CSN024 Advanced Cardiac Ultrasound

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Online

Overview

This unit extends and builds on the content of units CSN022 and CSN023 by introducing more advanced applications of echocardiography. In particular, this unit covers the role of echocardiography in the assessment of complex cardiac diseases such as pericardial disease, cardiac masses, systemic diseases with cardiac involvement and congenital heart defects. This unit also explores the roles of other cardiac diagnostic imaging methods that are complementary to echocardiography.  

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Apply specialised knowledge and an advanced understanding of the principles and applications of echocardiographic techniques including the limitations of these techniques in the assessment of specific pathologies.
2. Describe the indications, techniques and limitations of the echocardiographic assessment of congenital heart lesions, including post surgical repair, in the adult patient.
3. Describe the basic principles, clinical applications and indications, and the limitations of specialised and advanced echocardiographic techniques.
4. Explain the main principles, advantages and disadvantages of other modern diagnostic assessment methods that may be used in the assessment of the heart.

Content

Learning Approaches

The unit delivery is primarily in the form of recorded lectures which are available from the start of semester allowing some flexibility in your approach to the content.  Computer-based materials are available for self-paced review and further studies. You will also engage throughout the semester with online-tutorial quizzes which provide instant feedback on your understanding of the content material. There is also an online measurements tutorial website which allows you to practice your measurement techniques on real-life images in a simulated environment and receive instant feedback by viewing the expert-level measurement for that image.
Workplace learning with the support of your clinical supervisor forms an important part of the teaching process.

Clinical supervisors are Accredited Cardiac Sonographers or Echocardiologists as approved by QUT. Clinical supervisors are responsible, in consultation with the student, for ensuring an adequate range and volume of clinical experience is obtained. Supervisors, in consultation with QUT academic staff and the student, are required to monitor and evaluate your clinical progress.
You will also be required to record evidence of your clinical experience in an Evidence of Clinical Competency Portfolio. This will act as an electronic record of your clinical experience throughout the course.

You will engage with the teaching team and other students through the use of the online discussion forum for this unit.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Instant feedback will be available through the completion of self-paced, weekly, online quizzes.  You will also receive peer feedback through participation in discussion board forums.   Feedback relating to the problem solving exercises will be provided via the Canvas unit site.    

Assessment

Overview

Previous theory exam papers are available on the Canvas site for this unit. An answer outline/guide for questions for the recent past exam papers will be provided to highlight the information required to answer these questions.

Threshold assessment conditions:
In this unit, for you to be eligible to receive a passing grade, threshold assessment conditions apply to assessment items 1 and 3. For these assessment items, if you do not achieve the pass level of 50%, you are able to make one resubmission for the minimum pass level, only when the achieved mark is within 10% of the pass level for the assessment item. You are advised to seek feedback on your submission from the unit coordinator prior to resubmission.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Problem Solving Task

(Formative and summative). This case-based problem solving task involves the interpretation of 'real life' echocardiographic examinations, the performance of relevant echocardiographic calculations and recognition of the limitations of the examination in answering the clinical question.

Grades are allocated using the QUT 1 - 7 scale against a detailed marking criteria.  A moderation process including cross-marking of submissions ensures individual markers apply standards consistently and fairly.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Threshold Assessment:

Threshold assessment conditions apply. If you do not achieve the pass level of 50% for this assessment, you are able to make one resubmission of this assessment item for the minimum pass level, only when the achieved mark is within 10% of the pass level. You are advised to seek feedback on your submission from the unit coordinator prior to resubmission.

Assessment: Quiz/Test

(Formative and summative). A series of multiple choice questions are presented as self-paced exercises on the Canvas site. These questions specifically relate to Advanced Imaging Techniques.

Assessment: Examination (Theory)

(Summative) End of semester examination. The examination includes a combination of multiple choice and short answer questions, clinical image or case interpretation and hemodynamic calculations.

A detailed marking criteria is used for the allocation of grades.  A moderation process including cross-marking of submissions ensures individual markers apply standards consistently and fairly.

Threshold Assessment:

Threshold assessment conditions apply. If you do not achieve the pass level of 50% for this assessment, you are able to make one resubmission of this assessment item for the minimum pass level, only when the achieved mark is within 10% of the pass level. You are advised to seek feedback on your submission from the unit coordinator prior to resubmission.

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.

Resources

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit.