This lesson is the capstone project for the Higher Diploma, in which the student is encouraged to design their own module content, based on one or more of the topics that was covered in the earlier modules of this Higher Diploma.

Course instructors will assist the students with their Capstone Project selection which could be a 10,000 word thesis, work project or a mix of both written and practical work. There must be a research component to this project based on scientific articles found on PubMed platform.

Competences

at the end of the module/unit the learner will have acquired the responsibility and autonomy to:

1. The delegate will apply his knowledge by cultivating a research topic and do a literature review on how to manage medical emergencies found in remote, austere and resource poor environments.

2. The delegate will write about how they demonstrated creativity in managing medical emergencies during the practice placements.

3. The delegate will expand on their comprehensive internalised personal world view by utilising the Gibbs reflective model for reflecting on past and future performance.

4. The delegate will continue learn skills to undertake further emergency medical studies with a degree of autonomy.

Knowledge

at the end of the module/unit the learner will have been exposed to the following:

1. The delegate will build on their advanced knowledge of the patient assessment and design and write their thesis on an advanced concept in emergency medicine in remote and austere environments.

2. The delegate will write about strategic and creative responses whilst researching for this thesis and will define solutions to problems found in the clinical practice.

3. The delegate will include relevant social and ethical issues surrounding patient assessment, trauma assessment and medical assessment including the treatments for medical emergencies found in resource poor environments. 

Skills

at the end of the module/unit the learner will have mastered the following skills:

Applying knowledge and understanding

The delegate will be able to:

1.  Create a research topic.

2.  Do a literature review of their chosen topic.

3.  Amalgamate their research findings with one or more topics that they learned during their Higher Diploma programme.

4.  Design and write a research article of at least 10,000 words that describe their topic and the current research pertaining to their chosen topic.

Judgment Skills and Critical Abilities

The delegate will be able to: 

Develop a critical understanding of research principles, processes and methods and their application within the health setting and more specifically to paramedic practice. The module develops knowledge and understanding of qualitative and quantitative research techniques and facilitates the students’ understanding of the philosophy behind evidence based practice.