Postgraduate Course: Evidence Based Surgery (SURG11012)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Clinical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 60 |
ECTS Credits | 30 |
| Summary | The course will enable the student to deliver an evidence-based surgery project from conception to completion.
The single 60 credit course is divided into 2 phases.
1. Phase 1: Foundations of Evidence Based Surgery
2. Phase 2: Research Project
Phase 1 equips students with a critical and reflective understanding of the research design process to enable them to develop a feasible research project and embark on it with confidence.
Phase 2 (the research project) would involve the reliable planning, execution and development of a significant body of research based on openly availabledata sets to answer an evidenced-based question.
The 60 credit course would develop further the ability to analyse published evidence and apply the principles of evidence-based medicine to the professional practice of surgery in a reliable/robust manner.
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| Course description |
This is a online course worth 60 credits.
The course will consolidate the knowledge and understanding gained from the first two years of study in the MSc in Surgical Sciences programme, in particular the Year 2 Academic Surgery course (SURG11008). In providing an opportunity to develop a critical understanding of academic writing and manuscript interpretation, the course will allow students to create an original research question, synthesise an evidenced-based answer (using an openly available dataset) and present this in the style of a manuscript that would be delivered in a format considered suitable for publication in a peer review journal.
The topic, type of study and dataset to be used will be agreed with the student to support the planning, execution and development of the evidence-based surgery project. The subject matter must be relevant to an area of clinical surgery, and it is envisaged that students would consider a topic relevant to their chosen specialty area.
This single 60 credit course will be delivered in 2 phases.
1. Phase 1: Foundations of Evidence Based Surgery
2. Phase 2: Research Project
Phase 1 Foundations of Evidence Based Surgery (10 weeks)
Phase 1 will run over five 2-week blocks, with each block focusing on a particular topic.
- Academic Writing
- Constructing Research Questions and Critical Review
- Literature Review (1)
- Literature Review (2) & Promotion of Research Findings
- Preparation of Abstracts & Manuscript for Publication and Summative Assessment
Within each block a variety of learning activities will be employed to suit different learning styles and to create an engaged, interactive and collaborative community of learners.
Phase 2 Research Project
Phase 2a Project Development
- Advanced Study Design
- Data Collection and Data Analysis
- Accessing and use of openly available datasets to formulate research questions
- Data Presentation
Phase 2b Project Write-up
- Preparation and submission of a research evidence-based project based on openly available datasets..
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: 30 |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
600
(
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 30,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 20,
Online Activities 150,
Formative Assessment Hours 60,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 12,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
328 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam 0 %, Practical Exam 0 %, Coursework 100 %
A blend of formative assessment (with early feedback) and summative assessment will be employed to help students better orient their efforts and come to understand what is expected of them as they progress through the course.
Phase 1 (Assessment Weighting 30%)
1. Critical Review: Students will prepare a brief (around 500 words) critical review of a paper.
2. Literature Review and Lay Sumary: Students will plan and execute a literature review to answer a research question that they will develop during Phase 1. This will be accompanied by a short lay summary.
Engagement in discussion boards will be monitored but will not form part of summative assessment.
Phase 2 (Assessment Weighting 70%)
Phase 2a Research Methodology (Assessment Weighting 20%)
1. Visual abstract (infographic). Students will prepare a visual abstract (infographic) of their chosen research question and data collection plan. The visual abstracts will be submitted for presentation at an Edinburgh Surgery Online virtual conference. Students will be required to view visual abstract submitted by other students and give feedback.
Phase 2b Evidence Based Project (Assessment Weighting 50%)
Evidenced Based Surgery Project report (maximum 5000 words) in a standard publication format.
Students will also write a reflection (750-1000 words) on the process of carrying out and writing up a research project. This is mandatory but is not assessed.
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| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate a critical understanding of the concepts underpinning research methodology, critical appraisal, data analysis and academic writing
- Apply research methodology, data analysis and academic writing skills to develop a research question and plan a research project
- Critically appraise research literature and published evidence, and its uncertainty and complexity
- Interpret, evaluate and present datasets to answer a research question, and effectively communicate findings
- Execute a research project with substantial autonomy
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
During this course students will have to demonstrate the ability to work independently and integrate information gained in each of the year 1 and 2 MSc in Surgical Sciences courses. Their knowledge and understanding of surgical sciences will continue to develop.
They will acquire an excellent working knowledge of relevant research, a critical understanding and application of the concepts underpinning research methodology, critical appraisal, data analysis and academic writing to enable them to execute a research project with substantial autonomy
Effective participation and engagement with course materials and assessments will develop student's capacity to reflect effectively and critically, to communicate actively with tutors and other students, and to direct their learning so that their own self-identified learning needs are addressed.
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| Keywords | Evidence based surgery,academic writing,research methodology,critical appraisal,data analysis |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Susan Morrow
Tel:
Email: Susan.Morrow@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Adam Chalmers
Tel: (0131 6)51 3900
Email: adam.chalmers@ed.ac.uk |
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