HS734-5-FY-SO:
Critical Appraisal and Research Skills for Dental Practice
2023/24
Health and Social Care (School of)
Southend Campus
Full Year
Undergraduate: Level 5
Current
Monday 25 September 2023
Friday 23 August 2024
30
30 November 2022
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
(none)
FDSCB750 Oral Health Science
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 critical appraisal skills. This module focuses on the research process and methods as a basis for developing critical appraisal skills and research understanding.
To provide the foundation for personal and professional growth through evaluation of literature and develop critical thinking skills.
To embed an evidence-based approach to practice, asking questions about the patient and the delivery of their care and seeking answers in a systematic way.
To develop an evidence-based approach to patient care
On successful completion of this module, the student will be able to:
• Compare and contrast the philosophical and methodological differences between quantitative and qualitative research;
• Demonstrate critical understanding of the notion of evidence-based practice;
• Critique the quality of a research paper, demonstrating critical understanding of the concepts of validity, reliability and measures of quality for qualitative research;
• Demonstrate understanding of statistical concepts;
• Discuss the relative strengths and weaknesses of different data collection tools;
• Employ appropriate methods to collect patient sensitive data;
• Outline the ethical responsibilities involved in participation in clinical and laboratory investigations and research, in the development of new therapeutic procedures, and in the application of the concepts of risk assessment and management;
• 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
This module is part of the required programme of Foundation Degree in Oral Health Science. Evidence-based practice combines clinical experience, patient preferences and should be informed by up-to-date research. There are a considerable number of sources of evidence that exist and being able to find and then appraise literature is an essential skill for all healthcare practitioners. This module focuses on the skills required to understand the research process, methods, appraise literature and formulate research proposals.
The module consists of taught sessions in the field of healthcare research which will be embedded within the teaching and assessment. Evidence-based literature will be used to inform discussion surrounding the learners' sphere of practice. The principles of care and compassion will be embedded into teaching and learning and the research evidence used to underpin practice.
The module will provide an overview of the nature and level of evidence, and ways of scrutinising its credibility. Through the module the student will foster the habit of critical and selective reading and an understanding of the theories and values underpinning research. Teaching and learning will be based around understanding of the research process and issues relating to specific areas of health care practice and clinical governance and ethics of research.
The module will combine a number of different teaching approaches, incorporating lectures, group work, computers skill based sessions and student led session to introduce key concepts in healthcare research while relating it to everyday practice. Individual tutorials, as negotiated between student and academic supervisors and experiential learning in practice-based placements within different health care workplaces will further support teaching and learning.
Lectures by module lead and colleagues.
Small/ PBL group work on qualitative and quantitative approaches. Presentations and discussion of chosen research article based on sphere of practice. Clinical log books to be referred to, use of reflections from workplace will assist classroom discussion. General reading time has been allocated within the module as well as Elearning and forum discussions on Moodle.
The student will undertake a clinical practice as an ongoing requirement of the programme.
Discussion forums will be expected to be accessed around the discussion of research articles/appropriate resources posted on Moodle.
-It is expected that you will meet with your personal tutor at least once during the module.
-Personal tutorials can be arranged with the module lead or emailed as necessary.
-Group tutorials are available towards the end of the taught part of the module
The student will be attending the workplace during the programme and must complete the clinical log book. Students will develop a number of transferrable skills from searching the literature, reading research papers, using critical appraisal to read research confidently and make informed decisions about practice, experience proposal writing and participate in the Student Research Conference.
The above list is indicative of the essential reading for the course.
The library makes provision for all reading list items, with digital provision where possible, and these resources are shared between students.
Further reading can be obtained from this module's
reading list.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Literature Review |
|
30% |
| Coursework |
Research Proposal |
|
40% |
| Written Exam |
Open Book SAT exam |
|
30% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Ms Amalia Khodr, email: amalia.khodr@essex.ac.uk.
Brayn Paddison, Amalia Khodr
Lizzie Lewis
E: hhsohlth@essex.ac.uk
No
No
No
Ms Emily Banks
Cardiff University
Lecturer in Dental Hygiene and Therapy
Available via Moodle
Of 57 hours, 51 (89.5%) hours available to students:
0 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
6 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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