2016/17 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue
MEDR5130M Intervention Research
15 creditsClass Size: 60
Module manager: David Owens
Email: d.w.owens@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan), Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2016/17
Pre-requisite qualifications
As per student's parent programmeThis module is not approved as an Elective
Objectives
This module is an introduction to the research of health care interventions, particularly concerned with clinical trials, systematic reviews of clinical trials and health economics. It will include topics on: formulating research questions, design and conduct of clinical trials, systematic reviews, allocation of subjects, and statistical power. Critical appraisal of published research will underpin theory.Learning outcomes
Once a student has successfully completed the module and its assignments he or she should be able to:
- formulate an answerable research question about healthcare intervention
- contribute to the planning of a clinical trial taking account of ethical considerations
- define and describe the principles of clinical trial design (eg: parallel, cross-over and sequential designs)
- allocate subjects to interventions to take account of selection bias: randomization, concealment of allocation, complete follow-up
- take steps in study design that deal with confounding and effect modification
- take steps in study design to avoid measurement bias – masking
-understand importance and principles of calculating statistical power; type I and II errors
- analyse research data, understanding explanatory and intention-to-treat strategies using statistical packages (eg SPSS, STATA)
- describe a trial using a standardized format (CONSORT)
- understand the process of systematic reviewing of trials and the findings of meta-analysis
- appraise critically published clinical trials and systematic reviews and apply standardized measures of trial quality
- understand the importance of health economics and economic evaluation in health research
Skills outcomes
This module provides students with a critical awareness of research planning and methods and develops their research skills. . It will include topics on: formulating research questions; design and conduct of clinical trials; systematic reviews; allocation of subjects; statistical power; and critical appraisal of primary and secondary intervention studies.
Syllabus
The teaching style for this module will be active and participative. In seminars with group activities student will be introduced to: how questions about effectiveness of treatment and care can be answered in research; the ethics of giving and withholding interventions for research purposes; the principles underpinning design of randomized controlled trials; statistical power of trials; writing a proposal for an intervention study; analysis of trial data.
A problem-based learning method will be use to lead students to a knowledge and understanding of how to avoid false findings (chance, bias, confounding).
Students will work through specially written work-books in computer classes: analysis of research data.
There will be a lecture exploring the principles and practicalities of systematic reviews and meta-analysis.
Teaching methods
Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
Problem Based Learning | 1 | 2.00 | 2.00 |
Problem Based Learning | 1 | 3.00 | 3.00 |
Lecture | 1 | 1.25 | 1.25 |
Lecture | 1 | 2.50 | 2.50 |
Practical | 1 | 1.25 | 1.25 |
Practical | 1 | 2.50 | 2.50 |
Seminar | 1 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
Seminar | 1 | 1.25 | 1.25 |
Seminar | 1 | 2.00 | 2.00 |
Seminar | 2 | 2.50 | 5.00 |
Independent online learning hours | 2.00 | ||
Private study hours | 127.50 | ||
Total Contact hours | 21.75 | ||
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 151.25 |
Private study
Independent online learning will follow on from the formal classes and will make use of a portfolio of materials. Students will also be expected to work in their own time, researching taught and online course work, building up their knowledge using the guidance provided by formal taught and online components of the module.Opportunities for Formative Feedback
Formative assessment will involve monitoring students' progress through discussion both following lectures/seminars and during the group activities. In addition students have the opportunity to receive formative feedback on their understanding of the assessments by attending timetabled drop-in sessions.Methods of assessment
Coursework
Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
Assignment | Individual completion of workbook begun in class activity | 30.00 |
Report | Critical appraisal of a published trial | 40.00 |
Report | Critical appraisal of a published systematic review | 30.00 |
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100.00 |
The dates on which coursework is set and submitted varies each time the module is delivered. Clear guidance will be given to students at the start of the module.
Reading list
The reading list is available from the Library websiteLast updated: 06/04/2016
Browse Other Catalogues
- Undergraduate module catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate module catalogue
- Undergraduate programme catalogue
- Taught Postgraduate programme catalogue
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