Unit Outline

Pathophysiology for Health Care builds on your knowledge of anatomy and physiology to develop an understanding of the principles of pathophysiology and alterations in the health of the body systems. Clinical reasoning will be used to analyse clinical scenarios to understand the presentation of people with common health problems. You will be expected to develop written and oral skills that will facilitate intraprofessional, interprofessional, and patient communication of biological information. The knowledge that you develop in this unit will support your clinical reasoning and ongoing learning in other units within your course and your practice as a health professional who delivers evidence-informed health care.

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 of acute and chronic health conditions.
2	Analyse health case scenarios to explain the presentation of people with common health conditions.
3	Communicate information relevant to alterations in the body systems using terminology appropriate for other health professionals.

Requisites


REQUISITE TYPE	REQUISITES
Pre-requisite	CXA137 Anatomy and Physiology for Health Care

Alterations as a result of student feedback

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 (TBL)	Week 2	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 2:	Case Scenarios	Week 4	50 %	LO1, LO2, LO3
Assessment Task 3:	Video Presentation	Week 12	30 %	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Team-Based Learning (TBL)

Task Description:

In this assessment task you will attempt an online quiz related to the content of each tutorial and the online content that you are required to engage with before the tutorial.

Each quiz will be attempted twice. The first attempt (Individual Readiness Quiz, IRQ 1% of final mark) must be attempted individually in the week prior to each tutorial. During the tutorial, you will be allocated time for discussion with your peers about the case study, and the quiz questions. Following the discussion, you will attempt the same quiz a second time (Team Readiness Quiz, TRQ, 1% of final mark).

This structure will be repeated for each tutorial for a total of 10 quizzes each delivered twice.

Task Length:

Up to 10 multiple choice questions, but usually 5-6 questions per quiz.

Due Date:

Week 2

Weight:

20 %

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 explain common signs and symptoms presented by patients with the health condition.	LO1, LO2, LO3

Assessment Task 2: Case Scenarios

Task Description:

In this assessment task you will be provided with two case studies that include relevant patient information. You will apply clinical reasoning to explain the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the presentation, and progression of the patient’s condition.
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.
It is expected that you will engage with scholarly literature to substantiate your clinical reasoning in the long answer questions.
Further information and guidance for completing this assessment task is provided via MyLO.

The first case scenario (worth 20% of your final mark for the unit) is due in Week 4.
The second case scenario (worth 30%) is due in Week 8.

Task Length:

1000 words in total (500 words per case scenario).

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

50 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify signs and symptoms and describe relevant anatomical structures, physiological and pathophysiological processes.	LO2, LO3
2	Explain the pathophysiological basis for the patient’s health condition.	LO1, LO3
3	Explain the patient’s health condition and presentation using appropriate terminology.	LO3

Assessment Task 3: Video Presentation

Task Description:

In this assessment task you will be provided with case studies that include relevant patient information. You will apply clinical reasoning to explain the pathophysiological processes leading to the patient presentation and diagnosis.
This individual assessment will require you to submit a short role-playing video and/or audio recording (6 min) for 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.
• the pathophysiological processes leading to the patient’s presentation (signs and symptoms)

Further information and guidance for completing this assessment task will be provided via MyLO.

Task Length:

Electronic submission of video and/or audio recording of 6 min in length in total.

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

30 %

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, LO3
2	Explain the pathophysiological processes leading to the patient’s presentation.	LO2, LO3
3	Explain the patient’s health condition and presentation using appropriate terminology.	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.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

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.