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CLM-40150 - Module Specification
School of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

For academic year: 2024/25 Last Updated: 19 September 2024

CLM-40150 - Physician Associate Dissertation
Coordinator: Alison Pooler Room: 79 Tel: +44 1782 7 34947
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 60
Study Hours: 600
School Office: 01782 733928

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

This module will enable students undertaking the physician associate programme to complete a full masters programme and to acquire the essential skills of critical analysis and critical thinking, which will equip them to work within the clinical area and the demands of evidence based medicine. It is envisaged that the articles for publication written as the second stage of this module, will be disseminated as published articles to promote the role of the physician associate further within the health care systems a whole.

Aims
The overall aim of this module is to be able to undertake a literature review, critique the evidence base presented to them whilst displaying an understanding of research methodology and validity of outcomes and display this is written form to encompass the role of the physician associate within the clinical area and the MDT

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/clm-40150/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate advanced skills in literature reviewing and methods of critical analysis: 2
Integrate knowledge and skills to demonstrate an understanding of concepts and methods related to research and critical awareness of current research in relation to professional identity and the chosen area of clinical practice: 1
Critically debate findings from evidence based on the chosen clinical area and their professional and ethical responsibility towards patient outcomes and service delivery within a MDT: 1,2

Study hours

Active learning hours consist of 20 hours of in situ workshops covering the various elements of the assignments; research methodology and research processes, literature reviewing and also academic writing and referencing There are also approximately 20 hours of supervision support time per student which can be done either in situ or synchronous. This is student preference.
Self directed learning makes up the remainder of this module with around 560 hours to undertake the work required to complete the two assessments for this module

School Rules

Pre-requisites: Student either currently on the physician associate programme at Keele University, or is a qualified physician associate who has completed their Pg Dip and wants to access this module as a standalone to gains added credits to covert their PgDip to masters qualification.

Description of Module Assessment

1: Assignment weighted 50%
critique of a published article 8000 words
This assignment will require a critique of a given published article relevant to clinical practice. There will be a choice of a qualitative and a quantitative article for students to choose from. The critique will focus on the applicability of the chosen research methodology, research process and validity of the outcomes. They will critically debate the relevance of the research outcomes onto clinical practice and patient outcomes. The assignment length is 8000 words. Guidance will be given in the module handbook around structure and suggested wordage for each section of this assignment to guide its completion, due to its length and complexity

2: Assignment weighted 50%
article for publication 7000 words
This assignment will require the student to undertake a structured traditional literature review around a chosen topic area. They will then write their findings up, and critically discuss the role of the physician associate within this clinical area/MDT. This will be in the format of an article for publication. They will choses an appropriate journal and use the author guidance of that journal to complete this. They will then add a section to critically reflect on the process of writing for publication and justify their choice of journal. Assignment length 7000 words

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 19 September 2024