Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Final Master’s Degree Project
Other languages of instruction: English, Spanish,
Teaching staff
Students can contact by email with the person in charge of the subject, Dr. Adrián González (agonzalezm@uic.es).
Introduction
The Master's Thesis of the University Master's Degree in Urgent and Emergency Care consists in the design of a quantitative research project or a qualitative research project on a topic integrated in one or more of the clinical specialties studied during the Master's Degree. The Master's Thesis will be publicly defended before a board.
The Master's Thesis will be carried out individually.
This Master's Thesis is carried out autonomously by the student, who is supervised by a tutor. It is considered an integrative exercise of the formative contents received and the competences acquired in the degree, both in clinical aspects and in research methodology.
In order to unify the criteria and procedures that ensure and guarantee homogeneity in the organization and evaluation of this subject, the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya has an internal Regulation of Final Degree Projects and Final Master's Degree Projects to which all official degrees offered by the UIC regulated by Royal Decree 1393/2007, as amended by Royal Decree 861/2010, are subject. This regulation contains the basic guidelines related to the definition, design, supervision/direction, execution, supervision, defense, evaluation, management and public availability of the End of Master's Thesis.
Pre-course requirements
Not necessary
Objectives
- To reinforce and integrate the clinical and research methodology skills and knowledge acquired during the Master's program.
- To promote reflective critical thinking based on the scientific method.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CN01RA - Identify health problems in the field of emergencies and health emergencies that can be investigated.
- CN04RA - Identify the quantitative and qualitative tools and methods necessary for the design and development of a research study in the clinical field of emergencies.
- CP02RA - Communicate clinical findings, health outcomes and/or research project in new, specialized and non-specialized settings clearly and unambiguously.
- CP03RA - Design advanced research projects on clinical aspects capable of generating new and specific knowledge for disciplinary, professional and institutional development, considering the differences in the expression of diseases in men and women and the consequent health care and treatment needs.
- HB05RA - Demonstrate the use of tools related to information and communication technologies and their application to specific fields of knowledge
Learning outcomes of the subject
- Conduct their own learning process in an autonomous manner
- Communicate research projects in a clear and unambiguous way, supported by graphs and/or tables to improve the understanding and impact of the information in different contexts
- Elaborate an original scientific project
- Develop their work following the established rules and recommendations
- Use the most appropriate technologies for the effective completion of their work
- Present the project in writing in a rigorous, clear and precise manner
- Effectively defend their TFM, the results and conclusions obtained before a tribunal
- Proactively identify emerging problems in the field of urgencies and health emergencies
Syllabus
The Final Master's Thesis (TFM) consists of the design, elaboration and writing by the student, supervised by a TFM Director, of a scientific work, throughout the course, in which the student integrates the training contents received and the competences acquired in the Master. The TFM can adopt the format of qualitative or quantitative design depending on the approach chosen by the student.
The presentation and defense of the TFM before the University Tribunal of the TFM by the student, so that he/she demonstrates the ability to communicate and present the work developed before the scientific community.
The contents will be taught by the TFM director, the methodological tutor and the TFM coordinator. The directors will give individual clinical and methodological support to the students during the whole process of the TFM. The methodological support will be complemented, if necessary, by the methodological tutor. On the other hand, the TFM subject coordinator will hold group sessions throughout the TFM process on topics of common interest to the students.
The main contents to be dealt with will be:
- Modalities of TFM at MUUES: quantitative research project, qualitative research project.
- Bibliographic search: main data sources.
- Synthesis of evidence in the form of background/theoretical framework. Justification of the study.
- Operationalization of research question, hypothesis and objectives.
- Methodological justification and writing of the methodology. Ethical aspects. Data analysis.
- Temporal feasibility of the research: chronogram (projects).
- Clinical and research implications of the work.
- Limitations of the study.
- References: main citation and reference styles. Vancouver and APA style.
- Exposition of a research work.
In addition to these contents, the fundamental theoretical contents related to research methodology to develop the MUUES TFM are taught in the subjects “Information Management for Clinical Research” (compulsory), “Quantitative Clinical Research Designs” (optional), “Qualitative Research Methodology in Health” (optional), “Biostatistics” (compulsory).
Teaching and learning activities
Online
The teaching and learning activities of the TFM include the student's self-learning activity (100h); directed activities (26h) and supervised activities (91h), which correspond to the tutoring by the director of the TFM and the support of the methodological tutors; interactive seminars (by the coordinator, 5h) and oral presentation (3h). The individual tutorials, indicated in the course schedule, include a minimum of five meetings (face-to-face and/or telematic) between the director of the TFM and the student
Evaluation systems and criteria
Online
The grade for the TFM will be obtained from the sum of the grade obtained in the TFM report (70%) and the oral presentation (30%) by the examining board. This grade will be obtained by applying the rubrics. The main areas to be assessed will be:
- The formal correctness of the written report.
- The content of the written report, both in its specific elements and globally.
- The oral defense before the examining board.
A minimum score of 5 in the final evaluation rubric completed by the tutor will be required in order to receive, if applicable, the approval of the TFM Coordination for the defense of the TFM in front of a panel. In the event that the director deems it inappropriate to present the TFM, the grade assigned to the work will be Not Presented (NP) and therefore the student will miss the exam.
Bibliography and resources
Reporting guidelines:
- Observational studies: STROBE (https://www.strobe-statement.org)
- Experimental studies: SPIRIT (protocols - https://www.spirit-statement.org) or CONSORT (with results - http://www.consort-statement.org).
- Qualitative research: SRQR (https://journals.lww.com/academicmedicine/fulltext/2014/09000/Standards_for_Reporting_Qualitative_Research__A.21.aspx) and COREQ (https://academic.oup.com/intqhc/article/19/6/349/1791966)