Postgraduate Course: Evidence Based Veterinary Medicine (C-EBVM.1) (VESC11287)
Course Outline
| School | Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies |
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 | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | The RCVS module aims to encourage candidates to develop their understanding of the theory and practice of evidence based veterinary medicine, including its advantages and limitations, and to enable them to apply this understanding to their own particular area of practice in order to improve the quality of decision making and ultimately the quality of clinical care and delivery of veterinary healthcare. |
| Course description |
This assessment-only course forms part of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice. This module description draws on a number of sources, in particular: The RCVS Knowledge EBVM website http://knowledge.rcvs.org.uk/evidence-based-veterinary-medicine/what-is-ebvm/ and their funded initiative, EBVM Learning www.ebvmlearning.org.
Safeguarding the welfare of animals committed to veterinary care and safeguarding the wider public interest is dependent on veterinary practitioners grounding their decisions on sound, objective and up-to-date evidence.
Appropriate use of evidence is a fundamental component of Clinical Governance, the approach to maintaining and improving quality of care which emphasises patient safety, clinical effectiveness and patient & client experience and which forms part of the professional responsibilities of all UK veterinary surgeons.
This RCVS CertAVP module in Evidence Based Veterinary Medicine (EBVM) is aimed not just at clinicians wishing to learn more about evidence-based approaches to the care of individual patients but also to veterinary surgeons required to make decisions about the care of animal populations and the wider provision of veterinary healthcare. It is intended to provide candidates with the tools needed to make evidence-based decisions in veterinary practice and to encourage them to think critically about the wider regulatory and developmental implications of EBVM.
The EBVM module is one of the modules that may be taken to achieve the designated certificate in Veterinary Primary Care. It builds upon topics covered in A-FAVP.1 and complements all other CertAVP modules.
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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 2026/27, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Flexible |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
98 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Summative:
Knowledge Summary 75%
Knowledge Summary presentation 15%
Online multiple-choice test on concepts of EBVM 5%
Formative:
All students will have access to formative activities to assist with assessment preparation, including feedback on draft work prior to submission. All students have access to a range of study skills resources and guidance to prepare for assessment.
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| Feedback |
All assignments will be marked and feedback provided within a period of 15 working days following submission (excluding holidays periods whereby the University of closed, e.g. over the Christmas period).
Opportunities for informal feedback arise through personal tutor and live sessions as well as through email discussions. Formal feedback and feedforward will be provided only on coursework assignments.
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| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Explain the key concepts and principles of EBVM, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of using evidence as a basis for decision-making in veterinary practice, and critically reflect on the application and implantation of evidence-based approaches
- Transform information needs on veterinary clinical and practice problems into answerable scientific questions.
- Search effectively for the best evidence with which to support decision-making in veterinary practice
- Critically appraise the validity and usefulness of various types of research studies relating to chosen areas of veterinary practice
- Apply basic statistical and epidemiological concepts in order to interpret and apply evidence in veterinary practice
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Reading List
| The course reading list will be provided via the University¿s Resource List service and a link will be provided on the Learn course. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course develops skills in:
Critical thinking
¿ Developing independent thought through questioning norms, practices and opinions
¿ Seeking relevant and appropriate evidence and understanding biases determining the significance of what is being expressed
¿ Seeing wider themes and patterns in information
Problem solving
¿ Synthesising information and translating into knowledge within different contexts
¿ Facilitating and co-producing solutions
¿ Considering complex systems with contradictions and uncertainties
Data and digital literacy
¿ Understanding, interpreting and questioning evidence derived from data and its sources
Adaptivity
¿ Coping with uncertainty and ambiguity
¿ Applying personal drive, motivation and determination
Curiosity
¿ A desire to learn or discover
¿ To ask searching questions and adopt different perspectives
Reflection
¿ Reviewing during and after actions
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| Keywords | Veterinary,clinical practice,evidence based veterinary medicine,ebvm |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Sharon Boyd
Tel: (0131 6)51 7449
Email: Sharon.Boyd@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mrs Sophia Hannah
Tel:
Email: shannah2@ed.ac.uk |
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