Evidence Based Medicine 1 (8999.2)

Required texts

Required text:

Hoffmann T, Bennett S, Del Mar C. Evidence-Based Practice Across the Health Professions. Elsevier Health Sciences; (Current edition).
UC Library Link https://library.canberra.edu.au/permalink/61ARL_CNB/kvtan4/cdi_globaltitleindex_catalog_404929112 

Gosall, N. & Gosall, G. The Doctor's Guide to Critical Appraisal. PasTest Ltd, Cheshire. (Current edition).
UC Library Link https://library.canberra.edu.au/permalink/61ARL_CNB/kvtan4/cdi_globaltitleindex_catalog_263459609 

Recommended texts:

Harris M, Taylor G, Harris M, Taylor G. Medical statistics made easy. Banbury, England: Scion; (Current edition)

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Any assessment item submitted WITHOUT the specified information on the first page will be returned to the student and not marked until this requirement is met. Late penalties will be applied (see below).

• Mark adjustment: 10% of the maximum mark available for the assessment task will be deducted for each day late up to 3 days. For example an essay awarded 60% (60/100) submitted 2 days late will receive a mark adjustment of 10% per day, therefore, the adjusted maximum mark for that item will be 40% (40/100).
• Similarly, if weighting is used then a piece of work worth 50% of the unit which received 30/50 would be reduced by 5 marks per day (i.e. 10% of 50) and would therefore receive a maximum adjusted mark of 20/50 if late by two days.
• Submissions received more than 3 days after the prescribed date and time will not be accepted for marking, a mark of zero (0) will be awarded for the item.
• For the purposes of these penalties, all days of the week count, including weekends and public holidays, even when the University may be closed.
• The minimum possible mark for late submission is zero.
• For clarification, one (1) minute past the specified due date and time is considered a late submission.

It is students' responsibility to be familiar with the electronic submission process (e.g., the use of CANVAS and Turnitin). Students are reminded to ensure they plan well enabling adequate time to submit assessments prior to the deadline, in order to avoid a mark adjustment.

Extensions to assignments, placements, deferred intra-semester tests and examinations

Students are only permitted one extension per assignment and one deferral per intra-semester test/examination/placement (on the grounds of illness or other special circumstances as per UC Assessment Procedures). Students are NOT PERMITTED to defer an already deferred intra-semester test, exam or placement. A request for extensions / deferral must be on the Assessment Extension form with relevant documentation and must be lodged with the Unit Convener as soon as possible and no later than 3 business days from the due date. Students should note that deferral of exams held in the Final Assessment Period (which are centrally timetabled) follow a different process and are assessed by the examinations office.

Students must make themselves available for deferred assessments and placements which will be scheduled by the unit convener as per UC Assessment Procedures. For placements, please refer to the unit's Canvas site for further details and requirements. Any student unable to undertake the deferred intra-semester test, exam, assignment or placement will receive a mark of zero or fail grade for that assessment task.

Special assessment requirements

To pass this unit, you MUST meet ALL the following requirements:

• Students must submit the written assignment
• Students must attain an overall unit mark of 50% or higher

Should you fail to meet ANY of these requirements, you will fail the Unit.

Academic integrity

Students have a responsibility to uphold University standards on ethical scholarship. Good scholarship involves building on the work of others and use of others' work must be acknowledged with proper attribution made. Cheating, plagiarism, and falsification of data are dishonest practices that contravene academic values. Refer to the University's Student Charter for more information.

To enhance understanding of academic integrity, all students are expected to complete the Academic Integrity Module (AIM) at least once during their course of study. You can access this module within UCLearn (Canvas) through the 'Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism' link in the Study Help site.

Use of Text-Matching Software

The University of Canberra uses text-matching software to help students and staff reduce plagiarism and improve understanding of academic integrity. The software matches submitted text in student assignments against material from various sources: the internet, published books and journals, and previously submitted student texts.

Supplementary Academic Integrity Information

Contract cheating

Contract cheating (academic outsourcing / ghost-writing is a form of academic misconduct in which students submit written or creative work that has been drafted or produced by someone else and claims authorship for it. It includes (but is not limited to) using a third party, offering their services for commercial or other benefits, to complete (either partially or fully) an assignment or other assessment items on behalf of the student.  

You are at risk of contract cheating if you ask someone to:

• complete an assignment for you
• substantially edit your assignment
• do your university work for you, with or without compensation
• check test or quiz answers
• sit a test or quiz for you
• provide someone with your UC login details

You may also be at risk of contract cheating if you provide information to people or organisations outside UC, such as:

• assignment questions and briefs
• lecture notes
• marking rubrics and marking guides

 Students should note that sharing their assignments (current or previously submitted assignments) may result in referral to the Associate Dean of Education for investigation.

UC considers contract cheating serious misconduct which may attract suspension or exclusion from the university.  Furthermore, we, as your education provider, have mandatory reporting responsibilities under National Law.  We are required to notify the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA) if we believe that a registered health practitioner (including those with student registration) has behaved in a way that constitutes notifiable conduct including signature departure from accepted professional standards.  Contract cheating may also result in UC submitting a mandatory notification to AHPRA.

You can learn more about contract cheating in the Academic Integrity Module - which is a compulsory module that provides information about a range of issues including plagiarism and contract cheating.  UC provides a range of services to support student learning - further information regarding Study Skills, Studiosity and Medical & Counselling services are available on your unit's Canvas site.

Students are expected to complete the AIM Quiz in the first two (2) weeks of their course. No submitted assessment pieces will be marked in this unit until the Quiz has been completed (proof of successful AIM completion may be requested by the Unit Convener).

Participation requirements

For Pharmacy Students:
This Unit contains participatory elements which are vital to the Australian Pharmacy Council professional learning outcomes for this unit. Except in the case of extenuating circumstances, 100% attendance is expected at all lectures, and 100% participation is required in all tutorials. It is expected that students unable to fulfil these participation requirements will inform the unit convener as soon as practical, by telephone or email. If attendance requirements cannot be regularly satisfied (e.g. timetable clash) it may be recommended that you schedule this unit for a future semester. Failure to adhere to these requirements may result in failure of the associated assessment piece. Consideration will be given for illness; however, evidence such as a medical certificate will be required. Contact details for the Unit Convener are given in Section 1.

Required IT skills

Students should be conversant with searching for and accessing information via electronic means; the use of Canvas; and word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software.    Using generative AI

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT can aid but should not replace independent thinking. If using genAI tools for the major project (topic development, book chapter, multimedia presentation), acknowledge their use in or provide an appropriate citation. Acknowledgement is not required for low-level tasks such as improving spelling, grammar, and quality of written expression.

You are responsible for content you submit. Be aware of limitations of genAI tools such as inaccuracies, biases, and incomplete content. GenAI tools work best for topics you already understand, with carefully crafted prompting based on peer-reviewed research. Refine prompts for better results and fact-check generated content. Despite the risks, genAI tools can aid brainstorming, concept explanation, synthesis of ideas, and improve the readability and quality of written expression. For further information please refer to UC library GenAI guide (https://canberra.libguides.com/genai) and the Academic Integrity Module.

In-unit costs

The following costs are expected for this unit:

• Purchase of textbooks and learning resources
• Self-printing of the electronically provided material
• Computer, electronic accessories, and internet access

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

Style Guide for report formatting

Unless otherwise approved (in writing), all written assessment pieces (formative and summative) must conform to the following requirements:

• Cover Sheet with student ID (identification) number, name of the assignment, and word count. (Student name must not be entered on the Cover Sheet).
• Headings in bold, maximum font size 16 pt.
• Font size: 11 pt or 12 pt – Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri. (consistent)
• Margins are no less than 1.5cm on all sides.
• Page number at bottom right hand corner of footer.
• Student identification number (number only) at top right hand corner of header.
• References given in NLM/Vancouver style (chronological numeric) ONLY. Information on this referencing styles can be found on the library website at https://canberra.libguides.com/c.php?g=599301&p=4149536  
• Assignment requirements (first page) as per Section 5b above.
• Any word limits specified in assignments (in this Unit Outline or in task descriptions on Canvas) will INCLUDE all tables, figures, but EXCLUDE references (unless otherwise stated) and appendices.
• Submissions that exceed the specified word (or page) length will be truncated at the word (or page) limit and only assessed to this point.

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