LSB655 Applied Clinical Haematology

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Overview

Haematology is the study of blood and investigates non-malignant and malignant blood cell disorders, and abnormalities of the haemostatic system leading to an increased risk of bleeding or thrombosis. In order for you to work effectively and with confidence in a diagnostic haematology laboratory. It is essential you are able to identify and investigate the less frequently encountered disorders and complex malignancy cases. This unit is positioned in the developmental phase of the course and assumes knowledge and practical skills from LSB555.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Critically analyse and interpret patients' clinical information and results obtained in a haematology laboratory, as well as potential sources of pre-analytical variation that negatively influence result integrity;
2. Define and describe frequently encountered dyscrasias and haemostatic abnormalities, and the results of investigations performed to identify, diagnose and monitor them
3. Display professional and ethical behaviours appropriate for medical laboratory scientists in the workplace and your ongoing studies at QUT
4. Communicate your knowledge and learning in a range of formats appropriate for medical laboratory scientists and a range of purposes and audiences

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit is taught using a combination of online (virtual) lectures, tutorials, workshops and face to face practical classes. Your learning will focus on the investigation and interpretation of real-life case studies, which require you to apply your learning and demonstrate your practical skills. Your learning materials and activities will be available on Canvas in advance, e.g. videos, lecture recordings, case studies, journal articles and/or 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 self-directed online resources designed to assist you to monitor your own academic progress, e.g. self-test quizzes, discussion forum and case studies. You should also make use of Q708 to practice your morphology, differential white cell counts and blood cell recognition skills, and to reflect on the case studies and clinical scenarios investigated in class each week.

This unit is taught in a way that encourages you to acquire and develop the graduate capabilities highly valued in medical laboratory scientists by employers. These include discipline specific knowledge and practical skills, the ability to troubleshoot and problem-solve, effective written and oral communication skills; as well as the ability to work independently or as part of a team in an ethical, culturally safe and professional manner. Consequently, your learning activities (theory and practical) and assessment tasks will be focused on developing and demonstrating these skills and capabilities.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

You will be provided with feedback in a number of ways in this unit, including your assessment tasks, via Canvas announcements, in-class feedback sessions and while participating in learning activities with your classmates and teaching team. You can also receive immediate feedback by completing the self-directed learning activities (e.g. self-test quizzes) available on Canvas. You should use these resources to identify areas you might need to focus your studies. During, and at the end of semester you will have the opportunity to share your experiences and thoughts by providing your feedback on the teaching and content of this unit in the Student Voice Survey. Your ideas feedback and suggestions may be used to make changes to the unit (e.g. classroom activities, practicals or assessment) where appropriate to improve the learning outcomes for you and future students.

Assessment

Overview

Due to the applied clinical laboratory nature of LSB655 and requirements of course accreditation, you should attend and complete all scheduled face-to-face and/or online (virtual) practical classes for this unit. Your attendance of these classes will be recorded and you will submit your completed training/maintenance record at the end of the semester. Students with incomplete task/maintenance records will not be eligible to sit the practical component of the final exam.

Threshold assessment conditions apply to the grading in this unit. A minimum of 50% in both theory and practical assessment tasks is required to successfully complete this unit. If you fail either the practical or theory assessment components, and have meaningfully attempted all assessment tasks, and have obtained a result of 45-49% for the failed section, and your overall unit mark is greater than or equal to 50%, you have the opportunity to complete one additional assessment (designated by the unit coordinator); if you pass this, you will receive an overall grade of (4) for the unit. If you do not pass the additional assessment you will not be eligible to pass the unit and will be awarded a final grade of (3). You are advised to seek feedback from the unit coordinator prior to undertaking the additional threshold assessment

Practical Class Attendance and Assessment
Participation in the practical classes is an integral part of your learning experience in LSB655, if you are unable to attend a scheduled face-to-face and/or online (virtual) practical class, inform the unit coordinator by email and provide supporting documentation for your absence at the earliest opportunity, e.g. medical certificate. Approved absences in excess of two occasions will need to be discussed with the unit coordinator. In the case of unapproved absence from practicals, no marks will be given for related assessment.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Quiz

You will complete three quizzes designed to assess your ability to recognise and correctly identify different blood cells, perform laboratory assays, interpret case studies and explain the results you obtain. The questions and activities will assess your theory and practical learning. (Formative and summative)

Threshold Assessment:

Threshold conditions apply

Assessment: Poster Presentation

You will prepare a poster on a topic negotiated with the unit coordinator in a format appropriate for scientific communication within the field of clinical diagnostic haematology and medical science. (Formative and summative)

Threshold Assessment:

Threshold conditions apply

Assessment: Theory / Lab Exam

You will complete a two-part examination that will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your theoretical knowledge and practical/laboratory-based skills in the clinical diagnostic haematology context. Note, you must submit your completed laboratory training/maintenance record form at the end of the practical class in week 13 to demonstrate you are eligible to sit the practical/laboratory section of this final examination (Summative)

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

Costs

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

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Carr J.H. (2022). Clinical Hematology Atlas (6th ed.). Elsevier. (NB: the 5th ed. of this atlas published in 2017 is also suitable).

Keohane E.M., Otto, C.N., and Walenga J.M. (2020). Hematology: Clinical Principles and Applications (6th ed.). Elsevier Saunders.

Safety and protective equipment

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

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: Quiz, Poster Presentation, Theory / Lab Exam
2. Professional (including OHS and QA) Knowledge
   Relates to: Quiz
3. Technical proficiency
   Relates to: Quiz, Theory / Lab Exam
4. Interpretation and application of protocols
   Relates to: Quiz, Theory / Lab Exam
5. Analysis and interpretation of data
   Relates to: Quiz, Theory / Lab Exam
6. Synthesis, judgement, and explanation
   Relates to: Quiz, Poster Presentation, Theory / Lab Exam
7. Scientific communication skills including information literacy and numeracy
   Relates to: Poster Presentation
8. Professional behaviours
   Relates to: Poster Presentation
9. Team work/Group work
   Relates to: Poster Presentation
10. Peer Review
    Relates to: Poster Presentation