Evidence-Based Healthcare

The Evidence Based Healthcare MSc is designed to facilitate optimal patient care. Students create and compile the best available evidence for individual aspects of patient care, and on completion of the programme will independently be able to carry out systematic reviews to determine best practice.

Delivered entirely online, students develop the ability to understand the different types of study designs, locate healthcare information and determine its importance, detect and quantify errors in research, systematically review interventions through identification and analysis of all prior research, analyse the reliability of diagnostic tests and disease prognosis, and understand the basic principles of cost-effectiveness analysis.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits), and a research dissertation (60 credits).

A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits comprising four core and four optional modules) is offered.

A PG Cert is available in Flexible/Modular mode only, and for a maximum duration of two years. This programme is 60 credits in total (three core modules and one optional module).

Core modules

• Evaluating the Quality of Evidence-Based Healthcare*
• Introduction to Evidence-Based Healthcare*
• Performing Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Part 1)*
• Performing Systematic Reviews of Interventions (Part 2)
• *PG Cert students take modules indicated above as core and in addition choose one of the remaining optional modules.

Optional modules include

• Application of Evidence in Clinical Practice
• Evidence Based Pre-Clinical Research
• Musculoskeletal Research Methodology (Part 1)
• Performing Systematic Reviews of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies
• Randomised Controlled Trials: Design & Conduct

Dissertation/report

All MSc students undertake an independent research project, in the form of a systematic review or a cost-effectiveness analysis, which culminates in a substantial dissertation and oral presentation.

Teaching and learning

The programme is delivered through a combination of online lectures, seminars, class discussions, workshops, tutorials, and practical work. Assessment is through written examination, essays and the research project.

A medical degree (MBBS) or second-class UK Bachelor's degree in a healthcare related subject such as nursing, physiotherapy or clinical biochemistry, or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard.