Unit of competency details

Descriptor 

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to conduct research relevant to client care and/or the advancement of homœopathic knowledge, using a variety of research methods

Application 

This unit applies to work in homœopathy

Employability Skills 

This unit contains Employability Skills

Elements define the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

The Performance Criteria specify the level of performance required to demonstrate achievement of the Element. Terms in italics are elaborated in the Range Statement.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Consult stakeholders

1.1 Explain the purpose and subject for research is

1.2 Seek a supervisor 

1.3 Identify a representative range of stakeholders  and consult in appropriate ways

1.4 Identify and address ethical requirements and other issues 

1.5 Negotiate research strategies  and methods  appropriate to the subject and the time constraints

2. Prepare for research

2.1 Establish a timeline for completion of tasks

2.2 Seek research participants and assess for suitability, where applicable.

2.3 Obtain informed consent  from eligible participants

2.4 Seek research funding, if required

2.5 Assemble or design and distribute materials  needed to conduct the research if required

2.6 Arrange times and places for collection of information

3. Conduct research

3.1 Interview participants, where applicable

3.2 Conduct a search of relevant existing literature

3.3 Collect and organise information in a logical manner

3.4 Collect information from participants is kept confidential and stored securely

4. Record and analyse information

4.1 Confirm raw data with participants

4.2 Record information accurately and comprehensively

4.3 Review and compare with existing literature

4.4 Collect and analyse  information

5. Report research

5.1 Report research findings, methodology and limitations accurately and comprehensively

5.2 Acknowledge sources of information

5.3 Present the research to peers and /or published 

5.4 Provide opportunities for validation of the findings, where appropriate

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge :

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes knowledge of:

• Analysis techniques
• Appropriate research proposal format for funding
• Ethical issues in research
• Relevant homœopathic literature, including original provings and aphorisms concerning provings in the Organon of Medicine, 6th edition
• Report writing
• Research issues and their uses
• Research techniques
• Validation procedures

Essential skills :

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes the ability to:

• Accurately document and publish findings
• Adhere to recommended guidelines for research
• Analyse data
• Conduct research in an ethical, safe and humane way
• Construct research strategies
• Follow participants through the project to secure an outcome
• Fund raise if appropriate
• Represent research to and consult with stakeholders
• Research and review existing literature
• Use data in the most effective way depending on size of research
• Write up findings in an accurate and unbiased way

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit :

• The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
• Observation of performance in the workplace or a simulated workplace (defined as a supervised clinic) is essential for assessment of this unit
• Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
• Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
• Assessment of sole practitioners must include a range of clinical situations and different client groups covering at minimum, age, culture and gender
• Assessment of sole practitioners must consider their unique workplace context, including:

• interaction with others in the broader professional community as part of the sole practitioner's workplace
• scope of practice as detailed in the qualification and component competency units
• holistic/integrated assessment including:

• working within the practice framework
• performing a health assessment
• assessing the client
• planning treatment
• providing treatment

Context of and specific resources for assessment :

• Relevant texts or medical manuals
• Relevant paper-based/video assessment instruments
• Appropriate assessment environment
• Skilled assessors
• Computer and/or paper repertories
• Computer data basing and/or analysis program

Method of assessment 

• Observation in the work place (if possible)
• Written assignments/projects or questioning should be used to assess knowledge
• Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice.
• Clinical skills involving direct client care are to be assessed initially in a simulated clinical setting (laboratory). If successful, a second assessment is to be conducted during workplace application under direct supervision.
• Review of research methodology and findings
• Peer review
• Oral questioning and discussion

Access and equity considerations :

• All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work
• All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
• In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

Related units :

This unit should be assessed in conjunction with the following related competency unit:

• HLTCOM502C Develop professional expertise

RANGE STATEMENT 

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Supervisor may include :

• Specialist/expert in the field
• Experienced homœopath
• Tutor/lecturer

Stakeholders may include :

• Community-based support groups
• Manufacturers
• Health care providers
• Others

Issues may include :

• International codes for research
• Funding and resource requirements
• Maintenance of confidentiality
• Prevention of breach in protocol

Research strategies may include :

• Case analyses
• Participant recruitment
• Literature review

Research methods may include :

• Blind
• Double blind
• Un-blind

Informed consent must include :

• Outline of the research to be conducted
• Researcher's ethical responsibilities
• Participant's consent to participate
• Parent/guardian consent for a minor to participate
• Participant's consent for information gathered to be published

Materials needed may include :

• Standardised recording sheets
• Diaries for participants
• Questionnaires
• Homeopathic medicines
• Computer analysis software
• Other materials

Data analysis may include :

• Non-computer generated analysis
• Computer generated analysis

Presented to peers and /or published may include :

• One to one
• Small group presentation
• Large group presentation
• Forum/conference presentation
• Homœopathic journals national and/or international
• Non peer journals

Validation may include :

• Peer review
• Reputability
• Making findings available to as many stakeholders as possible
• Seminars/professional forums
• Publishing in reputable journals
• Replication of the study