LSB555 Principles and Practice of Clinical Haematology

Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Haematology is the study of blood. It investigates the causes and pathologies associated with blood cell dyscrasias and haemostatic abnormalities that lead to an increased risk of bleeding or thrombosis. For you to work with confidence in diagnostic haematology and meet future employer expectations. You will require knowledge of the most common conditions and scenarios encountered in haematology, along with the ability to recognise and interpret associated results and confirmatory tests. This unit is positioned in the developmental phase of LS47 and assumes knowledge and proficiency in the laboratory-based skills you have acquired and developed in your second-year units. Combined with LSB655 next semester, LSB555 will prepare you for future employment in a haematology and/or multidisciplinary pathology laboratory.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Analyse, interpret and problem-solve in the diagnostic haematology context, including the associated instrumentation, analysers and tests used, and sources of error that influence result integrity.
2. Select, apply and perform tests and techniques appropriate for the investigation of routinely encountered blood cell and haemostatic abnormalities.
3. Display professional and ethical behaviours appropriate for medical laboratory scientists in the workplace and your ongoing studies at QUT
4. Communicate your knowledge, learning and decision-making process, through purposeful written contexts appropriate for medical laboratory scientists.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit is taught using a combination of online and face-to-face lectures, tutorials and practical classes. Your learning will focus on the investigation and interpretation of real-life case studies, which require you to apply your theoretical knowledge and demonstrate your practical skills. Your learning materials and activities will be available on Canvas in advance of all classes (e.g., videos, notes, case studies, journal articles, questions). You should listen, watch, read or complete those before the associated class to maximise your learning. In addition to your classroom-based activities, you will also have access to Canvas resources designed to help you monitor your own progress (e.g., self-test quizzes. blood film videos and case studies). You should also make use of the microscope study room in GP-Q708 for 1-2 hours per week to review the cases we complete in practical class, practice your morphology and blood cell recognition, and reporting of your findings/conclusions.

This unit is taught in a way that encourages you to acquire and develop the capabilities employers value in graduate medical laboratory scientists. These include discipline specific knowledge and practical skills, the ability to troubleshoot and problem-solve, effective communication skills, and the ability to work independently or as part of a team in an ethical, culturally safe and professional manner. Consequently, your learning activities and assessment will focus on developing and demonstrating those skills and capabilities.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will receive regular feedback on your learning and progress in this unit e.g., for your case study portfolio, via Canvas announcements, during in-class discussions and as you complete your learning activities and interact with teaching staff in tutorials and practical classes. You can also receive immediate feedback by completing the self-directed learning activities available on Canvas (e.g., self-test quizzes, case studies, blood film videos). You should use these to test yourself and identify any gaps in your knowledge or skills you need to focus on. You will also have the opportunity to share your experience and thoughts of the unit by providing your feedback in the Student Voice Survey. Where appropriate, your feedback and suggestions will be used to inform updates or changes to the unit to improve the learning outcomes for you and future students.

Assessment

Overview

Due to the applied laboratory nature of the learning in this unit and requirements of AIMS course accreditation, you should attend and complete all practical classes held on campus in GP-Q703 and/or online. Attendance of these classes will be recorded. Students with excessive absences, who have not completed an appropriate level of laboratory learning and preparation, will not be eligible to sit the practical examination.

A minimum of 50% for the theory and practical sections of the unit is required to successfully pass overall. Threshold assessment conditions also apply to the grading in this unit. If you fail either section and have meaningfully attempted all assessment tasks and obtained 45-49% for the failed section, with an overall unit result ≥50%. You will have the opportunity to complete one additional assessment task to demonstrate you can pass the failed section (designated by the unit coordinator). If you pass this task, you will receive a final grade of 4 (Pass). If you do not achieve a passing mark, you will be awarded a final grade of 3 (Marginal Fail).

Practical class attendance and assessment
Participation in practical classes is an integral and required part of your learning in LSB555. If you are unable to attend a scheduled face-to-face and/or online (virtual) practical class, you must inform the unit coordinator by email and provide supporting documentation for your absence at the earliest opportunity or next practical class, e.g., medical certificate. For approved absences, alternate arrangements will be accommodated on up to two (2) occasions (if possible, and dependent on the activities completed and/or test samples used). Absences in excess of two (2) occasions, will require a meeting with the unit coordinator. In the case of unapproved absences, no marks will be given for related assessment.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Case Study Portfolio

To complete this task, you will assume the role of a graduate medical laboratory scientist working in haematology laboratory and report and complete nine (9) unknown cases. For each case, you will review the full blood count and blood film, suggest further tests to be performed, and report your findings and conclusions (to be returned to the medical practitioner who referred the patient for testing). Each case will also have short answer questions to test your theoretical understanding of each condition and/or the rationale and principle of the tests and instrumentation used to investigate them.

Threshold Assessment:

Threshold conditions apply.

Assessment: Examination (written/theory)

Three (3) hour examination consisting of fifteen (15) questions that assess the theoretical learning of the unit and your ability to communicate that understanding in a written format.

Threshold Assessment:

Threshold conditions apply.

Assessment: Examination (practical)

Three (3) hour laboratory-based examination, with five (5) unknown case studies to complete. For two (2) of the cases, you will request test results during the exam, that you will use to justify and explain your findings/conclusions/diagnosis. Note, you must submit your completed Laboratory Task & Maintenance Record at the end of your final practical class to demonstrate you are eligible to sit this examination.

Threshold Assessment:

Threshold conditions apply.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Requirements

Practicals will require personal protective equipment supplied by each student:
1. Laboratory Gown - Rear fastening 100% cotton or polyester/cotton mix
2. Safety eye protection glasses - selected and used in accordance with Australian Safety Standards
3. Fully enclosed non-slip shoes

Costs

Cost of obtaining lab gown and safety glasses is the responsibility of the student.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

This unit includes a laboratory component. In order that you become proficient in necessary practical skills, you will be trained in the handling of equipment, materials and specimens normally associated with this discipline. You are required to view a Health & Safety Induction video and complete an online health and safety quiz prior to being permitted into the laboratory, to access please follow this link Health & Safety Induction. A passing score of 10/10 is required and will be checked prior to entry to the first laboratory session. You may repeat the quiz until this score is achieved. You are also referred to the Faculty of Health's Health & Safety Web Site for further information.

If you have an underlying health condition you are encouraged to consult the lecturer in charge of the unit, as you may be required to take additional precautions on occasions.

Course Learning Outcomes

LS47 Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science

1. Discipline Knowledge
   Relates to: Case Study Portfolio, Examination (written/theory), Examination (practical)
2. Professional (including OHS and QA) Knowledge
   Relates to: Examination (written/theory)
3. Technical proficiency
   Relates to: Examination (written/theory)
4. Interpretation and application of protocols
   Relates to: Case Study Portfolio, Examination (written/theory), Examination (practical)
5. Analysis and interpretation of data
   Relates to: Case Study Portfolio, Examination (written/theory), Examination (practical)
6. Synthesis, judgement, and explanation
   Relates to: Case Study Portfolio, Examination (written/theory), Examination (practical)
7. Scientific communication skills including information literacy and numeracy
   Relates to: Case Study Portfolio
8. Team work/Group work
   Relates to: Case Study Portfolio