Monash University Handbook 2010 Postgraduate - Unit

Synopsis

This unit introduces students to moral and legal theories and principles that are relevant to health practitioner practice and the context within which it occurs. Various approaches to understanding the process of clinical decision making will be examined including hypothetico-deductive reasoning and pattern recognition. Professional clinical decisions must stand up to public scrutiny and reflect the best scientific evidence. Thus attention will be paid to the structure and content of knowledge, its integration with clinical reasoning, clinical reasoning expertise and errors in clinical inference. Reflective practice principles and the ideas underpinning the notion of evidence based practice will be explored. Students will learn about the issues surrounding the development of an evidence based health care culture, how to engage in a critical appraisal of the evidence and how to apply the evidence to local radiographic practice. The unit is also designed to consolidate the students' existing knowledge and understanding of patient culturally sensitive practitioner interactions and prepare radiographers to assume the role of patient advocacy where and when the appropriate opportunity arises.

Objectives

On successful completion of this unit students will be able to:

1. Communicate an understanding of the role of professional ethics in health care practice;
2. Differentiate between common law and statute law, civil and criminal law;
3. Describe how health care and its practitioners are regulated in Australia;
4. Explain the laws relating to assault and negligence and the concept of informed consent;
5. Differentiate between the forms of knowledge underpinning competent practice;
6. Understand the difference between a clinical decision and a clinical judgement;
7. Communicate an understanding of the multifaceted process underpinning clinical reasoning;
8. Apply reflective strategies to current professional practice;
9. Define evidence based practice and the issues surrounding the development of an evidence based health care culture;
10. Engage in a critical appraisal of the evidence surrounding an aspect of professional practice of interest to the student;
11. Apply the evidence to improving an aspect of professional practice of interest to the student;
12. Communicate an understanding of the principles of patient advocacy and their application to professional practice;
13. Demonstrate problem-solving and teamwork skills in relation to the delivery of reflective, ethical and culturally aware professional practice;
14. Demonstrate information and technological literacy skills using specialist medical databases;
15. Demonstrate written communication skills in professionally appropriate formats;
16. Demonstrate the capacity to apply critical thought and analysis to professional practice.

Assessment

Completion of 4 (750 words each) case reports and accompanying comparative reports of 250 words each related to the use of the SOLAR case based learning program (40%).
Completion of a clinical journal (30%).
Completion of a 1,000-1,500 word evidence based investigative project (30%).

Chief examiner(s)

Associate Professor Marilyn Baird