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BIOS3066: Current Issues in Healthcare (2013 - Semester 1)

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Unit: BIOS3066: Current Issues in Healthcare (6 CP)
Mode: Normal-Day
On Offer: Yes
Level: Intermediate
Faculty/School: Biomedical Science
Unit Coordinator/s: Dr Oakes, Diana
Session options: Semester 1
Versions for this Unit:
Site(s) for this Unit:
Campus: Cumberland
Pre-Requisites: None.
Brief Handbook Description: This unit introduces students to selected developments that are impacting, or are likely to impact, on the practice and management of health care in Australia. Because health care is driven by a multitude of forces, the scope of the developments studied is broad. Topics to be covered will be drawn from the basic sciences applicable to health care, and health management. Examples of the topics under consideration include complmentary and alternative medicine, assisted reproductive technologies, emerging diseases and infections, and psychoneuroimmunology Material will be presented in lectures, with use of on-line self-directed learning and individual or group projects. The unit integrates units of study completed earlier in the program, thus enabling students to apply their knowledge while developing the skills needed to analyse, understand and anticipate future directions in health care.

This year, students will have the opportunity to explore the topics of Complementary and Alternative health care methods available to clients and the reasons for their use. Students will explore in-depth one Complementary/Alternative Medicine by critically evaluating the scientific evidence and assess the effectiveness of complementary/alternate health care practices. In addition, students will attend a lecture series exploring the topics: a) Emerging Infections and Diseases and b) Assisted Reproductive Technologies and c) An introduction to Psychoneuroimmunology.
Assumed Knowledge: None.
Lecturer/s: Dr Hegedus, Elizabeth
Dr Ritchie, Helen
Dr Oakes, Diana
Tutor/s: Guest lecturer: Dr Judy Lovas (Please email any queries to the Dr Oakes and they will be forwarded to Dr Lovas)
Timetable: BIOS3066 Timetable
Time Commitment:
# Activity Name Hours per Week Sessions per Week Weeks per Semester
1 Lecture 3.00
T&L Activities: 3hr lecture/week
Assessment Description: on-line quiz (20%), assignment (25%), end semester exam (55%)

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Summative Assessment

ie marks that are centrally recorded, consists of the following:

1. Week 4 - CAM on-line quiz (20%)

2.* Week 12 - Individual report - submitted on-line (25%)

3. Week 15/16 – End-Semester exam (MCQ) of Lecture series material only (55%)

* Marking scheme will be made available on the eLearning site under ‘Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) module’ link

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Unit of Study program – Complementary/Alternative Medicine(CAM) module

Individual Activity - CAM quiz

Lesson:CAM Quiz - Due week 4

Date:To be completed on-line Wednesday, March 28 – Friday March 30, 2012

Objectives: To define complementary health care and to explore the reasons clients use alternate health care methods.

Assignments: Quiz to be undertaken online - see contents page on eLearning site for details

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Individual Activity - Written report (in-depth report based on allocated topic)

Lesson: Individual Activity - due week 12

Date: Midnight on Friday, June 1, 2012

Objectives: To develop an in-depth understanding of one complementary or alternative health care method. The written report will include a discussion of the principles of disease management, the scientific rationale supporting the method and a critical evaluation of the scientific evidence that supports or refutes the safety and effectiveness of the complementary/alternative method that is the focus of your report.

Assignment: 1200 word written group report- due week 12 - see contents page on elearning site for details.

Late Penalty: 10% of final mark deducted for each day submitted after the due date.
Assessment Feedback: Feedback regarding performance in the submitted assessments will be provided via the eLearning site throughout the semester.
Grading:
Grade Type Description
Standards Based Assessment Final grades in this unit are awarded at levels of HD for High Distinction, DI (previously D) for Distinction, CR for Credit, PS (previously P) for Pass and FA (previously F) for Fail as defined by University of Sydney Assessment Policy. Details of the Assessment Policy are available on the Policies website at http://sydney.edu.au/policies . Standards for grades in individual assessment tasks and the summative method for obtaining a final mark in the unit will be set out in a marking guide supplied by the unit coordinator.
Online Course Content: The eLearning site for this Unit of study should be accessed by students at regular intervals.

Materials on the eLearning site include:

Unit of Study Outline

Timetable

Assessment details

Course content

On-line Quiz

Pre-lecture reading

Lecture notes

Students are required to use the discussion forum to interact with other members in their group for the Group activity work. The Unit coordinator will monitor and participate in these discussions if required.
Note on Resources: 1. Reading Material is provided for download on Library Closed Reserve – for all relevant links see the eLearning site for this Unit of Study

2. The following Electronic Databases that provide links to Peer-Reviewed Scientific Journal Articles can be accessed via the following site using the computers in the libary:

http://www.library.usyd.edu.au/databases/index.html and under 'C' open the following databases:

CAM : Complementary and alternative medicine via Pubmed and also, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews

3. The University ‘write site’ at: http://writesite.elearn.usyd.edu.au/ . This is an invaluable resource in which you can learn how to evaluate information sources and report evidence.