Unit Outline
CSA120
Complementary Medicines in Contemporary Society
Semester 2, 2024
Sue Evans
School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
College of Health and Medicine
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
Sue Evans
Email: Sue.Evans@utas.edu.au
 

What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
Pulling together the disciplines of sociology, law and complementary medicine this unit is designed for students who want to understand, debate and critically analyse the use and place of complementary medicines in healthcare today. Learning modules include: understanding the use of complementary medicines in Australia, the question of evidence and the role of ethics and the law in regulating the availability, safety and advertising of complementary medicines. A particular focus is on the ecological and environmental issues that arise from increased use of these products.
Intended Learning Outcomes
As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.
On completion of this unit, you will be able to:
1.
Explain what Complementary Medicines are and discuss changes in their use over the last 30 years, with a particular focus on Australia.
2.
Identify and analyse the role of different types of evidence in influencing decision making by Australian consumers about their use of Complementary Medicines.
3.
Assess the role of ethics and the law in regulating the availability, safety and advertising of Complementary Medicines in Australia and more broadly.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Anti-requisite (mutual excl)
XBR120
Alterations as a result of student feedback
In response to the feedback from previous student cohort, changes have been made which may include adjustments to assessments and alignment of some of the timelines. As always, the teaching team will greatly appreciate your feedback both informally during the delivery of the unit in 2024, and formally through the University of Tasmania’s eVALUate surveys following your completion of the unit. 
 
 
 

Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
Online
Independent Learning
This unit is offered online and students are expected to complete approximately 10 hours of independent learning per week.
10
Weekly
Attendance / engagement expectations
If your unit is offered On campus, it is expected that you will attend all on-campus and onsite learning activities. This is to support your own learning and the development of a learning community within the unit. If you are unable to attend regularly, please discuss the situation with your course coordinator and/or our UConnect support team.

If your unit is offered Online or includes online activities, it is expected you will engage in all those activities as indicated in the Unit Outline or MyLO, including any self-directed learning.

If you miss a learning activity for a legitimate reason (e.g., illness, carer responsibilities) teaching staff will attempt to provide alternative activities (e.g., make up readings) where it is possible.
 
In this unit your active engagement will be monitored by an introductory post, uploading your certificate of completion of the academic integrity module, and the completion of the engagement quiz. 
 
 

How will I be Assessed?
 
For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.
Assessment schedule
ASSESSMENT TASK #
ASSESSMENT TASK NAME
DATE DUE
WEIGHT
LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:
Online quizzes
Week 4
20 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:
Reflection
Week 8
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:
Analysis
Week 13
40 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Online quizzes
Task Description:
You will complete four (4) online quizzes.
10 questions in each quiz
Due Weeks 4, 7, 9 and 13
Task Length:
10 questions each quiz
Due Date:
Week 4
Weight:
20 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Demonstrate knowledge regarding complementary medicines.
LO1
2
Explain the role of different types of evidence in influencing decisions for people to use complementary medicine.
LO2
3
Explain how ethical and legal regulations, in Australia, impact availability, safety and advertising of Complementary Medicines.
LO3
 
Assessment Task 2: Reflection
Task Description:
This task will assess your knowledge about evidence and complementary medicines.
Task Length:
2000 words
Due Date:
Week 8
Weight:
40 %
 
 

CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Define complementary medicines and explain why you chose this particular complementary medicine.
LO1
2
Discuss the types of evidence used in complementary medicine.
LO2
3
Analyse personal decision making with regard to use of complementary medicines.
LO2
4
Apply an ethical lens to decisions around use of complementary medicines.
LO3
 
Assessment Task 3: Analysis
Task Description:
This task will assess your knowledge of the legal, regulatory and ethical issues associated with the use of complementary medicine products.
Task Length:
2000 words
Due Date:
Week 13
Weight:
40 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify the legal, regulatory and ethical environment governing complementary medicine products.
LO1
2
Demonstrate an understanding of the regulation and ethics affecting complementary medicines.
LO2, LO3
3
Appraise the regulatory regime for complementary medicines in Australia.
LO3
 
 
 

How your final result is determined
To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.
Submission of assignments
Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.
Academic integrity
Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see
Important Guidelines & Support.
Requests for extensions
If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.
 
A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.
 
The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.
Late penalties
Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.
Review of results and appeals
You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.
 
 

 
 

Required Resources
Required reading materials
There is no required text for this unit. All readings are available from the Reading List, and each reading is labelled as required, recommended, or as further reading.
 
Recommended reading materials
 
 
Other required resources