This is a core module within the PGDip/MSc Advanced Clinical Practice. It may also be taken as a free-standing module or as an option module within the MSc Healthcare Practice. The module is designed to introduce students to this relatively new and expanding science that has grown from national and international ambition to bring about quality improvements and enhance patient safety by closing the theory practice-gap, encouraging more effective use of research evidence within practice. Improvement and Implementation Science examines the practice of generating evidenced-based innovations and approaches to facilitating and sustaining effective implementation of policy and interventions in practice. It draws on theory and practice from a broad range of other professional disciplines (e.g. sociology, management, behavioural psychology, science and technology).

The module content and design encourage students to critically explore a range of strategies to support the integration of research findings with practice, whilst considering this within the context of an ever-changing working environment and policy landscape.

Throughout the module students engage with a wide range learning activities which aim to develop both knowledge and skills; offering practical insight into how to make best use of resources and evidence, subsequently optimizing chances of success in effectively implementing ideas within the context of their own professional practice.

Aims

The module will develop students’ understanding of the concept of implementation and improvement science as a mechanism to integrate research findings and evidence-based interventions into health care policy and practice. It will enhance their ability to apply related principles, theories and frameworks, in order to generate and sustain quality improvements to service provision, patient care, patient experience and outcomes.

What and how you will learn on this module

How you will learn:

This module is delivered using a blended learning approach which integrates a variety of on-campus and online activities, supported by Canvas, the University’s virtual learning environment. A complementary range of activities are employed to engage you in the critical exploration of key topic areas, and the completion of formative tasks during the module also helps to keep you on track with the learning and gain feedback on your understanding of the content. A sense of community is developed and maintained with frequent opportunities for peer learning, enabling you to share your practice experiences and to learn from each other. 

Academic writing and critical thinking skills are developed through ‘The Critical Thinking Skills Toolkit’ and other academic practice activities embedded within the module, that have been designed to nurture the skills needed to facilitate you to become a thoughtful, objective and reasoned thinker. This will help you tackle the assignment(s) confidently, understand marking criteria, use evidence, take a reasoned approach, make structured arguments and engage with other points of view. 

What you will learn:

• Improvement and implementation science methods and frameworks

• Types of interventions and strategies (e.g. organizational, economic, process, policy)

• Stages and sequencing (exploration through to, implementation)

• Evidence based practice and policy

• Knowledge transfer

• Critical appraisal

• Change management theory

• Organizational and professional culture

• Effective and transformative leadership

• Effective collaboration and team working

• Managing people

• Problem solving skills

• Action planning and performance / outcome assessment and evaluation.

Academic practice

• Database searching

• Referencing and avoiding plagiarism

• Critical Thinking Skills Toolkit.

Course length: 10 day teaching 

Assessment

Written report (2500 words)