Unit Outline
CXA243
Pathophysiology for Health Care 2
Semester 2, 2024
Michele Dowlman
School of Health Sciences
College of Health and Medicine
CRICOS Provider Code: 00586B

Unit Coordinator
Michele Dowlman
Email: Michele.Dowlman@utas.edu.au
 

What is the Unit About?
Unit Description
Pathophysiology for Health Care 2 continues the study of the pathophysiological processes within body systems, focusing on pathological alterations of the digestive, nervous, endocrine, musculoskeletal and reproductive systems, as well as pathologies caused by microorganisms and pathophysiological processes that affect several body systems. You will explore current evidence-informed approaches used to help re-establish homeostasis, including pharmacotherapy, will be explored. A clinical reasoning framework will be used to analyse clinical scenarios to inform the delivery of evidence-informed health care. You will be expected to develop written and oral skills that will facilitate intraprofessional, interprofessional and patient communication of biological and therapeutic information.
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 pathophysiological processes, signs and symptoms of acute and chronic health conditions affecting the digestive, nervous, endocrine, musculoskeletal and reproductive systems, and multiple body systems.
2.
Integrate biological information to explain common diagnostic procedures and therapeutic interventions used in the management of patients with acute and chronic health conditions affecting the digestive, nervous, endocrine, musculoskeletal, and reproductive systems, and multiple body systems.
3.
Communicate using scientific and clinical terminology relevant to alterations in the digestive, nervous, endocrine, musculoskeletal and reproductive systems, and pathophysiological processes that affect multiple body systems.
Requisites
REQUISITE TYPE
REQUISITES
Pre-requisite
CXA133 Anatomy and Physiology for Health Care 1 AND CXA136 Anatomy and Physiology for Health Care 2
Alterations as a result of student feedback
 
 
 

Teaching arrangements
ATTENDANCE MODE
TEACHING TYPE
LEARNING ACTIVITY
CONTACT HOURS
FREQUENCY
On Campus
Independent Learning
Students expected to devote around 8-9 hours per week to the study materials, assessment tasks and self-directed learning.
9
Weekly
Tutorial
No Description
2
Study Period 6 times
Seminar
Webinar
1
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.
 
 
 
 

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:
Team-Based Learning
Week 2
15 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:
Nervous System Case Studies
Week 5
25 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:
Presentation
Week 8
25 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 4:
Digestive, Musculoskeletal and Reproductive Case Studies
Week 13
35 %
LO1, LO2, LO3
 
Assessment details
Assessment Task 1: Team-Based Learning
Task Description:
In this assessment task you will attempt three online quizzes related to the content of tutorials and the online content that you are required to engage with before tutorials.
The first quiz (Individual Readiness Quiz, IRQ 3% of final mark) must be attempted individually before the week in which you will attend every second tutorial. It will comprise 10 questions related to a case scenario. During every second tutorial, you will be allocated time for discussion with your peers about the case study, and the quiz questions. Group discussion and problem solving are integral aspects of working in a health care team. Following the discussion, you will undertake the same quiz (Team Readiness Quiz, TRQ, 2% of final mark), a second time.

The case study and quiz answers will be discussed in an online session when all groups have completed the relevant intensive workshops. A schedule will be provided on the unit MyLO site.

This structure will be repeated for every second tutorial.
Task Length:
10 multiple choice questions per quiz.
Due Date:
Week 2
Weight:
15 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Apply knowledge to identify the pathophysiological basis for the patient’s health condition.
LO1, LO2, LO3
2
Apply knowledge to identify the rationale for therapeutic approaches
LO2, LO3
 
Assessment Task 2: Nervous System Case Studies
Task Description:
Case Studies.
In this assessment task you will be provided with nervous system case studies which include relevant patient information. You will apply clinical reasoning to explain the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the presentation, progression, and rationale for therapy for the patients. The assessment will be structured online via MyLO and includes a variety of written responses. The questions will require you to:
• consider the patient situation and identify cues (signs and symptoms) from clinical information provided.
• process this information by analysing and explaining the relevant physiology and pathophysiology underpinning the patient presentation and progression.
• apply knowledge of physiology to explain the rationale of suggested therapeutic approaches for that patient.
It is expected that you will engage with scholarly literature to substantiate your clinical reasoning in the long answer question.
Further information and guidance for completing this assessment task will be provided at a later date via MyLO.
Task Length:
550 words.
Due Date:
Week 5
Weight:
25 %
 
 

CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify signs and symptoms and describe relevant anatomical structures, physiological and pathophysiological processes
LO1, LO3
2
Explain the pathophysiological basis for the patient’s health condition
LO1, LO2, LO3
3
Explain the rationale for therapeutic approaches
LO2, LO3
4
Use appropriate terminology to explain the patient’s health condition and rationale for therapeutic approaches
LO3
 
Assessment Task 3: Presentation
Task Description:
Presentation

In this assessment task you will be provided with suggested therapeutic approaches for a case study which includes relevant patient information. You will apply clinical reasoning to explain the rationale for therapy. This individual assessment will require you to submit a short role-playing video and/or audio recording (5min) for patient education and/or communication with another professional within a multi-disciplinary health care team. Within the task you will be required to explain, using language appropriate for the other person:
• the pathophysiological basis for the patient’s health condition.
• rationale for therapeutic approaches for that patient.
Further information and guidance for completing this assessment task will be provided at a later date via MyLO.
Task Length:
Electronic submission of video and/or audio recording of 5 min in length
Due Date:
Week 8
Weight:
25 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Explain the pathophysiological basis for the patient’s health condition with reference to relevant anatomical structures and physiological processes
LO1, LO2, LO3
2
Explain the rationale for therapeutic approaches.
LO2, LO3
3
Use appropriate terminology to explain the patient’s health condition and rationale for therapeutic approaches.
LO3
 
Assessment Task 4: Digestive, Musculoskeletal and Reproductive Case Studies
Task Description:
Case Studies.
In this assessment task you will be provided with several case studies which include relevant patient information. You will apply clinical reasoning to explain the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying patient presentation, progression, and rationale for therapy for each case. The assessment will be structured online via MyLO and will include a variety of written responses.
Task Length:
The assessment will contain up to 20 multiple choice and multi-select questions across the case studies and a written submission of 750 words.
Due Date:
Week 13
Weight:
35 %
 
CRITERION #
CRITERION
MEASURES INTENDED
LEARNING OUTCOME(S)
1
Identify signs and symptoms and describe relevant anatomical structures, physiological and pathophysiological processes.
LO1, LO3
2
Explain the pathophysiological basis for the patients’ health conditions.
LO1, LO2, LO3
3
Explain reasons for common diagnostic procedures and evidence-informed therapeutic approaches.
LO1, LO2, 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
Amerman, EC 2019, Human Anatomy & Physiology (2nd Global Edition), Pearson Education, Essex.
Bullock, S, Hales, M 2019, Principles of Pathophysiology, 2nd Ed, Pearson, Australia
 
Recommended reading materials
 
 
Other required resources