Unit Outline

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

In this iteration of the unit we have reduced significantly the amount of external readings that students had to do to obtain the examinable knowledge. Instead, the key points from those textbook or article sections have been included in the MyLO page text, and the reading has been left as an option to explore the topic in-depth. This should reduce the amount of time dedicated to each topic prior to the tutorials in the intensive weeks.
We also replaced the face-to-face, final exam with a case-scenario based online task that assesses the content of modules 4 and 5, with reference to the rest of the modules in the unit. This will mitigate the stress that many students experienced during the written examination.

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 3	15 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Nervous System Case Studies	Week 4	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Presentation	Week 8	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 4:	Digestive, Musculoskeletal and Reproductive Case Studies	Week 12	35 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Team-Based Learning

Task Description:

In this assessment task you will attempt two online quizzes related to the content of each intensive workshop and the online content that you are required to engage with before each workshop.
The first quiz (Individual Readiness Quiz, IRQ 3% of final mark) must be attempted individually before the week in which you will attend each workshop. It will comprise 10 questions related to a case scenario. During the intensive workshop, 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 each intensive workshop.

Individual Readiness Quiz: 15 min per quiz; Team Readiness Quiz: 15 min per quiz
Individual Readiness Quiz: Monday 8am of the week of each Intensive;
Team Readiness Quiz: Friday 5pm of the week of each intensive.

Task Length:

10 multiple choice questions per quiz.

Due Date:

Week 3

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 4

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 12

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.

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.