HS5101 - Contemporary Issues in Primary Health Care Research

Credit points:	03
Year:	2011
Student Contribution Band:	Band 2
Administered by:	School of Medicine & Dentistry

Available to students enrolled in the Graduate Certificate of Primary Health Care Research, the Public Health and Tropical Medicine Program (PMHTM, Dip PHTM, PGradDipPHTM), the Postgraduate Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the MSc (Public Health and Tropical Medicine) and other courses by arrangement with the Head of the School.

Students will gain a broad understanding of contemporary issues in Primary Health Care Research, including a history of the development of PHC research as an emerging discipline. This subject provides an understanding of issues unique to PHC research, including the ethical issues such as confidentiality, informed consent and assess to information. The practical implications of conducting research in rural and remote settings and with Indigenous people will also be explored. Students will acquire skills in applying critical appraisal techniques to a wide range of health literature to their own area of professional practice. The concepts, collection and implementation of evidence based practice will be explored. Students will also gain skills in effective proposal and grant development for research funding, evaluation in PHC as well as research dissemination through publications, conferences, and the media and policy makers.

Learning Outcomes

• Demonstrate an understanding of the history and development of PHC research;
• Appreciate the issues unique to PHC Research, including ethical issues, rural and remote research, and research with Indigenous people;
• Critique and apply PHC research evidence through an understanding of the concepts, collection and implementation of evidence based practice;
• Understand the issues of disseminating PHC research outcomes through publications, conference presentations and working with the media and policy makers; and;
• Apply a range of PHC research and evaluation methods and skills including grant and proposal writing.

Graduate Qualities

• The ability to adapt knowledge to new situations;
• The ability to think critically, to analyse and evaluate claims, evidence and arguments, and to reason and deploy evidence clearly and logically;
• The ability to find and access information using appropriate media and technologies;
• The ability to evaluate that information;
• The ability to reflect on and evaluate learning, and to learn independently in a self directed manner;
• The ability to read complex and demanding texts accurately, critically and insightfully;
• The ability to work with people of different gender, age, ethnicity, culture, religion and political persuasion.

Availabilities
External, Study Period 1
Census Date 24-Mar-2011
Coordinator:	Assoc. Professor Sarah Larkins
Lecturers:	Ms Rebecca Evans, Dr Tracy Cheffins, Ms Robyn Preston.
Contact hours:	0 hours lectures
Method of Delivery:	WWW - LearnJCU
Assessment:	tutorial attendance and participation (10%); assignments (20%); research question outline due week 9 (30%); power point presentation paper and conference poster due week 13 (40%).
Special Assessment Requirements:	Satisfactory completion of all assessment items
Restrictions:	An enrolment quota applies to this offering.

Note: Minor variations might occur due to the continuous Subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.