Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Universidade Nova de Lisboa

Faculdade de Ciências Médicas

Clinical Research Project

Code

MF39

Department

Physiotherapy

Credits

60

Teacher in charge

Eduardo Brazete Cruz

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Through the advanced clinical placement module, students have the opportunity to develop their knowledge, clinical reasoning and professional skills and to implement an evidence based and patient centred model of model of practice in patients with musculoskeletal conditions. The clinical placement module is a mandatory module of 175 hours where the students took full responsibility for their practice.

Through the frequency of classes, webseminars and research mentorship, students extend their knowledge and understanding of advanced clinical research methods and their appropriate application. They also develop research competences such as, an independent and critical thinking, the ability to develop a research plan appropriate to the research method(s), statistical analyses and to critically analyses and evaluates their own findings and those of others research, and to apply the knowledge acquired to an original research project and to their professional practice.

The Master thesis gives students an opportunity to apply these knowledge and competences in the elaboration of an original research project, and to investigate an area relevant to a theory, practice or a significant topic or issue related with musculoskeletal physiotherapy. These projects are often included in the ongoing research projects of the teaching staff of the course/ the Physiotherapy Department.

Prerequisites

Public Health

 

The enrolment in this curricular unit is limited to the students who obtained approval in all the curricular units of the first year of the Master Degree.

Subject matter

Syllabus

  • Advanced clinical placement module
    • Integration and development of knowledge, skills and attitudes specific to a specialized practice in the area of the neuromusculoskeletal dysfunctions, building on the students’ previous and current experience. Components reflect the following sections of practice – clinical reasoning, clinical and management skills, evidence base practice and communication and patient relationship skills, as defined in the clinical Portfolio assessment criteria.
  • Research Protocol and Statistics

·         Research Question; Ethics and Research; Research Design; Sampling; Psychometric Properties; Lab Instrumentation; Data Analysis

·         Managing and exploring data in SPSS; Correlations and regression; Multiple regression analysis; Independent t-tests, dependent t-tests, single-factor ANOVA, and factorial ANOVA; Factorial ANOVA and repeated measures designs; Repeated measures designs;

Bibliography

·      Domholdt, E. (2000) Research Methods for Physical Therapists. New York, EUA: Butterworth-Heinmann.

·      Fortin, M. F.(2000) O processo de investigação: da concepção à realização. 2a edição. Loures: Lusociência.

·      Mann, C J Emmerg.(2003). Observational research methods. Research design II: cohort, cross sectional, and case-control studies. Med. J. vol. 20, pg. 54-60.

·      Marôco, J. (2011). Análise estatística com o SPSS Statistics (5ª edição). Pero Pinheiro: ReportNumber.

·      Pestana, M.; Gageiro, J (2000).- Análise de dados para ciências sociais. A complementaridade do SPSS.2ª edição. Lisboa: edições Silabo.

·      Portney, L.G.; Watkins, M. P. (2009). Foundations of Clinical Research: Applications to Practice, 3rd Ed. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, ISBN: 978-0-13-234470-8.

Software

·         SPSS® - Statistical Package for Social Sciences

Teaching method

Teaching and Learning

Teaching and learning strategies includes:

  • Clinical practice with real patients;
  • Clinical Mentorship;
  • Self-directed Learning;
  • Webseminars;
  • Small group tutorials;
  • Lab Training;
  • Research mentorship

Evaluation method

Assessment Methods:

The advanced clinical placement module is assessed through:

  •  A Clinical Assignment, limited to 8000 words (100%).

The clinical research project is assessed through:

·        The defence of the research dissertation in a public presentation, including its oral presentation and discussion with an examining committee (40% +20%);

·        A synthesis of the research work developed written up in the form of a paper suitable for publication (15%).

A minimum of 50% is required for all the examinations.

Courses