24 points, SCA Band 3, 0.500 EFTSL
Undergraduate - Unit
Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.
Faculty
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Chief examiner(s)
Associate Professor Peter Barton
(Clayton)
Professor Parasakthi Navaratnam
(Malaysia)
Coordinator(s)
Dr Richard Loiacono
Associate Professor Dr Amudha Kadirvelu
Unit guides
Co-requisites
Must be enrolled in courses 0040, 1074, 3856, 4531 or 4533.
Synopsis
THEME 1: 'Health Enhancement Program' develops strategies for personal health enhancement and ethical/legal issues relevant to professional responsibility, the doctor-patient relationship and public accountability.
THEME 2: 'Population Health' develops an understanding of epidemiology, construction of epidemiological study design, function and interpretation of statistical information and critical appraisal of research publications.
THEME 3: The scientific basis of clinical practice of the musculo-skeletal, cardiovascular medicine and human life span.
THEME 4: 'Clinical Skills' develops comprehensive medical history taking skills and examination of the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and peripheral nervous system. Develop an awareness of key ethical issues involved in communication with patients, family members, carers and health professionals. Rural attachment: a week based at a rural centre will focus on developing an understanding of the practice of medicine in a rural context.
Outcomes
Theme I:
Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- Recognise the legal requirements and protocols in clinical practice including documentation, patient care and safety
- Respect and maintain privacy and confidentiality (peers, university & health care staff, external stakeholders, patients, clients)
- Discuss issues related to justice, the importance and role of advocacy within the health system
- Practice principles of ethical decision making and consultation with peers and teachers
- Describe characteristics of a respectful, non-judgemental and empathic approach to others
- Maintain an appropriate standard of behaviour including demeanour, appearance and meeting commitments.
- Communicate clearly, effectively and appropriately in oral, written and electronic formats
- Identify the types of risks and errors in health care settings and the role of health care professionals in ensuring the quality of patient care
- Recognise the importance of research and quality improvement
- Recognise the need to evaluate and critically reflect upon judgements and health care practices relating to patient outcomes
- Recognise peers experiencing difficulty and identify available support services
- Describe appropriate environments and use strategies for sensitive and effective communication and interaction with others (simulated patients, peers, teaching staff)
- Identify the roles and responsibilities health care team members and their professions and show the ability to work collaboratively within a team
- Engage in learning opportunities and participate in peer learning, leadership and teaching activities
- Recognise own strengths and limitations, including personal factors which impact upon performance, and seek support for improvement
- Take responsibility for own self-care and health issues.
Theme II:
Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- Describe the concept of primary healthcare and the interrelated themes of social justice and human rights in the context of population health
- Describe the effects of the key social determinants of health on health status and outcomes in marginalised groups, including the Indigenous population
- Explain the effects of cultural, geographic and economic factors on access to healthcare and health status
- Discuss the components, organisation and goals of health systems, and the relationship between health system quality and health outcomes
- Define levels of disease prevention
- Explain key concepts in medical screening and diagnostic programs including validity and reliability of these programs.
- Describe the relationship between exposure, causation and risk factors for disease and morbidity in populations
- Describe the purpose of health promotion programs
- Describe key concepts in population health, epidemiology and measurement of health and disease in populations
- Describe key concepts in biostatistics and interpret biostatistical information in medical research publications
- Describe the characteristics of different study designs used in population health and clinical research
- Describe the role of health care services in maintaining health and in monitoring, managing and preventing disease
- Describe the interaction between health care consumers and health care services
- Identify sources of information used to support clinical decision making and management in health care
- Identify human and organisational factors that may impact upon patient care
- Outline the principles involved in efficient allocation of health care funding
- Outline the structure of medical literature and the roles of the different academic styles of writing
- Search for medical research information and data from personal, print and electronic sources
- Organise and manage information sourced from medical research publications and popular information sources
- Critique information on health and health care provided to the public.
Theme III:
Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- Explain the function of peripheral sensory systems, sensory pathways, motor pathways and the importance of sensory feedback
- Describe the general and detailed organization of the limbs and back
- Identify and test the muscle groups acting on the joints of the upper and lower limb, the cranio-vertebral and the intervertebral joints, and their normal range of movement
- Identify the surface markings of the major joints, nerves, blood vessels, ligaments and bony features of the upper and lower limbs and vertebral column and understand the application of imaging technologies to the musculoskeletal systems
- Discuss the detailed structure and function of the tissues of the musculoskeletal system, including bone, muscle, tendon, articular cartilage, ligaments and connective tissue
- Explain key concepts of human psychology and the neurobiological basis of human behaviour
- Discuss the pathogenesis of diseases caused by bacteria and microbes
- Outline the pharmacological agents used in the treatment of infectious disease
- Describe the trajectory of development, and its importance to an understanding of the individual as a complete human being within a social setting
- Describe the structure and function of the healthy cardiovascular system
- Discuss the mechanisms and effects of selected common pathologies affecting the cardiovascular system
- Outline therapeutic agents commonly used to deal with disorders of the cardiovascular system
- Give an account of the interactions of the cardiovascular system in the maintenance of homeostasis
- Discuss the structure and function of neurons, signaling mechanisms, drug actions and receptors mechanisms, and the organization, inter relationship and general function of all divisions of the nervous system.
Theme IV:
Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:
- Conduct a structured patient centred interview in simulated environments
- Elicit a structured, comprehensive and logical history in simulated environments
- Perform an appropriate examination for specified systems in simulated environments.
- Perform specified clinical procedures and tasks in simulated environments
- For specified conditions, identify relevant investigations for the patient's presenting problems or conditions
- Identify the required information for completion of requests for investigations.
- Provide a basic interpretation of results for specified investigations
- Outline the reasons for prioritising patient care
- Generate a problem list
- Formulate a differential diagnosis (list)
- Identify the function of management plans in patient care
- For specified conditions identify clinically appropriate medications
- Explain the importance of monitoring patients
- Explain the importance of fluid and electrolyte management
- Identify the importance of procedures and documentation for continuity of care
- Provide structured and effective case presentations
- Recognise the basic elements of patient files
Rural Attachment:
Upon completion of this Rural Attachment, students should be able to:
- Recognise the importance of place to health, illness, injury and health service delivery
- Describe the health, illness, community services and facilities available in a rural location
- Recognise how rural health differs across gender, age, race and sexual orientation
- Compare and contrast medicine in a rural context with their metropolitan experiences to date.
Fieldwork
This unit requires students to undertake off-campus clinical placements. In the clinical setting students will have an opportunity to apply theory to practice under supervision. Attendance is mandatory for the clinical component of each unit.Students must be aware of the faculty's Clinical Placement Guidelines.Students will not be permitted to attend any clinical placements unless they have current valid Working with Children and Police checks, and have a satisfactory immunisation status, all of which must be submitted to Faculty.
Assessment
Assessment is combined across MED1011 and MED1022
Progressive Short Tests across the semester (7%)
Written end of semester exam (3 hours) (15%)
Integrative Written exam (2 hours) (2%)
Rural Written Assignment (various word limits) (5%)
Evaluating Popular Information Written Assignment (2000 words) (10%)
Human Life Span Development Written Assignment (1200 words) (5%)
Clinical Skills Simulated Encounters and Competencies (14%)
Students must achieve a pass grade in specific written examinations and clinical skills encounters and competencies.
Hurdle requirement: Students must attend a minimum of 80% of designated small group teaching activities to pass this unit