Unit Outline

This unit offers an introduction to the practice of evidence informed decision making in health organisation management and research. Students will develop the skills to critically appraise scientific evidence to inform and improve decision-making. The relationship between managerial epidemiology and concepts such as the social determinants of health, and the distribution and determinants of diseases and other factors relating to health will be explored. Students will improve their ability to identify and assess relevant literature and evidence used in management and research activities. Students will demonstrate the ability to conceptualise and communicate the operational and strategic issues associated with the ethical, and political implications of evidence informed managerial decisions. Students will have opportunities to hear from experts across Australia and participate in industry case studies and analysis.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Appraise scientific evidence, to inform management decision making.
2	Critique the relationship between managerial epidemiology and concepts such as the social determinants of health, and the distribution and determinants of diseases and other factors relating to health.
3	Evaluate the appropriate data analysis methods used in management and research activities.
4	Assess the challenges in evidence informed decision making in health organisation management and research.
5	Summarise the operational, strategic and ethical issues associated with evidence informed health management decision making.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	BAA722 AND BAA737
Concurrent Pre-requisite	BAA738

Alterations as a result of student feedback

To Be Determined.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Critical Analysis	Week 3	40 %	LO1, LO3, LO4, LO5
Assessment Task 2:	Project Report	Week 9	60 %	LO1, LO2, LO4, LO5

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Critical Analysis

Task Description:

A structured approach to assess quality of evidence is a critical life-long skill for evidence informed decision making in health organisation management and translational research. This assessment aims for you to experience a structured approach in appraising validity, reliability, and applicability of scientific evidence for decision making in your project (from the semester 1 study of the research units). The assessment task is for you to apply a structured approach and produce a report detailing appraisal of the quality of literatures identified in the literature review conducted in the BAA737 Health Management Plan Unit.

Task Length:

2,650 words (5% +/- word count) Any other variance will attract a penalty. The word -count includes such items as headings, quotes and in-text citations. It does not include items such as any appendices and reference list at the end of the assignment.

Due Date:

Week 3

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Determine an organisational context that requires appraisal of scientific evidence.	LO1
2	Explain an organisational research problem and context that requires appraisal of scientific evidence to inform management decision making.	LO1
3	Evaluate a data analysis method to address organisational management and research activities.	LO3
4	Assess the challenges in evidence informed decision making in health organisations, including operational, strategic, and ethical issues.	LO4
5	Compose a well-articulated academic report, reflecting on the knowledge of evidence informed health management decision making.	LO5

Assessment Task 2: Project Report

Task Description:

A common challenge in evidence informed health management decision making is to address knowledge and practice gap with context-suitable service improvements. The aim of this assessment is for you to provide evidence-based recommendations to facilitate pragmatic health services improvement, following concepts of managerial epidemiology. You are to produce a report detailing evidence-informed recommendations to implement health services improvements, addressing pragmatic issues (for example, governance, communication strategies, resource implications) relevant to the community and context in your project (from the semester 1 study of the research units).

Task Length:

3,800 words (5% +/- word count) Any other variance will attract a penalty. The word -count includes such items as headings, quotes and in-text citations. It does not include such items as any appendices and reference list at the end of the assignment.

Due Date:

Week 9

Weight:

60 %

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.