools commonly used in research;
  
  
  • Be able to identify the most appropriate tool based on the question being asked and overall study design being used;
  
  
  • Understand the processes involved in designing a tool to use in research.
  
  
  
  


• Data analysis:
  
  
  
  • Identify different types of data generated by research;
  
  
  • Define and describe different methods for analysing collected data;
  
  
  • Be able to select the correct method of analysis based on the data collected;
  
  
  • Be able to present analysed data in a clear way.
  
  
  
  


• Ethics in research:
  
  
  
  • Understand the reasons behind research governance;
  
  
  • Understand the importance of ethical research;
  
  
  • Be able to describe the ethical approval process.
  
  
  
  


• Explaining your proposal:
  
  
  
  • Be able to present your proposal to others;
  
  
  • Be able to provide constructive feedback on the proposals of others;
  
  
  • Understand how posters can be used to present research.
  
  
  
  

This module will be delivered via:

• Lectures (90 hours) Online and classroom-based delivery
• Seminars (10 hours)

Independent study: Regular guided learning tasks will be set for students using the Moodle virtual learning platform.