| CODE | HSM5107 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| TITLE | Research Methods, Epidemiology and Statistics in Health Studies | ||||||||||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Health Systems Management and Leadership | ||||||||||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit equips students with the tools required to undergo health services research. This study-unit therefore combines the principles and philosophies of research with epidemiological principles that are relevant for health services research. Additionally, students will be provided with hands on sessions on how to select appropriate statistical methods for their research, as well as be coached on how to use appropriate software in statistics. The study-unit will also enable students to develop skills that prepare them to carry out research with an emphasis on determining whether particular research findings are relevant to their leadership and managerial practices, as well as to distinguish between trustworthy and non-trustworthy research. Throughout the study-unit, students will learn how research can become a vital and relevant tool for health services managers and leaders. Study-unit Aims: Through the adoption of collaborative learning approaches, this study-unit enables participants to gain new insights into their own leadership practices and better inform the broader field of health systems. Emphasis will be put on the knowledge, skills and expertise required to lead research projects, as well as on the ability to understand the importance of securing funding for research. The aim of this study-unit is to outline the basic principles and underlying philosophy of the research process. The focus will be on understanding the various research methods and how these can be successfully used to answer research questions in health systems management and leadership. The study-unit will impart various study designs in detail and will focus on the practical applications of the research methods that will lead students to develop their own research proposals. In particular, the use of mixed methods and action-based research enables students to appreciate health systems management and leadership as complex phenomena, and allows them to engage with their peers to enquire systematically on questions that emerge in the field. The collaborative learning environment is intended to expose students to relevant research while contributing to the development of new theory. The purpose of the research project on the M.Sc. taught programme is to aid students to develop techniques in carrying out a critical literature review in a systematic manner (accessing sources, citing literature, critical analysis); be able to conduct quantitative research methods, as well as designing and validating surveys; and be able to conduct qualitative methods including action research. Additionally, the students will be mentored on how to prepare and write a research proposal for ethical consideration and university approval: including formulation of research questions and derivation of models and hypotheses. As regards epidemiology, the student is expected to learn the necessary skills to be able to apply these concepts in a practical manner both by critically reading articles from peer-reviewed journals, but also by choosing the appropriate technique of study design. The students will also learn how epidemiology can assist health services researchers and practitioners so as to be able to take evidence-based decisions in practice. Epidemiology subjects include measuring disease in populations - prevalence, incidence, risk ratios, odds ratios, rate ratios; study designs (main features, strengths and weaknesses of cross-sectional, case- control, cohort and intervention studies illustrated by examples); and critical appraisal (steps in conducting a critical appraisal and practical exercises). Furthermore, and to have a holistic approach towards health services research, the students are expected to acquire knowledge of basic statistics which will include acquiring skills on how to use computer programmes MS Excel and SPSS. This study-unit will also aid students to select the appropriate statistical tools and to interpret and apply statistical findings correctly. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Evaluate the principles of research; - Analyse epidemiology principles of Health Services Management; - Assess the concepts underlying statistical techniques; and - Assess the leadership aspect to lead research projects and secure funding. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Prepare a research proposal for ethical consideration and University approval; - Apply epidemiological concepts in study designs; critical appraisals of epidemiological studies; - Prepare a statistical report and discussion of analysis; and - Analyze successful grant applications from a leadership aspect. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Reading List: - Ben-Shlomo, Y., Sara Brookes, S., & Hickman, M. (2011). Epidemiology and Public Health Medicine. (6th Ed.). United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons. - Greenhalgh, T. (2014). How to Read a Paper: The Basics of Evidence-based Medicine. (5th Ed.). United Kingdom John Wiley & Sons. - Brownson, R., & Petitti, D. (2006). Applied Epidemiology: Theory to Practice. (2nd Ed.). USA: Oxford University Press. - Elwood, M. (2017). Critical Appraisal of Epidemiological Studies and Clinical Trials. (4th. Ed.) USA: Oxford University Press. - Holland, W. W., Olsen, J., & du V. Florey, C. (2007). The Development of Modern Epidemiology. USA: Oxford University Press. - Raffle, A. E., & Muir Gray, J. A. (2007). Screening Evidence and Practice. USA: Oxford University Press. Research Methods - Reading List: Students are advised to select at least one of the following basic health services research texts as essential reading. Further reading should be directed depending on the study design selected for the dissertation. Essential Reading: - Bowling, A. (2014). Research Methods in Health: Investigating Health and Health Services (4th Ed.). Philadelphia: Open University Press. - Easterby-Smith, M., Thorpe, R., & Jackson. (2012). Management Research: An Introduction (4th Ed.). London: Sage Publications. - Fulop, N., Allen, P., Clarke, A., & Black, N. (2004). Studying the Organization and Delivery of Health Services: Research Methods. London and New York: Routledge. Supplementary Readings: - Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (5th Ed.). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications. - Creswell, J. W. & Poth, C. (2018). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Traditions (4th Ed). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications. - Green, J., & Browne, J. (2005). Principles of Social Research. Philadelphia: Open University Press. - Pope, C., & Mays, N. (2013). Qualitative Research in Health Care (3rd Ed.) London: Blackwell Publishing. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study & Tutorial | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Sandra Buttigieg Miriam Dalmas Dorothy Gauci Kenneth E. Grech Patricia Vella Bonanno (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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