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MDCS42130

Academic Year 2024/2025

Scholarship Enhancing ClinPrac (MDCS42130)

Subject:
Medicine Clinical Science
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Medicine
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Dr Nia Clendennen
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module aims to provide the practitioner with knowledge and skills to be able to reflect on his / her clinical practice, critically appraise relevant literature and undertake quality improvements. Students will be introduced to recent developments in digital health and consider the future role of primary care in modern healthcare systems. It is envisaged the module will provide a foundation for the student's own future scholarly activity.

Knowledge / understanding, students will acquire:
• A thorough knowledge and understanding of the importance of evidence-based medicine in a primary care setting;
• An understanding of the level of clinical evidence supporting clinical guidelines

Applying knowledge and understanding
• Students will learn to apply this knowledge and understanding to improve their implementation of evidence based clinical practice.

Making judgements
• Demonstrate a critical engagement with literature in primary care contexts. Students will improve their literature and evidence assessment capabilities.

Communications and working skills
• Students will engage in effective intra and inter professional working with healthcare colleagues in a research setting.
• Students will also gain skills in the application of digital technologies that are involved in healthcare delivery
• Emphasis will also be placed on communication skills reinforcing the primary goal of the School to produce competent, caring practitioners with an ability to convey complex messages to specialist and non-specialist audiences.

Learning skills
• Throughout the course, students will engage in group and autonomous learning exercises, designed to reinforce an evidence-based approach to the management of primary care conditions.

Graduate attributes and outcomes:
• Enhanced critical thinking, analysis and problem-solving.
• Ability to review his / her own practice and improve patient care through clinical audit and quality improvement initiatives.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of the module, a student should be able to:
• Reflect on his / her clinical practice.
• Understand how techniques such as reflective practice, case reviews, critical incident analysis, Balint, enhance their clinical
practice and professional development.
• Analyze and critically evaluate literature to inform evidence-based practice
• Have an understanding of research methodologies including both quantitative and qualitative approaches
• Design a clinical audit / quality improvement project to enhance healthcare delivery.
• Recognise ethical considerations and principles for collecting, managing and analyzing practice-based data
• Understand current policy / recent developments in digital health and apply these in practice
• Appreciate the role of primary care and integrated approaches to healthcare (Slaintecare) as part of a modern health care
system.
• Appreciate the importance of self-care for practitioner health and wellbeing.

Indicative Module Content:

Introduction to Research Methodology
Reviewing the Literature
Population Studies
Clinical Audits
Quality Improvement Plans
Reflective Practice
Quantitative & Qualitative Research
Managing your research data
Good Clinical Practice (GCP)
Statistical Concepts
Research Integrity
Research Ethics
Research Dissemination

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

12
Autonomous Student Learning

140
Small Group

14
Seminar (or Webinar)

14
Online Learning

40
Total

220

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Module delivery will involve:

• Webinars
• Seminars and practicals,
• In the case of the elective modules, module delivery will be as per existing delivery arrangements

The series of seminars / webinars on core topics will guide students in core knowledge acquisition. Where possible, students will be encouraged to use their previous experience (practical, clinical) in learning to acquire knowledge through self-direction.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Applicants should:
• Hold an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject (e.g. Medicine, Nursing & Midwifery, Psychology, Public Health, Social Sciences, Physiotherapy, etc)
• Possess an equivalent professional qualification, or
• Have relevant clinical experience in primary care, nursing or related disciplines.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Participation in Learning Activities: This component will consist of Continuous Assessment tasks provided throughout the module Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 14, Week 15 Alternative non-linear conversion grade scale 50% No
20
 No
Group Work Assignment: Students will an option to present either a poster or deliver an oral presentation focused on an audit or quality improvement project based on clinical practice at the end of trimester. Week 15 Alternative non-linear conversion grade scale 50% No
40
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Critically Appraised Topic. Individual Assignment.
Week 8, Week 9, Week 10 Alternative non-linear conversion grade scale 50% No
40
 No

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, on an activity or draft prior to summative assessment
• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities
• Self-assessment activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Formative feedback will received throughout the module through tutors, self-assessment and peer review. Students will peer review their final group projects prior to their submission. Students will receive feedback on their summative assessments through rubrics

Name Role
Professor Walter Cullen Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Sinead Holden Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Dr Sheila Loughman Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
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