Selected topics in Quality and Patient Safety (DHV350)


Course description for study year 2025-2026

Facts

Course code

DHV350

Version

1

Credits (ECTS)

10

Semester tution start

Spring, Autumn

Number of semesters

1

Exam semester

Spring, Autumn

Language of instruction

English

Offered by

Content

The course addresses selected topics within quality and safety in healthcare and gives the PhD candidate in-depth knowledge and analytical skills at an advanced level. The course focuses on topics that are key to understanding and analyzing quality and patient safety together with influencing mechanisms at micro, meso, and macro levels. Examples of topics:

  • Foundations and theoretical approaches to safety and quality
  • Macro level factors
  • Teamwork and micro systems
  • Improvement and improvement strategies
  • The role of patients and carers
  • Different perspectives (resilience, safety culture, learning, leadership, etc)

Learning outcome

Knowledge

The PhD candidate will:

  • Possess advanced knowledge of quality and patient safety as a research field.
  • Possess advanced knowledge of relevant theoretical approaches, perspectives, and methods.

Skills

The PhD candidate can:

  • Apply relevant theoretical approaches and methods on selected quality and patient safety topics.
  • Critically analyze the relationship between micro, meso, and macro level factors and their influence on quality and patient safety.

General competence

The PhD candidate can:

  • Organize and present selected research literature on quality and patient safety and lead discussions in open seminars/groups.
  • Search for and apply research literature to analyze a self-selected research problem.

Required prerequisite knowledge

Master level within medicine, health sciences, societal safety, social science, or similar educations.

Exam

Form of assessment Weight Duration Marks Aid
Individual paper on self selected topic 1/1 Passed / Not Passed

List of self-selected literature (approx 500 pages) to be submitted together with the individual paper.

Coursework requirements

  • Presentation of scientific literature in open seminars/discussion groups.
  • Prepare a short abstract (approx 250 words) on the self-selected research topic to be addressed in the individual paper. Abstract should include background, topic, research problem/question, and plan for relevant literature searches. The abstract will be approved by the course coordinator.
  • List of self-selected literature of approx 500 pages relevant for the individual paper.

Course teacher(s)

Course coordinator:

Siri Wiig

Course coordinator:

Karina Aase

Method of work

The working methods of the course will vary depending on research topics and number of participants. The methods will include supervision, scientific paper writing, presentation of scientific material, critique and defense. The course will be based on open seminars/discussion groups where the candidate(s) present(s) and lead(s) discussions related to the curriculum contents. The course can be given in full digital format if required.

Course assessment

The faculty decides whether early dialogue should be conducted in all or selected groups of courses offered by the faculty. The purpose is to gather feedback from students for making changes and adjustments to the course during the current semester. In addition, a digital evaluation, students’ course evaluation, must be conducted at least once every three years. Its purpose is to collect students` experiences with the course.

Literature

Search for literature in Leganto