Overview
Advanced Clinical Neurology and Diagnosis builds upon your knowledge and understanding of the human body which you achieved through your undergraduate studies. In this unit you will focus upon the clinical presentation of neurological conditions which may be encountered in chiropractic practice. You will develop an understanding of the pathophysiological processes underlying neurological symptoms and signs at clinical presentation, and extend your skills in the interpretation of these changes through client history and physical examination.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2023
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student Feedback
Students would have appreciated a more clinical focus to this unit in preparation for the student clinic internship.
It is recommended that the new unit coordinator create content with a clinical focus to help prepare students for cases they will see during their internship.
- Explain the pathophysiological basis of neurological symptoms and signs
- Perform a neurological assessment based on the patient's presentation
- Formulate a differential diagnosis from neurological assessment findings
- Identify clinical scenarios which require referral and/or investigation.
The learning outcomes of this unit contribute to the following CCEA Competency Units (2017 version):
Practice Competency 3: Clinical Assessment
3.1 Obtains and records a History.
3.2 Performs a Clinical Examination.
3.3 Obtains the results of clinical, laboratory and other diagnostic procedures necessary to perform care.
3.4 Recognises determinants of health.
3.5 Critically analyses information available to generate a clinical impression.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 15% | ||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 35% | ||||
| 3 - In-class Test(s) - 50% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | ||||
| 2 - Communication | ||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||
| 4 - Research | ||||
| 5 - Self-management | ||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||
| 7 - Leadership | ||||
| 8 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 15% | ||||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 35% | ||||||||
| 3 - In-class Test(s) - 50% | ||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
f.duarte@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
-Introduction to unit
-Revision
- Symptoms and signs.
- Components of the neurological physical assessment
- Physical assessment – general observation and neurological examination of limbs
- Upper motor neurone lesions vs Lower motor neurone lesions
- Dermatomes vs Myotomes
-Cranial Nerve Examination
Chapter
Fuller Chapters 1 and 4
AND
Fuller Chapters 6-9, Ch 11 pp 96-99
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz 1 opens Friday at 8am and closes at 5pm
Module/Topic
-Higher Centres, speech and mental status
Chapter
Fuller Chapters 2 and 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz 2 opens Friday at 8am and closes at 5pm
Module/Topic
-Examination of:
- Cerebellar function
- Evidence of meningeal irritation
- Autonomic nervous system
-Investigations for Neurological Disorders
Chapter
Fuller Chapters 23-26
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz 3 opens Friday at 8am and closes at 5pm
Module/Topic
-Neuropathology 1
- Introduction to Neuropathology
- Altered cerebral haemodynamics
- Cerebrovascular disease
Chapter
Information provided on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz 4 opens Friday at 8am and closes at 5pm
Module/Topic
-Neuropathology 2
- Degenerative disorders
- Delirium and Dementia
- Neoplasms
- Demyelination disorders
Chapter
Information provided on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz 5 opens Friday at 8am and closes at 5pm
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
-Neuropathology 3
- Metabolic and toxic influences
- Infections and inflammations
- CNS Malformations
- Seizures
- Trauma
Chapter
Information provided on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz 6 opens Friday at 8am and closes at 5pm
Module/Topic
-Pathophysiology and interpretation of neurological symptoms and signs 1
- Headaches and facial pain
- Vertigo/dizziness
Chapter
Information provided on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz 7 opens Friday at 8am and closes at 5pm
Module/Topic
-The OSCE will take place during normal class time
Chapter
Information provided on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz 8 opens Friday at 8am and closes at 5pm
Practical assesssment Due: Week 8 Tuesday (2 May 2023) 12:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
-Pathophysiology and interpretation of neurological symptoms and signs 2
- Muscle weakness and paralysis
- Difficulties in co-ordination
- Tremors and Involuntary Movements
Chapter
Information provided on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
-Pathophysiology and interpretation of neurological symptoms and signs 3
- Altered or loss of general sensation
- Altered or loss of special sensation
Chapter
Information provided on Moodle
Events and Submissions/Topic
Weekly Moodle Quizzes Due: Week 11 Friday (26 May 2023) 5:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
-Revision-
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Quiz 11 opens Friday at 8am and closes at 5pm
Module/Topic
-Revision-
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
End of Term Test Due: Review/Exam Week Tuesday (6 June 2023) 2:30 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Online Quiz(zes)
Online quizzes will need to be completed during weeks 1-11. They will be available between 8am-5pm on Friday of each week. For example, quiz 3 will be available from 8am-5pm on the Friday of week 3. The subject matter for each quiz will be clearly described in the workbook. There will be no extension due to unforeseen technical problems or internet connectivity, so please do not leave it to the end of the availability period to complete. You will be allowed one attempt only for each quiz, which will need to be completed within a specified period of time. Each quiz may be of up to 20-minutes in duration.
11
Weekly
Week 11 Friday (26 May 2023) 5:00 pm AEST
Each Friday between 8am-5pm
Week 12 Monday (29 May 2023)
Monday mornings in weeks 2-12, via Moodle
As the questions asked in each quiz will be objective in style (eg multiple choice), answers will be automatically marked as either correct or incorrect. Some questions will require you to demonstrate a knowledge of facts, while others will require you to use your interpretive or analytical skills
This assessment will examine the following Learning Outcomes
- Explain the pathophysiological basis of neurological symptoms and signs
- Formulate a differential diagnosis from neurological assessment findings
- Identify clinical scenarios which require referral and/or investigation.
Successful completion of this assessment will ensure you have met the following Graduate Attributes
- Knowledge
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Self-management
- Explain the pathophysiological basis of neurological symptoms and signs
- Formulate a differential diagnosis from neurological assessment findings
- Identify clinical scenarios which require referral and/or investigation.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
2 Practical Assessment
The assessment will be in the form of an 8-minute OSCE where you will demonstrate your ability to perform and interpret a neurologically based clinical examination. This assessment may test any the following key elements;
- Conduct a detailed neurological observation of the body
- Conduct a complete neurological examination of the upper limbs
- Conduct a complete neurological examination of the lower limbs
- Conduct a basic examination of the higher centres of the brain
- Conduct a basic assessment of a patient’s speech
- Conduct a basic mental health assessment
- Examine the cranial nerves
- Demonstrate how to assess cerebellar function and the extrapyramidal pathways
- Demonstrate how to assess for meningeal irritation
- Perform a targeted neurological examination for a given clinical scenario
- Understand the clinical usefulness of a range of external diagnostic imaging criteria
A detailed rubric will be provided to you by the mid-term break, in order to facilitate your preparation
Week 8 Tuesday (2 May 2023) 12:00 pm AEST
The OSCE will be run during normal class time in week 8.
Week 9 Tuesday (9 May 2023)
Feedback will be provided 1 week following the due date
Successful completion of this assessment will ensure your ability to:
- Select the appropriate examination routine required to facilitate the recognition of specific disorders or disease states
- Perform appropriate neurological examinations correctly
- Perform each neurological examination fluently
- Integrate all examination findings in order to determine a differential diagnosis
- Correctly interpret the necessity for further external examination and/or imaging
No submission method provided.
- Perform a neurological assessment based on the patient's presentation
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
3 In-class Test(s)
This examination will take the form of a 90-minute Moodle on-campus test. This timed test will be comprised of no more than 60 questions aimed at assessing your understanding of the material covered during the lectures and practical sessions throughout the term. Questions will be a combination of MCQ, EMQ, short answer, fill-in-the-blank, drag and drop or any combination of these.
Review/Exam Week Tuesday (6 June 2023) 2:30 pm AEST
90-minute end of term test which will start at 1pm and finish at 2:30pm
Exam Week Tuesday (13 June 2023)
The results will be made available one week after the end of term test is submitted.
This assessment will examine you on the following.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
- Explain the pathophysiological basis of neurological symptoms and signs
- Formulate a differential diagnosis from neurological assessment findings
- Identify clinical scenarios which require referral and/or investigation
This assessment will ensure you have successfully demonstrated the following.
GRADUATE ATTRIBUTES
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
- Explain the pathophysiological basis of neurological symptoms and signs
- Formulate a differential diagnosis from neurological assessment findings
- Identify clinical scenarios which require referral and/or investigation.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Leadership
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
