Fall 2020
NURS 7320-001 Statistical Methods and Data Analysis to Evaluate Healthcare Delivery Systems
All students are responsible for checking their UTHSCSA Livemail account regularly (i.e., daily or several times every week) to obtain Official University Communication regarding their courses, program and student status.
COVID-19
Students are expected to follow all policies related to COVID-19 found on the university webpage: https://wp.uthscsa.edu/coronavirus/.
NOTE: Our campus has enabled the CANVAS MOBILE LEARN application. CANVAS tools such as discussions, quizzes or videos May or May NOT function on all mobile devices. This is because mobile devices are available with rapidly changing and different configurations. Hence, students must not depend on only a mobile device to access course materials. Students must have access to a laptop or desktop device to access course materials and complete assignments.
This course is Web Enhanced with

Please be sure to check the
Current Computer RequirementsPlease check CANVAS for course updates and first week readings.
We will meet every Tuesday 1:00 - 3:50 pm Starting August 25 - December 11.
Please mark your calendar for all these meeting days.
Attendance is expected and is part of your course grade.
All meetings are online via Canvas videoconferencing
FACULTY CONTACT INFORMATION
Azizeh (ZZ) Sowan, PhD, RN, MSN, MSDA, MBA
Associate Professor
School of Nursing, Office: 2.628
The University of Texas Health at San Antonio
7703 Floyd Curl Dr. - MC 7975
San Antonio, TX 78229-3900
Office: (210) 567-5799
FAX: (210) 567-1719
sowan@uthscsa.edu
Office Hours: By appointment, including phone conferences, video conferencing and on campus face-to-face meetings (if allowed based on COVID-related policies).
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COURSE DESCRIPTION
Students will be introduced to analytical methods for knowledge translation and implementation to evaluate processes that impact system, practice, and patient level outcomes. Students will build skills to analyze patient, practice, and outcome data using descriptive statistics, quality improvement tools, and statistical process control.Students will examine appropriate models, methods, measures, data sources, and analyses to evaluate healthcare quality and patient outcomes. Student swill also build capacity to interpret, visualize, and present data to advance practice and improve patient outcomes.
CREDIT AND TIME ALLOCATION
Credit Hour Allocation: 3 semester credit hours
Clock Hour Allocation: 45 clock hours class
PREREQUISITES
Graduate Standing
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
Upon completion of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program students will:
- Integrate nursing science, ethics, biophysical, psychosocial, analytical, and organizational sources to provide the highest level of specialty nursing practices.
- Develop, implement, and evaluate healthcare practices in healthcare systems that ensure quality improvement and patient safety.
- Use analytic methods and evidence based practices to improve practice outcomes and the practice environment.
- Implement and evaluate ethical healthcare information systems and patient care technology to improve the quality of patient health outcomes and care systems.
- Advocate for healthcare practices that advance social justice, equity, and ethical policies within all healthcare arenas.
- Employ interprofessional collaborative teams to improve patient and population health outcomes and healthcare delivery systems.
- Lead the integration and institutionalization of (evidence based) clinical prevention and population based health guidelines.
- Use clinical judgment, systems thinking, accountability, and specialized knowledge to design, deliver, and evaluate evidence based, culturally proficient care to improve patient, population, and health systems outcomes.
COURSE OUTCOMES
1. Distinguish models, methods, and tools to evaluate data from healthcare delivery systems and processes. (DNP Essentials I, II; NONPF Competencies: Scientific Foundation 1, 3, Technology and Information Literacy 5, Health Delivery System 6)
2. Evaluate appropriate and consistent measures and data sources for patient, practice, and systems outcomes. (DNP Essentials I, II; NONPF Competencies: Scientific Foundation 1, 3, Technology and Information Literacy 5, Health Delivery System 5)
3. Design a data analysis plan to describe current system processes, evaluate the impact of an evidence-based intervention, and identify sustainable change. (DNP Essentials I, II; NONPF Competencies:Scientific Foundation 4, Quality 3)
4. Apply appropriate quality improvement tools and statistical methods to analyze patient, practice and systems outcomes. (DNP Essentials I, II; NONPF Competencies: Scientific Foundation 3, 4, Quality 3)
5. Analyze variations in process and outcome measures over time using statistical process control. (DNP Essentials I,II; NONPF Competencies: Scientific Foundation 1, 3)
6. Construct clear and meaningful data displays. (DNP Essentials I, II; NONPF Competency: Scientific Foundation 3)
7. Design reports with pertinent findings for appropriate stakeholders. (DNP Essentials I, II; NONPF Competencies: Quality 5, Practice Inquiry 5)
CLINICAL OUTCOMES
N/A
GRADING SCALE FOR GRADUATE COURSES
A = 4 points (90-100)
B = 3 points (80-89)
C = 2 points (75-79)
D = 1 point (66-74)
F = 0 points (65 or below)
CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION / GRADES
Further details on assignments and grading criteria will be made available on CANVAS the first week of class.
CELL PHONE POLICY
- Respect for classroom and clinical communication processes are necessary for teaching and learning.
- Silence mobile devices / cell phones in classrooms and clinical settings.
- Remove Bluetooth devices prior to entering the classroom and when in ANY clinical setting.
- Failure to do so can / will / may (depending on the faculty) either affect your class participation, clinical or final course grade.
CLASSROOM ATTENDANCE
Attendance in class is an expectation of each student.
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
- If written assignments are made in a course they are required.
- Students are expected to submit written work on the scheduled date and time.
- The student must notify the course coordinator prior to the scheduled due date and time if they are unable to submit the written work as scheduled. Failure to make this notification in advance will result in a "zero" for that written work.
- If the excuse is accepted as reasonable and necessary, arrangements will be made for an alternative due date and time.
- Each student is responsible for making sure that he or she has completed the written work prior to submission.
- Late work will be accepted with consequences as outlined per course syllabi.
APA GUIDELINES
The APA Publication Manual 7th edition is required for use in all nursing school programs.
SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY
Students are expected to be above reproach in all scholastic activities. Students who engage in scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including the possibility of failure in the course and dismissal from the university. "Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts." Regents Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter VI, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22.
PROFESSIONAL CODE OF CONDUCT
Students who are nurses or are preparing to enter the profession of nursing are expected to treat others with respect and compassion. “The principle of respect for persons extends to all individuals with whom the nurse interacts. The nurse maintains compassionate and caring relationships with colleagues and others with a commitment to the fair treatment of individuals, to integrity-preserving compromise and to resolving conflict. This standard of conduct precludes any and all prejudicial actions, any form of harassment or threatening behavior, or disregard for the effects of one’s actions on others” (American Nurses Association Code for Nurses, Interpretive Statement 1.5).
The students, faculty, Department Chairs, Associate Deans, and the Dean of the School of Nursing of the University Texas Health Science Center San Antonio subscribe to the highest standards of conduct. Our aim is professional behavior beyond reproach. Failure to abide by the signed code of professional conduct may lead to suspension and/or permanent dismissal from the UTHSCSA SON. In particular, we subscribe to the provisions of the Code of Ethics for Nurses (http://bit.ly/1mtD5p2) and the following points of conduct.
http://catalog.uthscsa.edu/schoolofnursing/policiesandprocedures/
School of Nursing Netiquette Guidelines for Online Interaction
Netiquette guidelines provide information for behaving properly online, when using email, tweets or texts so that you may successfully communicate your thoughts in a manner that is respectful and avoids misunderstandings with others.
- Be courteous about what you say to or about others in any electronic format. In electronic communication the golden rule is "Remember the Human." Remember there is a real person with real feelings on the receiving end of your email or post.
- Be respectful and open to opinions and ideas that differ from yours. The exchange of diverse thoughts, ideas and opinions are an important part of the scholarly environment. Keep in mind that the people in your classes may come from different backgrounds and have views that may vary significantly from your own.
- Flaming (defined as posting of messages that are deliberately hostile and insulting in an online social context) is never appropriate. While everyone (learners and instructors alike) is encouraged to share ideas and opinions openly, you should never use insults or resort to name-calling even if you disagree strongly with what someone else has written.
- When responding to messages or posts made by others, address the ideas, not the person.
- It’s often best to avoid using sarcasm and humor online. Without social cues, such as facial expressions and body language, a remark meant as humorous could come across hurtful or offensive. Keep in mind that ‘emoticons’ (such as J) may not convey your tone or intent.
- Capitalizing whole words is generally seen as SHOUTING and is difficult for most people to read. Use all capital letters sparingly, such as to highlight an important word or point.
- Think and reread what you’ve written before you post! Make sure that what you’ve written makes sense (is clear and to the point).
- Remember you are responsible for the content you communicate on CANVAS. What you write represents you, so use appropriate language. Remember that all writing should be professional, consisting of complete sentences, and free of grammatical and spelling errors.
- Be aware that distributing copyrighted materials, such as articles and images, is illegal. Most of the materials on the Internet are copyrighted. The only time it’s ok to distribute materials from the Internet is when you are sure those materials are "fair use." To be safe, if you want to share materials with classmates and/or your instructor, share the web link or URL only.
- To avoid plagiarism, make sure you properly cite all source materials. All materials should be cited unless you are the author of the content.
- Protect your privileges in online communication (avoid posting spam or emailing chain letters).
ADA ACCOMMODATIONS
Any student seeking reasonable accommodations through the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) should contact either the Associate Dean for Admissions and Student Services within the first week of the semester or schedule a meeting with the UTHSCSA ADA Compliance Office so that appropriate accommodations may be arranged. A request for accommodations (Form ADA-100: http://uthscsa.edu/eeo/form100-Faculty-student-resident.pdf) must be completed and submitted to the Executive Director of the ADA Compliance Office before accommodations can be provided. Additional information can be provided in the Student Success Center, Room 1.118 or through the ADA Compliance Office website: http://uthscsa.edu/eeo/request.asp.
REQUIRED TEXT / REFERENCE
American Psychological Association. (2010). Publication manual of American Psychological Association. (6th Ed.). Washington D.C.: American Psychological Association. ISBN: 978-1433805615
Provost, L.P., & Murray, S. (2011). The Health Care Data Guide: Learning from Data for Improvement. (1st Ed.). San Francisco, CA.: Jossey-Bass. ISBN: 978-0470902585
Readings will be assigned through Canvas modules with links to downloadable files. Please check Canvas regularly for course readings.
CONTENT OUTLINE
Module 1. Healthcare Improvement and Data Collection
Module 2. Descriptive Statistics and Data Displays
Module 3. Analytical Tools to Evaluate Healthcare Systems
Module 4. Other Data Analysis Tools and Statistical Methods
Module 5. Interpreting and Disseminating Results
Module 6. Pulling it All Together
CALENDAR - 1st Day Only
Please check the schedule for recent updates on Class Dates & Room.
First Day of Class: August 25, 2020
Day of the Week: Tuesday
Time: 1:00 to 3:50 pm
Location: Online via Canvas videoconference
Please review Week 1 materials on CANVAS prior to the first day of class for required readings and discussion.
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