Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HECS3306 Midwifery: Dissertation

Module manager: Helen Ayre
Email: h.m.ayre@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: invalid View Timetable

Pre-requisite qualifications

Normally 120 credits at level 2

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

Midwives are required to understand, utilise, and contribute to the generation of, data and evidence through engagement with research, audit, service evaluation and quality improvement processes; as well as via interpretation and utilisation of the best available evidence to inform decision making, clinical practice, and practice development. Not all evidence is generated in the same way, for the same purposes, and not all evidence is of good quality. Midwives must be able to make informed judgements about the quality and relevance of evidence before translating results/findings into practice; and they should demonstrate skills required to actively engage in evidence-informed quality improvement processes and to contribute to the knowledge base for practice (NMC, 2019).The research skills developed by students throughout the programmeculminate in this module and will be demonstrated in a final literature research-based dissertation. This module will enhance and consolidate students' understanding of the ways in which data is generated to inform and enhance practice, as well as their ability to critically identify, utilise, synthesise, and interpret available evidence, and make judgements about and critically discuss the suitability of evidence to inform practice. Where changes in practice or further research/improvements are indicated, students will be able to make appropriate related recommendations as well as understand the midwives role in contributing to further evidence generating activities to support this, where required.This module requires students to work more independently, strengthening key skills such as planning, organisation, management and directing their own learning, as well as enhancing critical thinking and examination skills and applying these to midwifery practice prior to registration.In this module students will:- identify and critically analyse an area of midwifery practice which has raised questions for them and/or requires investigation/improvement.- formulate a clear and appropriate research question.- conduct a robust and structured literature search.- Synthesise and critically appraise the evidence, including the evidence of research ethics.- present a robust and coherent academic discussion.- make recommendations for practice based on the available evidence understanding the implications for midwifery practice and recommending areas for further midwifery research and development.

Objectives

Students will undertake a critical literature review to answer a research question based on an area of own midwifery practice.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Identify, discuss and critically appraise current clinical research and identify areas where further research is needed.
2. Identify and critically refine a relevant and current clinical / research question.
3. Design and conduct a structured literature review.
4. Extract, analyse and summarise research findings or data.
5. Critically appraise the evidence found or findings from empirical research.
6. Identify and critically appraise strategies that can be used to disseminate the results of research to different audiences.
7. Make recommendations for practice based on the available evidence, understanding the implications for practice and recommending areas for future research and development.

Skills outcomes
Apply critical appraisal and demonstrate analytical ability to practice-related situations, apply theory to practice and construct a coherent academic discussion.

Syllabus

Although the student will focus, primarily on their Final Year Project, this integrated module combines 4 strands central to midwifery practice: professional practice; applied practice; the biopsychosocial-spiritual model of health and wellbeing; and evidence-based practice. Students will build on work from previous modules and undertake an in-depth examination of an area of midwifery practice that needs improvement. Indicative content for this module comprises the following:

Professional Practice:
- The midwives role in audit, research and quality improvement
- Understanding types of evidence and data used to inform midwifery policy and practice.
- Translation of evidence (or a lack of) into midwifery practice: process and responsibilities

Applied Practice:
- Identifying areas of uncertainty or improvement in practice
- Examining the purpose and differences between audit, service evaluation/improvement and research

Biopsychosocial-spiritual:
- Service User involvement in research and improvement practices, including considering their needs when identifying areas requiring research/quality improvement, identifying/recommending/evaluating and implementing changes in practice.

Evidence-Based Practice:
- Developing self-directed learning plans based on individual needs.
- Developing answerable research questions and using question frameworks
- Undertaking robust and structured literature searches
- The systematic review process.
- Selecting and rationalising choice of evidence which is relevant to a specific research question.
- Advancing knowledge of epidemiological principles and alternative research methodologies
- Advancing knowledge of ethical considerations relating to research and quality improvement in practice
- Selecting and using appropriate critical appraisal tools and determining the quality of evidence
- Assessment of quality in research (qualitative, quantitative, multimethods and mixed methods research).
- Methods for the synthesis and meta-synthesis of data and research findings

Content links to Standards of Proficiency for Midwives (NMC 2019)
Domain 1 = 1.4, 1.5, 1.25
Domain 2 = Nil
Domain 3 = 3.2, 3.25
Domain 4 = Nil
Domain 5 = 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.7, 5.16, 5.17

Private study

Private study will include extensive reading and appraisal of evidence, and analysis and synthesis of the information

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress is monitored first, according to attendance at timetabled teaching, by participation in tutorials and by individual supervisors during the period of group and individual supervision. Regular engagement with individual supervisors will enable students to obtain formative feedback. There are also a series of formative pieces of work that need to be completed and submitted to their individual academic supervisor for feedback. In order to monitor and support the student's progress, dates would be agreed for completion of formative elements such as:
- the final research question and Gantt
- an outline of the proposed search strategy
- a summary table of the evidence that will be included in the review
- a date for completion of the Introduction, Case scenario and Method chapters (2,500 words in total) be ready to discuss the contents of these, and the selected evidence, in a group supervision session.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 29/04/2022 15:42:08

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