LQB404 Clinical Physiology Professional skills
To view more information for this unit, select Unit Outline from the list below. Please note the teaching period for which the Unit Outline is relevant.
| Unit code: | LQB404 |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite(s): | LQB388 |
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Timetable | Details in HiQ, if available |
| Availabilities |
|
| CSP student contribution | $1,118 |
| Domestic tuition unit fee | $4,680 |
| International unit fee | $5,760 |
Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal
| Unit code: | LQB404 |
|---|---|
| Credit points: | 12 |
| Pre-requisite: | LQB388 Medical Physiology I |
| Coordinator: | Lisa Chopin | l.chopin@qut.edu.au |
Overview
Clinical physiologists work in private practice and hospitals to perform a range of clinical tests to inform the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management of patients. These professionals work in cardiac, sleep, neurosciences and respiratory science or multidisciplinary practice as members of multidisciplinary teams. You will gain a number of competencies, which are now recognised and required by professional bodies. This unit will develop professional skills including working in teams to perform diagnostic tests, communicating with patients and staff and an understanding of cultural issues and sensitivities, privacy and confidentiality and infection control. Practical competencies developed include the application of key techniques commonly used in cardiac sciences, neuroscience, respiratory science and sleep science. Problem solving and critical thinking skills developed in this unit will be useful for a wide range of graduate outcomes.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:
- Apply employability skills including professional communication and appropriate communication with patients.
- Apply principles of cultural sensitivity, infection control, indigenous perspectives and ethical practice.
- Accurately perform and critically interpret clinical physiology tests applying current guidelines, principles of infection control, quality control, and acceptability and repeatability criteria.
- Interpret clinical tests used in clinical physiology practice, explaining their application, results and outcomes and make informed decisions regarding the appropriate choice of treatment.
Content
This unit builds skills and competencies in clinical physiology, including resume writing, professional correspondence, clinical skills and problem solving, criticial thinking and trouble shooting skills. You will cover important professional considerations including cultural sensitivity, privacy and ethics, infection control, communication and teamwork. You will gain knowledge of key methods used in respiratory, cardiac, neuroscience (EEG) and sleep science (polysomnography) and treatment approaches for common conditions. You will gain experience in developing clinical competencies including 12 lead ECG (electrocardiogram), blood pressure monitoring and flow volume loop spirometry and experience in electroencephalography and sleep science. You will gain a deeper understanding of these methods and current professional guidelines for the diagnosis of disease including obstructive and restrictive respiratory disease, common heart rhythm disorders, conduction disturbances and myocardial infarction, seizures and epilepsy and obstructive and central sleep apnoea. You will also gain an understanding of the drugs commonly used in clinical practice and their applications.
Learning Approaches
This unit will use a blended approach with online learning modules and practical workshops and practicals. Through online lectures and learning modules you will learn key theoretical elements of clinical physiology, including sleep science, respiratory science, cardiac science and neuroscience. You will understand when key tests are indicated, and contra-indicated, the types of tests applied and how they are used and interpreted. You will also learn about the major diseases and disease processes that they detect. You will undertake online learning modules for employability skills such as writing your resume and practice communicating with patients and record keeping and report writing in practical sessions. This knowledge and your clinical and practical skills will be reinforced through practical workshops. You will work in small teams and by taking on roles as patients and clinicians, you will learn how to interact with patients to perform tests and interpret and report results.
Feedback on Learning and Assessment
Individual feedback on assessment items will be provided through detailed marking criteria and individual comments provided on Canvas through Speed Grader. Formative verbal feedback will be provided by the teaching staff throughout the practical workshop sessions. Practice questions will be available on Canvas in order to provide formative feedback on your learning.
Assessment
Overview
Assessment will be in the form of an electronic portfolio demonstrating professional and practical skills. You will also produce a video demonstrating your understanding and ability to apply professional skills, and demonstrate the ability to communicate appropriately with the patient in order to gain quality results. Knowledge gained and competency in data interpretation, the application of current guidelines in performing and analysing test results, and appropriate treatment approaches will be assessed in the end of semester exam.
Unit Grading Scheme
7- point scale
Assessment Tasks
Assessment: Practical presentation
As a clinical physiologist, you will work with patients to perform spirometry and to ensure that optimal results are gained for reporting. You will demonstrate the steps involved in spirometry, including greeting the patient, obtaining patient data, medical history and consent and explaining the procedure to the patient. You will demonstrate infection control, the use of personal protective equipment and professional attributes. You will maintain records, demonstrate the test correctly to the patient, and ensure that the patient performs the procedure correctly. After determining accuracy of the test you will repeat the test at least 3 times. You will also ensure that the test is repeatable and complete a report on the patient which will also be submitted.
Clinical physiologists are reflective practitioners and recording your work will allow you to reflect on your practice.
This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.
Assessment: Portfolio
Working as clinical physiologists (with students as patients) you will complete worksheets, data sheets, patient forms and record, analyse and report on patient data for a number of different physiological tests during class.
You will demonstrate your skills, knowledge and professionalism in the four different areas of clinical physiology. Each area represents a separate profession with different guidelines, skills development and professional guidelines. These are represented by 4 different modules in the unit:
1. Respiratory science
2. Cardiac science
3. Neuroscience
4. Sleep science
A sound understanding of respiratory, cardiac and neuroscience is required for an understanding of sleep science.
Data is interpreted according to current clinical standards and guidelines relevant to the discipline, including the American Association for Sleep medicine (AASM), the American Thoracic Society (ATS)/European Respiratory Society (ERS), the Global Lung Initiative, the American Heart Association (AHA) and the American Clinical Neurology.
Assessments, tests and worksheets are completed in the training of clinical physiologists in real world practice and trainees undertake regular testing of their knowledge progression.
Assessment: Examination
Final examination based on the theory and practical information addressed in the unit. Short answer questions and interpretation of authentic data from the profession.
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
Laboratory PPE (Lab coat, safety glasses and fully enclosed shoes)
Resources
Material will be available through Canvas
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.