PHVIT9600 De kommunale helse- og omsorgstjenestene som forskningssetting Emneplan

There is an increasing internationalisation within the field of midwifery and maternity care research. Researchers from the Anglo-Saxon cultural area are dominating the field, because they are many in numbers, have a long research tradition, and are producing research of high quality. Guidelines and models of care aimed to be used in all countries are developed. International research literature and textbooks in English are important part of the curricula in midwifery educations in the Nordic countries as well as in other countries. The internationalisation is welcomed and international research, models of care and guidelines can improve quality and outcomes of care in the Nordic countries as well as other countries.

For small countries, there is a danger of introducing and implementing thoughts, models and guidelines without taking the local context in consideration. We find it important to know and recognize our own context for several reasons. We need to assess international research results, guidelines and models of care into a Nordic context, and to be conscious about what we can contribute with to the rest of the world.

This course will focus on theories and models in midwifery and maternity care. Central theories and models in relation to childbirth and reproductive health will be introduced e.g. linked to salutogenesis, pathogenesis, evidence-based practice, a midwifery model of woman-centred care, developed in a Nordic context (MiMo), the global Quality Maternal and New-born Care (QMNC). Perspectives encompassing both quantitative and qualitative methodologies will be explored and implications of different theoretical approach, linked to students´ own research, will be discussed in the context of the Nordic region and internationally.

The course will run as a five-day course over a period of two months.

The course consists of 1 introductory meeting, and 5 seminars of 5 x 45 minutes, with student presentations and time for feedback and discussion.

The introductory meeting is a 2-hours web-based meeting, taking place approximately 2 weeks ahead of the main part of the course. At this meeting, the structure, content, and purpose of the course are presented. The students are asked to give short presentations of their Ph.D. projects, and describe how the course may be relevant to it. The main purpose of this early session is to help the students to start systematic work with the course readings.

The seminars target central themes from the course readings for student presentations and discussions. A high level of student participation is expected. During this time, students will produce several PowerPoint presentations, and a final presentation. Course teachers mediate discussions. After feedback and discussions, the students submit two PowerPoint files each, which serve as the exam.

Work and teaching methods consist of lectures, self-study, group work, seminars and plenary discussions.A high degree of activity and involvement is expected from the participants.

The participants submit an abstract of their research study prior to the start of the course. Each participant gives an oral presentation of their research study during the course and the participants provide feedback ("opposition") to each other. A written reflection note is submitted before each webinar, discussing theoretical and methodological issues of one’s own study, drawing on the literature in the course.

The assessment consists of an Individual home examination which must be submitted within four weeks after the end of the three-day intensive course. In the essay, the candidate will discuss an issue related to his/her own research study, drawing on the literature and presentations and discussions on the course. The essay cannot exceed 3000 words.

All

The course consists of 1 introductory meeting, and 6 - 12 seminars of 4 x 45 minutes, and time for discussion and a final seminar (4 x 45 minutes). The introductory meeting takes place 2 weeks ahead of the main part of the course. At this meeting, the structure, content and purpose of the course are presented. The students are asked to give short presentations of their Ph.D. projects, and describe how the course is relevant to it. This early session's main purpose is to help the students start systematic work with the course readings.

The seminars target central themes from the course readings for discussion and reflection. A high level of student participation is expected. During this time, students will produce several

reaction papers (3 - 4 pages double spaced), and a final presentation of one central theme from the course. Themes are assigned by the lecturers.

The final seminar consists of a discussion of the presentations, which are distributed in advance as papers not to exceed 10 pages double spaced, and introduced by each candidate in a short (3 minute) session. Course teachers mediate the discussions.

This course is aimed at PhD students admitted to the PhD Programme in Health Sciences and is also open to Nordic and international PhD students with a research project within the field. Admission requirements are a completed master's degree (120 ECTS credits) or equivalent qualification.

The course can also be offered to students who have been admitted to the "Health Science Research Programme, 60 ECTS", by prior approval from the supervisor and based on given guidelines for the research programme.