VETERINARY RESEARCH AND EVIDENCE-BASED VETERINARY MEDICINE - 2019/0

Module code: VMS3008

Module Overview

This module provides learning and teaching in veterinary research methods and the practice of evidence-based veterinary medicine.

Module provider

School of Veterinary Medicine

Module Leader

COCKCROFT Peter (Vet Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 6

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Overall student workload

Workshop Hours: 24

Independent Learning Hours: 104

Lecture Hours: 22

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

Successful completion of Year 2 of the BVMSci programme

Module content

Lectures:
Introduction to Veterinary Clinical Research (qualitative and quantitative) and Evidence Based Veterinary Medicine
Drug discovery and developement in the pharmaceutical industry.

Finding and appraising scientific papers
The research question and establishing the hypothesis
Populations, sampling and Variables
Applied statistics and outcome measures
How many samples/animals/patients are needed?
Study designs: Cohort studies, Cross-sectional, case-control,randomised blinded controlled trials, studies on diagnostic tests
Designing questionnaires
Study implementation
Data management
Writing and reviewing scientific papers
Qualitative research
Ethical and legal considerations
Practicing evidence-based veterinary medicine: identifying information needs, turning information needs into searchable questions, different sources of information, searching for evidence, appraising the evidence, decision making and applications.
Clinical audits in veterinary practice
Practicals – workshops
Finding and appraising scientific papers
The research question and establishing the hypothesis
Study designs, populations, sampling, variables, sample size and power of a study
Appraising scientific paper study designs
Designing questionnaires
Writing and reviewing scientific papers
Qualitative research
Practicing evidence-based veterinary medicine – RCVS online programme
Clinical audits in veterinary practice
EBVM- Creating a knowledge summary
Communicating the outcomes of research studies

Assessment pattern

Assessment type Unit of assessment Weighting
Practical based assessment Portfolio Pass/Fail
Examination Written Examination (90 minutes) 100

Alternative Assessment

Portfolio An individual written assignment will be set for the each of the following components of the Portfolio unit of assessment: Audit Non-clinical/Clinical Audit Significant event/Structure Questionnaire Knowledge summary

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their understanding of the research methods and evidence-based veterinary medicine.

Formative assessment and feedback

Formative MCQ questions will be used during lectures to provide feedback.

The workshops/presentations/principal seminars will provide formative feedback

The summative assessment for this module consists of:

Written Examination – (90 minutes) 100%

Portfolio

Audit Non-clinical/Clinical (Group 10%)

Audit Significant event/Structure (Group 10%)

Questionnaire (Group 10%)

Knowledge summary (Group 10%)

Principal seminars (Individual 10%)

Literature review and study design (Individual 50%)

 

A mark of 50% must be achieved in the written examination paper and a portfolio pass (a weighted aggregate mark of 50% is required to pass the portfolio) is required to pass the module. Both units of assessment (written examination and the Portfolio) are core units of assessment.

Module aims

  • The aim of the module is to provide the under-pinning skills, knowledge and attributes required to practice EBVM
  • The aim of the module is to provide the under-pinning skills, knowledge and attributes required to perform a veterinary research study
  • The aim of the module is to provide the under-pinning knowledge and attributes required to perform a practice audit and quality improvement

Learning outcomes

Attributes Developed
001 Describe the scientific concepts and principles used in quantitative and qualatative study designs.(C/K/T) RCVS 2, RCVS 5, RCVS 9, RCVS 10, RCVS 14, KU 1, KU 2, KU12 KCT
002 Describe the process which should be followed when performing a scientific study (K/T) RCVS 2, RCVS 5, RCVS 9, RCVS 10, RCVS 14, KU1, KU 2 KT
003 Describe the structure of a scientific paper and the functions of each section (K/T) RCVS 5, RCVS9, RCVS 10, RCVS 14, KU1, KU2 KT
004 Describe the value of using evidence-based veterinary medicine in clinical practice (K/T/P) RCVS 2, RCVS 5, RCVS 8, RCVS 9, RCVS 10, RCVS 12, RCVS 14, KU 1, KU2, KU9, KU 11, KU12 KPT
005 Describe the steps that should be followed when practicing evidence-based veterinary medicine. (K/T/P) RCVS 8, RCVS 9, RCVS 10, RCVS 12, RCVS 14, RCVS 15, KU1, KU2, KU9, KU12 KPT
006 Describe how to perform a clinical audit (C/K/T/P) RCVS 2, RCVS 5, RCVS 8, RCVS 9, RCVS 10, RCVS 12, RCVS 14, RCVS 15, KU1, KU2, KU9, KU11, KU12 KCPT

Attributes Developed

C - Cognitive/analytical

K - Subject knowledge

T - Transferable skills

P - Professional/Practical skills

Methods of Teaching / Learning

 

Lectures will provide an introduction to the underpinning concepts and principles. The workshops are designed to enable engagement and application of the key concepts using a range of group based assignments. Presentations of the outcomes of the group based assignments will share experiences across the class and will enable further engagement and feedback. The individual assignment enable students to further develop their knowledge and understanding of the principles and concepts of experimental design. The principal seminars enable individual reflection and critical appraisal of the core knowledge and concepts.

 

 

 

 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: VMS3008

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2019/0 academic year.