Unit information: Enquiry in Healthcare Management in 2022/23

Unit name	Enquiry in Healthcare Management
Unit code	BRMSM0062
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Sabi Redwood
Open unit status	Not open
Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units)	None
Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units)	None
Units you may not take alongside this one	None
School/department	Bristol Medical School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Unit Information

Healthcare management requires the ability to make effective use of evidence from research in decision-making to ensure that services are effective, efficient, equitable, appropriate, acceptable and accessible. This emphasis on the use of evidence in decision-making involves specific attention to the systems and processes in organisations for acquiring, assimilating and applying evidence. This unit will introduce students to different types of research evidence and their philosophical underpinnings; how to find, appraise and apply evidence; and how to design and carry out practice-based research or evaluation projects.

This unit will engage the expertise across the Faculties of Health Sciences and Social Sciences and Law in relation to the nature of evidence, evaluation and enquiry in healthcare management.

The aim of this unit will be to:

1. Provide students with an understanding of principles of enquiry for healthcare management;
2. Provide students with an understanding of concepts of knowledge mobilisation, implementation and implementation science;
3. Enable students to develop skills to apply the principles of enquiry to critically appraise research quality and understand what the results mean in different contexts.

Your learning on this unit

1. Demonstrate a working knowledge and understanding (including relevant theoretical models/frameworks) of enquiry in healthcare management;
2. Develop appropriate evaluation and research skills to undertake a practice-based project;
3. Engage insightfully with a range of information sources and develop conceptual, analytical and empirical skills to support evidence-based decision-making;
4. Develop practical skills to find and appraise quantitative and qualitative research evidence critically and efficiently and understand what the results mean in different contexts and for different healthcare decisions;
5. Demonstrate the ability to plan, select and coordinate resources/materials (e.g. literature, reports, legislation) for a specific task in line with higher level strategic decision making;
6. Present and communicate information about research evidence and evidence-based healthcare management clearly in written, electronic and oral forms to a range of audiences.

How you will learn

Much of the learning for this unit will involve individual study in directed self-learning. Consultation with potential students has identified a need for this learning to be highly structured. The learning will be divided into topics, each comprising an online introduction and recommended reading available online via Blackboard.

Technology-enabled communication will enable students to maintain contact with staff and their peers. Learning groups will be created to support integration and an online community will also be developed to support student interaction.

Emphasis will be placed on research, evaluation, case studies and other problem-solving activities. Some real time sessions may be hosted by guest lecturers from other healthcare organisations and academic institutions.

Students will be expected and directed to read from a range of sources including the core texts and academic journals. Students will interact and communicate within group activities enhancing practical leadership skills, including team, negotiating and influencing skills. They will work autonomously as well as interactively within group exercises.

How you will be assessed

Formative Assessment will involve an oral presentation of the students’ selected project to their peers and invited guests, including patients and service users. Feedback will inform the development of the proposal (ILOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 6)

Summative assessment will involve a 3,500 word proposal for a practice-based research or evaluation project. The subject of the proposal will be selected by the student but will be agreed with the Unit Director. The proposal will require a brief rationale for the project, specific aims and objectives and a plan for its design and conduct, including data collection and analysis. (ILOs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)

Resources

If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.

If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. BRMSM0062).

How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks, independent learning and assessment activity.

See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.

Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit. The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.