RAB1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care Course description

The language is normally English.

This joint course is developed for all the Bachelor programmes at the Faculty of Health Sciences which are part of RETHOS (National guidelines for the Health and Social Studies), and is considered as an introductory course, preferably taken during the first part of the study programme.

In this course, starting with relatable examples, students will learn about asking critical questions about health claims and the sources of claims. This is followed up by focusing on the rationale for evidence-based practice (EBP) and its Core Competencies: Ask, Acquire, Appraise and Interpret, Apply, and Evaluate, and shared decision-making. The course provides a foundation for learning and applying more advanced and field-specific skills.

Prior to the course, the students are recommended to go through the elements in "Startpakka" which focus on literature search, critical appraisal and use of references, see https://x.oslomet.no/courses/course-v1:OsloMetX+ST22+01/about

The student must have been admitted to the study programme.

On successful completion of the course, the student has acquired the following learning outcomes classified as knowledge, skills and competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can define what EBP is and recognizes the rationale for EBP and shared decision making
• knows the steps of EBP
• is familiar with the levels in the S-pyramid and acknowledges the difference between single studies and systematic reviews
• knows the characteristics of a scientific article, e.g. IMRAD
• can explain the purpose and characteristics of qualitative and quantitative studies and syntheses of studies, e.g. systematic reviews
• understands the principles for critical appraisal and knows how to use check lists for different study designs, clinical guidelines and professional procedures
• knows different types of categorical and continuous measures of association and effect, and key graphical presentations

Skills

The student

• can identify different types of professional/clinical questions, such as questions about treatment, diagnosis, prognosis, experiences and etiology
• can, for each type of clinical question, identify the preferred order of study designs
• can formulate searchable professional/clinical questions using e.g. PICO and variations of PICO
• can construct and carry out an appropriate and simple search strategy for professional/clinical questions from the top of the S-pyramid

General competencies

The student

• can critically assess health claims in the media
• can discuss the importance of user knowledge, clinical experience, and summarized research in clinical decision-making

The teaching is mainly designed with "flipped classroom" and learning activities in class and smaller groups. Digital learning resources such as digital lectures, videos and films will be available to the students in advance. Students are recommended to use these resources and to be prepared before the lectures and the seminars. The students are specially recommended to participate at the presentation seminar since this seminar offers a unique opportunity for learning.

The following required coursework must be approved before the student can take the exam:

• Compulsory attendance at the seminar on literature search (normally week 1 of the course).Compensatory work requirement if not present: The student must choose a different health claim, create a PICO based on this health claim, and describe a search for this PICO in Up-To-Date, Health Library according to guidelines or in Cochrane Library. The assignment is not academically assessed by the person with the course responsibility, but it will be registered (in Fagpersonweb) that the work requirement has been submitted and the student will find the registration in studentweb.
• Compulsory attendance at the Help-desk seminar (normally week 2 of the course) where students/exam groups ask questions and receive answers/guidance on the exam assignment. Compensatory work requirement if not present: In case of absence, students must submit 2 questions to the exam assignment and provide an academic justification for the questions of up to 100 words. The assignment is not academically assessed by the person with the course responsibility, but it will be registered (in Fagpersonweb) that the work requirement has been submitted and the student will find the registration in studentweb.

The goal of the course is to gain thorough knowledge of building physics processes and mechanisms so that these principles are taken into account in the design of integrated, energy efficient and climate-resilient building envelopes. The effects of the outdoor and indoor climate, relevant mechanisms relating to heat and moisture transfer and not least their impact on energy efficiency and the degradation of building materials will be addressed. The following topics are addressed in particular:

• principles of interaction between exterior climate and building envelope;
• heat, air and moisture transport through building elements and components;
• heat transfer and thermal performance of building elements and components, transparent (e.g. windows) and non-transparent (wall constructions);
• sources of heat loss, for example air leakages, thermal bridges;
• moisture transport and design of building elements against surface condensation and mold growth;
• moisture buffering in building materials;
• coupled heat and moisture transport through building envelope;
• air infiltration in buildings and design of an airtight building envelope;
• natural ventilation due to wind and stack effect;
• sound proofing and building acoustics.

No formal requirements over and above the admission requirements. Some knowledge of basic building physics at bachelor's degree level is an advantage.

Pass/Fail. The same grade is given for all students in the group.

All answers are assessed by one internal examiner.

The assessment scheme is evaluated regularly. An external programme supervisor participates in the evaluation and provides advice on further quality work in the study programme.

BIOB1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care, 5 credits, ERGOB1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care, 5 credits, FYB1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care, 5 credits, RAB1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care, 5 credits, SYKK1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care, 5 credits, SYKP1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care, 5 credits, TAB1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care, 5 credits, FARB1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care, 5 credits, PMED1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care, 5 credits, ORI1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care, 5 credits, and VERB1060 Evidence-Based Practice (EBP) in Health Care, 5 credits overlaps 100 %.