TRANHLTH 7001OL - Synthesising Economic Evidence

Online - Semester 2 - 2017

This course introduces students to the conduct and management of systematic reviews of studies that address cost and cost effectiveness of interventions. In a series of online modules students will learn how to critically appraise different study types and how to extract and analyse data. They will also learn how to generate recommendations for practice. This course reinforces and builds upon concepts covered in the Introduction to translational health science and Introduction to health economics, including protocol development principles.

  • General Course Information
    Course Details
    Course Code TRANHLTH 7001OL
    Course Synthesising Economic Evidence
    Coordinating Unit Joanna Briggs Institute
    Term Semester 2
    Level Postgraduate Coursework
    Location/s Online
    Units 3
    Contact 12 hours per week
    Available for Study Abroad and Exchange Y
    Prerequisites TRANHLTH 7000OL
    Assumed Knowledge Understanding of health economics
    Course Description This course introduces students to the conduct and management of systematic reviews of studies that address cost and cost effectiveness of interventions. In a series of online modules students will learn how to critically appraise different study types and how to extract and analyse data. They will also learn how to generate recommendations for practice. This course reinforces and builds upon concepts covered in the Introduction to translational health science and Introduction to health economics, including protocol development principles.
    Course Staff

    Course Coordinator: Dr Kylie Porritt


    Kylie Porritt | Research Fellow
    The Joanna Briggs Institute
    Faculty of Health Sciences | University of Adelaide | SA 5005 AUSTRALIA
    Level 1, 115 Grenfell Street | Adelaide | SA 5000 Australia
    T: +61 8 8313 5167 | F: +61 8 8313 4881 | E: kylie.porritt@adelaide.edu.au |W: www.joannabriggs.org
    Course Timetable

    The full timetable of all activities for this course can be accessed from Course Planner.

  • Learning Outcomes
    Course Learning Outcomes
    1. Demonstrate an understanding of the theoretical basis and underpinnings of cost and cost effectiveness research as they relate to evidence synthesis
    2. Demonstrate an understanding of the methodologies and methods of cost and cost effectiveness research as they relate to evidence synthesis
    3. Describe and discuss the role of cost and cost effectiveness evidence to inform decision making
    4. Develop strategies to search for and identify appropriate and relevant cost and cost effectiveness research data
    5. Apply the principles of critical appraisal for the validity of cost and cost effectiveness studies
    6. Demonstrate the ability to extract data from cost and cost effectiveness studies
    University Graduate Attributes

    This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attribute(s) specified below:

    University Graduate Attribute Course Learning Outcome(s)
    Deep discipline knowledge
    • informed and infused by cutting edge research, scaffolded throughout their program of studies
    • acquired from personal interaction with research active educators, from year 1
    • accredited or validated against national or international standards (for relevant programs)
    1-3
    Critical thinking and problem solving
    • steeped in research methods and rigor
    • based on empirical evidence and the scientific approach to knowledge development
    • demonstrated through appropriate and relevant assessment
    4-6
    Teamwork and communication skills
    • developed from, with, and via the SGDE
    • honed through assessment and practice throughout the program of studies
    • encouraged and valued in all aspects of learning
    5,6
    Career and leadership readiness
    • technology savvy
    • professional and, where relevant, fully accredited
    • forward thinking and well informed
    • tested and validated by work based experiences
    5-6
    Intercultural and ethical competency
    • adept at operating in other cultures
    • comfortable with different nationalities and social contexts
    • able to determine and contribute to desirable social outcomes
    • demonstrated by study abroad or with an understanding of indigenous knowledges
    N/A
    Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
    • a capacity for self-reflection and a willingness to engage in self-appraisal
    • open to objective and constructive feedback from supervisors and peers
    • able to negotiate difficult social situations, defuse conflict and engage positively in purposeful debate
    N/A
  • Learning Resources
    Required Resources
    All resources currently exist and are already available within the School of Translational Health Science and will be made available via MyUni for this course.
    Recommended Resources
    A range of useful readings can be found on MyUni.
    Online Learning
    The course content has been developed using Articulate Storyline and will be administered via the MyUni platform.
    Assignments will be submitted online via MyUni or TURNITIN

    MYUNI
    MyUni is the primary entry point to online learning at Adelaide University. MyUni provides students and staff with access to course materials, discussion forums, announcements, online and many other features to help manage your study or teaching. You can connect to MyUni on or off campus from an internet connected computer using a Web browser. The URL is: www.myuni.adelaide.edu.au/
    Login to this resource using your Username and Password. Once logged on to MyUni, you will find the information displayed is customised to present only details relevant to you and the online content for courses that you are studying. For enquiries about online education services, what’s available and access, contact the Online Education Helpdesk:
    The Helpdesk is available for extended hours during the week or through voicemail.
    Phone: (08) 8303 3000
    E-mail: servicedesk@adelaide.edu.au
    You are encouraged to post queries on the discussion board in addition to emailing course coordinator the questions of an academic nature (e.g., about assignments).
  • Learning & Teaching Activities
    Learning & Teaching Modes
    This course will be offered completely online. It will involve a series of online lectures, which have been developed using Articulate Storyline, to provide core information and outline key concepts related to the course. These lectures will be supported by interactive practicals that are designed to develop and clarify topics covered in lectures. These are generally problem-solving sessions, providing an opportunity for ‘hands on’ work with software and databases described in the lectures. Additionally, an online discussion board will be made available to students for each module. This discussion board will be monitored by the course coordinator, but students will be encouraged to answer each others questions. Four assignments will be scheduled at key learning times throughout the course, starting with a quiz at the end of Module 1 to ascertain basic knowledge of evidence based healthcare and translation science, a poster and practical assignment in Module 2 to gauge student ability to design an appropriate question and search the literature and development of a protocol for a systematic review, bringing all concepts together.
    Workload

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.

    The information below is provided as a guide to assist students in engaging appropriately with the course requirements.
    This course is a 3 unit course with an estimated 12 hours of contact time per week. As the course is completely online students have flexibility in undertaking and completing the weekly requirements.
    Learning Activities Summary
    A series of online lectures will be available via MyUni on a weekly basis. Lectures have been grouped into five ‘modules’ to assist students to navigate the course in a clear and coherent fashion.

    Module 1: Introduction to the systematic review of evidence on cost and cost effectiveness 
    • Common study designs and approaches to analysis
    • Cost minimization, cost effectiveness, cost utility and cost benefit analysis
    • Searching for economic evidence (including keywords, general and specific databases)

    Module 2: Critical appraisal, study data and data extraction 
    • A two part lecture on the critical appraisal of economic evidence (including questions, alternatives, costs and outcomes, effectiveness, differential timing, incremental analysis, sensitivity analysis and generalizability)
    • Study data and data extraction (including types of data and first and second level data extraction)

    Module 3: Developing a cost and cost effectiveness review protocol 
    • Protocol development (Part 1)
    • Protocol development (Part 2)

    Module 4: Synthesising and reporting cost and cost effectiveness evidence 
    • A two part lecture over two weeks that examines the presentation of results of synthesis (including tables, narrative summary and hierarchical decision matrix)

    Module 5: Developing recommendations for practice 
    • Generating recommendations for practice
    • Overview of cost and cost effectiveness systematic reviews: issues and challenges
    Specific Course Requirements
    Progression through modules is contingent on successful completion of the previous module.
    Small Group Discovery Experience
    N/A
  • Assessment

    The University's policy on Assessment for Coursework Programs is based on the following four principles:

    1. Assessment must encourage and reinforce learning.
    2. Assessment must enable robust and fair judgements about student performance.
    3. Assessment practices must be fair and equitable to students and give them the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned.
    4. Assessment must maintain academic standards.

    Assessment Summary

    Assessment Task Assessment Type Weighting Learning Objective
    Quiz Summative 10% 1-3
    Practical Summative 20% 4
    Essay Summative 20% 5
    Project Summative 50% 6-7
    Assessment Related Requirements
    N/A
    Assessment Detail
    Assessment 1: Quiz (10% of total grade)
    Students will be asked to respond to a series of open book multiple choice questions on the methodologies, methods and theory behind cost and cost effectiveness research. This test will be administered at the end of the Module 1 series of lectures via MyUni and addresses learning objective 1 - 3. To be completed by week 2.

    Assessment 2: Practical (20% of total grade)
    Students will be required to identify and retrieve a published economic systematic review and, using the implications for further research, develop a review question and provide a list of databases they would search and an example concept map and search strategy. This 1000 word assessment addresses learning objective 4. To be completed by week 4.

    Assessment 3: Essay (20% of total grade)
    Using knowledge gained in Module 2, students will be required to select three items from the JBI Critical Appraisal Instrument for cost and cost effectiveness studies and put forward an argument for why they should be essential criteria for cost and cost effectiveness studies to be included in a systematic review and three items that they consider are not essential criteria for studies to be included. This 1000 word assessment addresses learning objective 5. To be completed by week 6.

    Assessment 4: Project (50% of total grade)
    Using the two papers provided by the course coordinator, students will be asked to extract and synthesise data and discuss how these results could inform decision-making. This 2500 word assessment addresses learning objective 6 and 7. To be completed by week 10.
    Submission
    All assignments will be submitted online via MyUni.
    Assignments will be marked and written feedback provided to students usually within 2 weeks and no later than 4 weeks after submission. Re-submission will not normally be considered.
    Online formative and summative assessment quizzes will provide immediate feedback to the student.

    The SPH late submission procedure will apply:
    Late submission
    Marks will be deducted when an assignment for which no extension has been granted is handed in late.
    The procedure is as follows:
    All assignments, including those handed in late, will be assessed on their merits;
    For late assignments, marks will then be deducted from the mark awarded, at the rate of
    5 percentage points of the total possible per day.
    The School reserves the right to refuse to accept an assignment that is more than 7 days late.

    Extensions
    Extension must be requested no later than the last working day before an assignment is due.
    Only a Course Co-ordinator may grant an extension.
    Extensions will only be granted on medical or genuine compassionate grounds. Documentary supporting evidence such as a medical certificate will be required.
    Course Grading

    Grades for your performance in this course will be awarded in accordance with the following scheme:

    M10 (Coursework Mark Scheme)
    Grade Mark Description
    FNS   Fail No Submission
    F 1-49 Fail
    P 50-64 Pass
    C 65-74 Credit
    D 75-84 Distinction
    HD 85-100 High Distinction
    CN   Continuing
    NFE   No Formal Examination
    RP   Result Pending

    Further details of the grades/results can be obtained from Examinations.

    Grade Descriptors are available which provide a general guide to the standard of work that is expected at each grade level. More information at Assessment for Coursework Programs.

    Final results for this course will be made available through Access Adelaide.

  • Student Feedback

    The University places a high priority on approaches to learning and teaching that enhance the student experience. Feedback is sought from students in a variety of ways including on-going engagement with staff, the use of online discussion boards and the use of Student Experience of Learning and Teaching (SELT) surveys as well as GOS surveys and Program reviews.

    SELTs are an important source of information to inform individual teaching practice, decisions about teaching duties, and course and program curriculum design. They enable the University to assess how effectively its learning environments and teaching practices facilitate student engagement and learning outcomes. Under the current SELT Policy (http://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies/101/) course SELTs are mandated and must be conducted at the conclusion of each term/semester/trimester for every course offering. Feedback on issues raised through course SELT surveys is made available to enrolled students through various resources (e.g. MyUni). In addition aggregated course SELT data is available.

  • Student Support
  • Policies & Guidelines
  • Fraud Awareness

    Students are reminded that in order to maintain the academic integrity of all programs and courses, the university has a zero-tolerance approach to students offering money or significant value goods or services to any staff member who is involved in their teaching or assessment. Students offering lecturers or tutors or professional staff anything more than a small token of appreciation is totally unacceptable, in any circumstances. Staff members are obliged to report all such incidents to their supervisor/manager, who will refer them for action under the university's student’s disciplinary procedures.

The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.