Keele Badge

OCT-40005 - Module Specification
School of Allied Health Professions and Pharmacy
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 13 September 2026

OCT-40005 - Evaluating Healthcare and Evidence Based Practice
Coordinator: Claire Stapleton Room: MAC1.15 Tel: +44 1782 7 33808
Lecture Time:
Level: Level 7
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office:

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

This module forms part of the MSc Occupational Therapy (pre-registration) programme at Keele which is an innovative programme of study which prepares the graduate for diverse practice settings.
This robust module is designed to equip you with the essential skills and knowledge to practice as an highly desirable evidence-based practitioner.
Module Highlights:
- Research Study Designs: Learn to recognize appropriate study designs for various practice aspects.
- Evidence-Based Practice: Understand how to use research and evidence in practice, including creating clinical questions (PICO), clinical guidelines, journal clubs, and Critically Appraised Topics (CATs).
- Health Apps Evaluation: Explore the identification and evaluation of trusted health apps (ORCHA).
- Trusted Information: Identify reliable electronic healthcare information.
- Governance Frameworks: Introduce governance frameworks for digital health interventions.
- CAT Production: Understand the stages involved in producing a Critically Appraised Topic (CAT).
- Search Strategies: Formulate effective search strategies across various databases.
- Critical Appraisal Skills: Develop skills using critical appraisal tools for qualitative and quantitative studies, effectiveness studies, diagnostics studies, systematic reviews, and clinical guidelines.
- Evaluation Methods: Debate and evaluate different methods of practice evaluation, including service evaluations and audits.
- Assessment Preparation: Get ready for assessments with ample preparation opportunities.
- Formative Assessment: Benefit from opportunities for formative assessment.
Blended Learning Approach:
Our teaching is delivered through a blend of in-situ and online (asynchronous and synchronous) learning strategies, ensuring comprehensive knowledge and understanding of key principles. Teaching strategies are inclusive to cater for individual needs, creating a student-focused learning environment.

Aims
This module aims to: introduce the student to the strategies adopted to gather, critique and implement research and other forms of evidence into practice and, introduce the student to methods used to evaluate current practice.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Critically demonstrate knowledge of the methods used to evaluate practice in healthcare : 1
Select, justify and critically evaluate research designs adopted to address questions related to healthcare delivery: 1
Critically evaluate the quality, and identify confounding factors, in different forms of health related evidence: 1
Critically evaluate the efficacy of the translation of knowledge and implementation of evidence into healthcare practice: 1
Design effective search strategies to identify best evidence using health related databases: 1

Study hours

Active learning hours, typically include:
Lectures (live in situ or synchronous online) ~ 10 hours
Tutorials/seminars ~ 15 hours

Independent study, typically include:

Weekly directed study ~ 15 hours
Preparation for tutorials/seminars ~ 30 hours
Preparation and writing for Assessment ~ 20 hours
Additional reading ~ 60 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Presentation weighted 100%
Oral poster presentation with questions on a Critically Appraised Topic (CAT)
A poster representing a Critically Appraised Topic (CAT) related to a clinical or applied question in healthcare. Students will present their poster via a 15-minute individual presentation followed by an additional 15 minutes of questions related to their CAT, exploration of the students' knowledge related to research design/critical appraisal, and other approaches used to evaluate practice and implement evidence into practice (including barriers). The assessment will incorporate knowledge of, and justification for stages of a CAT - including the search strategy, selection of best evidence, critical appraisal of the evidence and formulation of a clinical bottom line (i.e. the answer to the clinical question). The CAT poster and the presentation will be marked as a whole. The poster will be submitted on the day of the assessment.

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: 13 September 2026