CQUniversity Unit Profile
PMSC28003 Evidence-based Practice 2
Evidence-based Practice 2
All details in this unit profile for PMSC28003 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

In this unit you will utilise the foundational principles, knowledge and skills applicable for the implementation and translation of evidence into clinical practice and demonstrate a high level of knowledge in the recognition and resolution of complex ethical dilemmas in research. Upon completion of this unit, you will be able to undertake a literature review using the appropriate methods and search strategies to inform best practice.

Details

Career Level: Postgraduate
Unit Level: Level 8
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Pre-requisitePMSC28002 Evidence-based Practice 1

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 2 - 2025

Online

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Essay
Weighting: 40%
2. Literature Review or Systematic Review
Weighting: 60%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback

Feedback, Recommendations and Responses

Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.

Feedback from Self-reflection

Feedback

Updating the marking rubric to include additional details relating to the task description for the literature review.

Recommendation

We recommend updating the literature review marking rubric for the next offering of the unit. This enhancement will help students better understand the expectations and requirements for their review, particularly regarding the number of peer-reviewed articles that need to be included.

Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Utilise the foundational principles, knowledge and skills applicable for the translation of evidence and implementation into clinical practice
  2. Demonstrate a high level of knowledge in the recognition and resolution of complex ethical dilemmas in research
  3. Undertake a literature review using appropriate methods and search strategies to inform practice.
Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Essay - 40%
2 - Literature Review or Systematic Review - 60%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3
1 - Knowledge
2 - Communication
3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills
4 - Research
5 - Self-management
6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility
7 - Leadership
8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes

Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
1 - Essay - 40%
2 - Literature Review or Systematic Review - 60%
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Harvard (author-date)

For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.

Teaching Contacts
Natalee Williams-Claassen Unit Coordinator
n.williams-claassen@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 14 Jul 2025

Module/Topic

Evidence-Based Practice (EBP)

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 21 Jul 2025

Module/Topic

Systematic Reviews 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 28 Jul 2025

Module/Topic

Clinical Practice Guidelines 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 04 Aug 2025

Module/Topic

Ethics

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 11 Aug 2025

Module/Topic

Ethics

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Vacation Week Begin Date: 18 Aug 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 25 Aug 2025

Module/Topic

Shared Decision Making 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 01 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Clinical reasoning and EBP

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Essay Due: Week 7 Thursday (4 Sept 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Week 8 Begin Date: 08 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Literature Review 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 15 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Implementing and Embedding EBP 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 22 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Implementing and Embedding EBP

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 11 Begin Date: 29 Sep 2025

Module/Topic

Evaluating Practice - Audit 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 06 Oct 2025

Module/Topic

Review of content and submission 

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Literature Review Due: Week 12 Thursday (9 Oct 2025) 11:45 pm AEST
Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 13 Oct 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Exam Week Begin Date: 20 Oct 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Essay

Assessment Title
Essay

Task Description

In this essay, you are required to critically explore the ethical challenges encountered across the research process—from research design to dissemination. Your analysis should reflect both theoretical understanding and real-world application.

You must address the following areas as a minimum:

  • The ethical responsibilities of the researcher, including managing conflicts of interest and professional integrity.
  • Ethical considerations for participants and communities, including informed consent, protection of vulnerable populations, and equitable participant selection.
  • Ethical issues and dilemmas that arise across:

·         Research design (e.g. biases, risk/benefit balance)

·         Data collection (e.g. privacy, consent under duress)

·         Data analysis (e.g. selective reporting, data manipulation)

·         Dissemination and implementation (e.g. transparency, clinical impact, community engagement)

  • Proposed strategies or frameworks to address these challenges and uphold ethical conduct throughout the research lifecycle (e.g. NHMRC guidelines, ethics committee processes, data governance)

 

Level of GenAI use allowed:

Level 2: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.


Assessment Due Date

Week 7 Thursday (4 Sept 2025) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Week 9 Thursday (18 Sept 2025)


Weighting
40%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

The essay will be assessed in accordance with the rubric and information provided on the unit’s Moodle page.

The following criteria are key points to be included:

• The written assessment should be presented in an essay format

• The written assessment must address each of the main topic tasks as detailed in the task description

• Avoid superficial points or comments and be clear and concise

• As this assessment is written, you must include in-text referencing and a reference list.

There is a minimum word count of 2000 words and a maximum word count of 2500 words.

This written assessment is worth 40% of your overall unit mark.

 


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Word Document

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Utilise the foundational principles, knowledge and skills applicable for the translation of evidence and implementation into clinical practice
  • Demonstrate a high level of knowledge in the recognition and resolution of complex ethical dilemmas in research


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

2 Literature Review or Systematic Review

Assessment Title
Literature Review

Task Description

In this assessment, you are required to undertake a literature review using appropriate methods and search strategies to inform practice while utilising the applicable foundational principles, knowledge, and skills for the translation of evidence and implementation into clinical practice.

 

The literature review should be 2000 words (10+/-) in length excluding the appendices, figures, tables, and references. At least 15 journal articles will need to be cited throughout the paper. Your review topic should be relevant to your course - primary healthcare, or critical care practice.

 

The content of the literature review will include, at a minimum:

- Title (max 15 words)

- Keywords (3-5 words)

- Introduction

- Review Question

- Methodology – search strategy, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and study screening and selection

- Results and Discussion – critique of the literature, results and their meaning, answering of the research question, strengths and limitations of the literature review

- Conclusion - conclusions drawn and implications for clinical practice and future research

- References.

 

Level of GenAI use allowed:

Level 2: You may use Al for planning, idea development, and research. Your final submission should show how you have developed and refined these ideas.


Assessment Due Date

Week 12 Thursday (9 Oct 2025) 11:45 pm AEST


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (24 Oct 2025)


Weighting
60%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

The written assessment will be assessed in accordance with the rubric and information provided on the unit’s Moodle page.

The following criteria are key points to be included:

• The written assessment should be presented in an essay format

• The written assessment must address each of the main topic tasks as detailed in the task description

• Avoid superficial points or comments and be clear and concise

• As this assessment is written, you must include in-text referencing and a reference list.

There is a minimum word count of 2000 words (+/- 10%).

This written assessment is worth 60% of your overall unit mark.


Referencing Style

Submission
Online

Submission Instructions
Word Document

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Utilise the foundational principles, knowledge and skills applicable for the translation of evidence and implementation into clinical practice
  • Undertake a literature review using appropriate methods and search strategies to inform practice.


Graduate Attributes
  • Knowledge
  • Cognitive, technical and creative skills
  • Research
  • Self-management
  • Ethical and Professional Responsibility
  • Leadership

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?