COURSE AIMS and LEARNING OUTCOMES

The main aim of this section of the eResource is to introduce students to studies which describe and analyse population characteristics.

By the end of this section you should be able to:

• Consider the nature of survey and cohort studies and appreciate the answers they provide and their limitations
• Describe the key features of these studies (sampling, generalisability, data collection time periods and tools, reliability and validity of data collection tools)
• Understand how data from these studies are analysed and summarised. 

LINKING THE THEORY TO PRACTICE

Please view the following short video clip. This link should help to demonstrate the relevance and applicability of using evidence to support clinical practice.

SELF DIRECTED ACTIVITY

The following two papers describe two different study designs:

Read the articles below on a survey study designed by nurses to investigate emergency nurses’ knowledge and attitudes about pain:

Nurses' Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Pain in the Emergency Department

An international nurses and midwives cohort study connecting leisure-time physical activity and quality of sleep to nurse health:

Connecting Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Quality of Sleep to Nurse Health

Make sure that you understand the differences between a cohort study and a survey study.

FORMATIVE QUESTIONS

Following on from the above activity, please attempt to answer the following three formative assessment questions. You can click to receive immediate feedback on your answers. These three formative assessment questions are not marked and will not affect your overall module score.  You are strongly encouraged to undertake the formative assessment questions before proceeding and prior to undertaking the summative assessment questions at the end of this section.

SECTION SUMMARY

This section should have introduced you to the importance of evidence - based practice as a central tenet to professional nursing practice.

You should now be in a position to:

• Consider the nature of survey and cohort studies and appreciate the answers they provide and their limitations
• Describe the key features of these studies (sampling, generalisability, data collection, reliability and validity of data collection tools.
• Understand how data from these studies are analysed and summarised.

Before leaving this section, please ensure that you have achieved the learning outcomes for this section of the course.

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT

When you have completed all of the above activities you should attempt the summative QuestionMark test. Click on the QuestionMark button below to begin your summative assessment for this section.

To navigate to QOL and log into the summative assessment program 'QuestionMark' and attempt the Phase 3 Section B Test (Click here)