CHCPOL003 Research and apply evidence to practice
CHCPOL003 Research and Apply evidence to practice CHCPOL003 Assessment 3 Project V4 Community Link wants to seek funding for a purpose-built outdoor leisure activity centre. You have been directed by local government to research and submit a report supporting your application. You are required to develop a questionnaire within a minimum of ten (10) questions to gather information on the engagement and benefits of outdoor leisure activities compared to indoor leisure activities. Your questions should be developed to gain a range of qualitative and quantitative data to gather information on: · Age/gender · Current trends in leisure activities · Experiences within outdoor and indoor leisure activities · The benefits of outdoor leisure activities · The negatives of outdoor leisure activities · Any current barriers to access and engage in outdoor leisure activities · Community attitudes and perceptions of outdoor vs indoor leisure activities · How leisure activities may be undertaken in 10 years’ time You will need to interview five (5) people of varying ages and genders to gather data and complete your developed questionnaire. Interviews may be conducted via face to face, telephone or email and should be no longer than 30 minutes each. The completed questionnaires will be required to be attached in the appendix of your report. Once you have completed the five (5) interviews, you are required to research and develop a research report using this attached template . You should assess the strength, relevance, reliability and currency of information gathered as well as the feasibility, benefits and risks of all information before including it in your report. Your report will need to: · Incorporate findings from the interviews · Include research from current literature · Use qualitative and quantitative information · Include at least one (1) data graphic (e.g. Chart, diagram, bar graph) · Be a minimum of 1000 words (maximum of 2000 words) · Reflect industry standards (black font only) CHCPOL003 - Research and apply evidence to practice Introduction to Research and apply evidence to practice Welcome to Research and apply evidence to practice. As you work through this unit you will learn the skills and knowledge required to assist clients to develop appreciations, interests, skills and opportunities to use leisure in personally rewarding ways. In this unit you will explore: · How to plan information gathering activities · How to gather information · Different ways to analyse information · How to use information gathered in our own practice Before we can start planning information, it is helpful to understand reasons for undertaking research. This could include: · Comparison – comparing something to another. For example, comparing what a service can offer versus what another service can provide · Hypothesis testing – Testing an idea or theory. For example, whether two (2) staff working part-time produce more effective outcomes than one (1) staff member working full time · Trend identification – understanding the latest trends that are occurring in the leisure and health industry. For example, using virtual reality games to participate in exercise · Own knowledge extension – to build on our knowledge and learn more. For example, attending training and industry conferences · Strengthen the quality of our own practice – researching new and best practices to implement into our own practice. For example, reviewing journal articles and consulting with industry specialists Identify situations where research may be required Watch Stuart Brown: Play is more than just fun (YouTube) This fascinating TED talk demonstrates the value of research and how through research they have found that the importance of play is essential in life and how the absence can lead a person to be more vulnerable. It is important to be aware of the potential for improving your own practice and enhancing the quality of social and health care services that you provide. You may carry out research to ensure that your knowledge and understanding of developments in these fields are up-to-date. It may be possible to integrate updated methods to improve the health outcomes for people under your care. You may also be required to meet specific professional standards, as established by a regulator in your field of work. It is quite likely that your health or social care organisation will specify the need to carry out regular research to ensure the improvement of services. You might also be expected to provide patients with up-to-date information about their treatment choices and ways of overcoming social challenges. The US Institute of medicine has defined quality in health care as “the degree to which health services for individuals and populations increase the likelihood of desired health outcomes and are consistent with current professional knowledge”. It follows that the primary reasons for research are to enhance people’s chances of recovery and ensure that you adopt modern working practices. Research can also be carried out for identifying effective means of managing health conditions and giving people improved opportunities for quality of life. Health and social care research may also be carried out for these purposes: · Evaluating the effectiveness of health and social care practices · Identifying the costs and benefits associated with medical treatment and social care · Ensuring continued understanding in the context of changing health and social care work areas · Learning about legislation and other types of changes which impact on the work of leisure and health and social care practitioners Research: Research is conducted to create new knowledge or to authenticate existing knowledge based on theory. Research includes methodical, scientific inquiry to answer a research problem using thorough research methods. The research process begins with wanting to know the answer to a specific question, what other evidence has been researched and reported and what the gaps are. Often the first step in the process is to conduct a literature review, then the researcher can decide on the underlying theory that will be used in the research. In all types of research, knowledge develops as information, data are collected, analysed, and the outcomes are interpreted. The final step is the publication and communication of the research results (Connor, 2014). Evidence-Based Practice: Different to the research process, evidence-based practice is not about finding out new knowledge or authenticating existing knowledge. Evidence-based practice interprets evidence and applies it to clinical decision-making. Its intention is to use the best available evidence available to make client decisions. Research provides the best evidence. Evidence-Based Practice, unlike research, includes industry expertise as well as client preferences and values. Evidence=based practice considers that often, the best evidence comes from industry experts even though no research has been conducted (Connor, 2014). Quality Improvement: Unlike research and evidence-based practice quality improvement uses a step-by-step method, data-guided approach to make improvements to existing processes. The principles and objectives of a quality improvement approach developed from organisational values to total quality management and continuous quality improvement. The process includes: · Clearly defining the outcomes that need improvement · Identifying how the outcome will be measured · Development of a plan for implementation · Collection of data pre- and post the intervention Different to research and evidence-based practice, quality improvement does not include conducting a literature review and critical appraisal. Quality improvement projects are often organisational site-specific, and the outcomes are not meant to provide the best evidence (Connor, 2014). Evaluate current trends The evaluation of trends will involve consideration of any changes that are likely to impact the health and social care services that you provide. You will need to access a variety of sources to identify changes that are having a continued impact on your work in the areas of health and social care. Such trends should be identified so that you are able to prepare and adapt your working practices accordingly. It is quite likely that you will identify a variety of trends with the potential to affect the work that you carry out. Such trends may relate to the demographics of service users, the prevalence of diseases, and changing public expectations regarding health care. There are a variety of steps that you should take when evaluating trends in the areas of health and social care. Data and information should be compiled specifically to the trends that you are particularly interested in. A statistical analysis may then be carried out in order to find out what will happen based on current data. You may also discuss recent changes and expected developments with your colleagues and supervisors. Then you should consider the reasons why the trends are occurring and the changes that may be required of your organisation. There are numerous examples of trends specific to health and social care in Australia. You may be aware that the Australian population is ageing. This is increasing the pressure on the Australian health system, as increasing numbers of people are suffering from conditions such as arthritis, dementia, and cancer. Continued research is required so that you can respond and assist people suffering from these conditions. Another trend relates to the increasing reluctance among Australian people to engage in physical exercise. This is leading to increased rates of obesity and related health conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure. The healthcare providers should respond to such issues and develop appropriate treatments and physical programmes. Other trends that you should be aware of relating to the public perception of health and social care services. In recent years there has been an increasing emphasis on the importance of providing person-centred care. Health and social care workers have been expected to take people’s needs and preferences into account in the arrangement of treatments and rehabilitation programmes. People have also focussed on the importance of being treated with dignity and respect. Health and social care providers are now expected to involve clients and ensure that their perspectives are considered. It is quite likely that such demands will increase in future years. You should also account for trends related to the development of medications and methods of support for people in health and social care settings. You might identify such trends because of watching and reading media stories regarding your area of work. As an example, there have been recent developments in the production of drugs and genetic treatments for people with HIV and cancer. Technology has also been developed for remote communication and monitoring of patients. There may be a potential for integrating such technology as a means of improving the health outcomes of people under your care. Establish and define research objectives It will be necessary to establish objectives and develop a scope for your investigations into health and social care practices. This will mean that you are able to carry out targeted research and obtain results that are likely to be of interest and use in the development of your work. Research questions may be developed for guidance in any investigations that you carry out. There might be gaps in your knowledge about health and social care topics which are worth investigating. You could visit websites and read magazines for a general review of the research area. It might even be possible to refine your research question as you learn more about a topic. You may identify a variety of objectives which can be used to guide the research that you carry out. As an example, you may want to test a hypothesis about an area of health