Health and Clinical Research Delivery

Practical Aspects of Clinical Research

This unit is intended to run alongside the clinical research portfolio that is a part of the Masters course for NIHR Academic Clinical Fellows. It is also offered as one of the Core Modules for UK and overseas students on the generic MSc in Clinical Research. The course covers many of the practical and regulatory issues associated with carrying out clinical or health related research within a variety of national and international settings including the NHS. Face-to-face and web- based learning packages cover a variety of issues around research planning, project management, research governance, ethical and legal frameworks for research, good clinical practice, patient and public involvement, cultural competence, and dissemination and impact. The module runs across both semesters and students need to register for the Autumn semester and then continue into the Spring semester. There is no option to start in Spring and continue to the following Autumn semester.

30 credits

Introduction to Research Methods Online

This module, which is delivered via online learning, provides students with an introduction to quantitative and qualitative research methods and to the types of skills necessary for the planning, data gathering and dissemination stages of health-related research. Topics covered include: -Research Design; -Methods of Data Collection; -Approaches to Analysing Data and Writing a Research Proposal. The course provides a foundation for further learning in specific research methods. It is primarily designed for new students beginning Masters courses in the Division of Population Health and there is an emphasis on research techniques used in public health and health services research (HSR).

15 credits

Leading and Managing Health Services Online

This module integrates the principles of managing health care services and leading on rapid changes and advances in regional, national and international contexts. Principles of health management will be demonstrated through case-based teaching, in order to enable students to understand how to solve common management problems. Cases will be used to illustrate the complexity of the operating environment for health systems and health services. Students will be supported in developing critical thinking about the relative effectiveness of different approaches to management by analysing their own health care services within a broader cultural, political and policy context.

15 credits

Core modules:

Research Practice Experience 2

The module aims to enable students to further develop and utilise their skills and knowledge of the research process to learn experientially through direct involvement in one or several research studies. At the start and end of the module students will undertake a Training Needs Analysis (TNA). During the module students will develop a comprehensive e-portfolio of evidence (2,500 words or equivalent) to demonstrate proficiency in a range of practice based core research leadership skills and knowledge. 



For this module, students will work alongside an experienced clinical/ practice based supervisor who is currently leading or involved in a research study in a field of practice of interest to the student.  In addition they will be allocated an academic supervisor who will contribute to the supervision process. Students will meet with their supervisory team regularly throughout the module to review, develop and assess learning and development. Students will receive additional formative feedback within regular tutorial meetings with the module lead, peer review activities and group discussions.



The module will be delivered using a mix of online videos, audio podcasts, written materials, and online discussion, which students can complete in their own time during the module. It will be undertaken over two semesters and will be delivered via The University of Sheffield's online teaching platform. 



The summative assessment will comprise a 3000 word reflective written assignment and a short peer review of a fellow student's e-portfolio written piece of work (500 words). The focus of the assignment will be on one aspect of the student's e-portfolio learning as detailed in the student assignment guidelines.   

30 credits

Inclusive Research Practice

This module aims to equip students to identify barriers to the inclusion of diverse and underserved groups in research, and to plan appropriate actions to promote the inclusion of these groups. The module will be delivered online using a variety of methods including online lectures, presentations by researchers and members of diverse and underserved groups, formative learning activities and self-study. The topics covered will include a range of approaches to improving inclusion in research from patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) to co-production of research. We will consider how these different approaches can be used in a range of research designs to promote inclusivity throughout the research cycle.

15 credits

Innovative Designs for Research Impact

This module will ensure that clinical research practitioners are aware of innovative study designs. This will include consideration of project management, patient recruitment and retention, and delivery of the project. We will use real-world case studies from the National Institute for Health Research  to discuss novel designs (e.g. multi-arm, adaptive, stepped-wedge trials and complex, mixed-methods studies) and how these might change approach to delivery.

The module will be delivered using a mix of synchronous (recorded) online tutorials, online videos, audio podcasts, written materials, and online ('text chat') discussion, which students can complete in their own time during the module.

Engagement with online text discussions will be a key learning activity and therefore a required component. Students providing peer review of other's contributions to online discussion groups will assess this engagement.

Assessments contributing to final marks will be through peer review of a short video, and the planning and writing of a written report. The report will discuss a novel design, identify the key challenges and describe how to address these.

15 credits

Dissertation

This module provides students an opportunity to undertake substantial personal projects (research / literature review). The project topic must be relevant to the scope of the course and should be realistically achievable within the time and resources available.  

Students are encouraged to work up a concept based on an area of particular interest and/or relevance to themselves.  The subject and methodological approach will be agreed between each individual student and their academic supervisor.  The completed work will be written up in the form of a dissertation.

The module  runs across both semesters and students need to register for the Autumn semester and continue into the Spring semester. There is no option to start in Spring and continue to the following Autumn semester.

This module is an online module. Students will be given the opportunity to engage in at least one live synchronous online session with the module lead at the start of the module. This will be recorded for those students unable to attend due to clinical commitments/time zone differences.  In addition dissertation supervisors may offer synchronous online supervision sessions. 

60 credits