You are to write a scholarly essay, which cites a variety of sources that support your discussion on the following topic:

"Left ventricular hypertrophy is commonly seen in patients presenting with chronic systemic hypertension. However, it can also occur in response to a valvular cardiac abnormality or in athletes who participate in endurance training."

Your essay should include discussion of:

• relevant pathophysiology
• signs and symptoms
• predisposing factors
• electro- and echocardiographic presentation and evaluation
• disease assessment, staging and management, including medications if applicable

Word count: 1000 words +/- 10%. Word count does not include headings or references, but does include diagram explanations and labeling. Submissions too brief or too lengthy will be penalised as per the rubric provided. Excess words will not be assessed.

Submission: please use word doc format. On-line submission on Moodle site.

Referencing: Vancouver

The learning outcomes assessed in this assessment item are:

1. Differentiate the aetiology and related cardiac assessment data of common cardiovascular pathologies
2. Articulate the effects of major medication groups on the cardiovascular system
4. Analyse case-based clinical information to calculate ventricular function, formulate differential diagnoses and plan patient management strategies

With this in mind, your essay will be assessed on your ability to:

• Locate and critically evaluate information regarding the pathology
  
• Recognise and discuss pertinent clinical information
• Describe practical aspects of electro- and echocardiography
• Produce a scholarly essay, including academic writing and referencing
  

This task carries a 40% weighting toward the final unit grade. A marking rubric for this assessment task can be found on the Moodle unit site.

This assessment task has 2 components:

Component A:

The student will be required to accurately perform an ECG recording.

Component B:

Applying the step-wise 'ECG interpretation method' students will be required to correctly diagnose 6 ECG's from tracings which will be supplied for interpretation.

• This is a PASS/FAIL assessment with no weighting toward the final overall unit grade. A PASS must be obtained to pass unit overall.
• To PASS, a student will be required to competently perform a 12 Lead ECG examination, and demonstrate a 'Novice level' of interpretation competency (60% GRADE).
• The assessment task has a 1 hour time limit, during which both components of assessment must be successfully completed.
• One reattempt will be permitted within week 9 should a student fail the first OSCE attempt. Failing students will be individually notified of re-sit dates. A failing student will only be required to re-sit the task component that they did not successfully pass.

Both components of this assessment task must be completed within a 1 hour time period.

Component A:

The student will be assessed on correct ECG performance technique.

Component B:

Students will be presented with 6 different ECG tracings, and will be asked to answer 5 specific questions relating to each tracing. Each ECG question will be worth 1 mark.

Questions will be based on the step-wise interrogation method of analysis, which students have been introduced to during lectures and tutorial sessions.

OSCEs are marked like a written examination, using standardised model answers. A rubric for this assessment task is available for review on the Moodle site.

Students will not be required to bring a calculator or draft paper.

This is a PASS/FAIL assessment with no weighting toward the final overall unit grade. A PASS must be obtained to pass the unit overall.  To PASS, a student must competently demonstrate how to perform an ECG (Component A) , and demonstrate a 'novice level' of interpretation competency - 60% GRADE (Component B).  Both Component A and B of this task must be successfully passed.  Failure of either component, will result in failure of the assessment task overall.

This is a PASS/FAIL assessment. Professional and technical scanning requirements are discussed in the unit lab manual, lab sessions, lectures and tutorials.

These requirements incorporate two components:

Professional (pre-scan, during and post-scan) requirements:

• Apply patient care techniques and effective communication to obtain relevant patient history, informed consent, and to direct 'patients' accordingly
• Apply professionalism in dealing with equipment and the scanning setting

• Students will be required to demonstrate appropriate echocardiographic scanning technique, image optimisation, and acquisition, in a reasonable time period to an 'novice level' of competency. A scanning time limit of 1 hour will be applied to image acquisition.
• Whilst simulation laboratories will prepare you for completion of entire 2D echocardiography study, under examination conditions you may be requested to complete only a portion of an entire study. You will not be advised prior to the assessment of the abbreviated format.
• Students will be required to perform a series of offline measurements using the Qlab workstations. A 30 min time limit will be applied to measurement acquisition.

The components are graded separately, so that if one is passed and the other is not, only the failed component must be repeated to pass. If the student has failed only the professional component, the full practical scanning assessment will be repeated, but the student will only be marked on the professional component. There is only ONE opportunity to re-sit either component of the assessment item.

The assessment criteria to achieve a 'PASS' is as follows:

A pass rate of 60% of available marks in both the technical and professional components, AND all bold points in the professional component must be achieved in order to pass the assessment, ARC tools are posted on the unit Moodle site.

Re-evaluation Options:

In the event that a student does not achieve a minimum 60% OR fails one of the bolded items in the professional component of the ARC tool, they will be given ONE opportunity to re-sit the technical and/or professional components in week 12.  If the student has failed only the professional component, the full practical scanning assessment will be repeated, but the student will only be marked on the professional component.

Please be aware that assessments will be video recorded for moderation purposes.  The videos will not be released to students for review.

The purpose of this assessment is to prepare you for professional behaviour, attendance and documentation responsibilities on clinical placement. When working clinically, patients and physicians rely on quick, efficient and complete documentation to issue treatment.

This assessment will require you to complete the documentation set forth in the ECHO12006 Lab Manual.

This includes:

Skills labs for this unit are mandatory. You must notify staff and the unit coordinator before the start of compulsory labs if you are not able to attend - failure to notify staff (email, phone) before the start of a missed lab will result in a LiP point except in extraordinary circumstances. In the workplace, it is imperative that colleagues and patients who are depending on you are aware of whether you are attending your shift or not. Labs missed for a valid reason require supporting documentation, and students are advised to contact the unit coordinator to organise time to make up for the missed scanning time during practice sessions as soon as possible after missing the lab. Any lab missed without valid reason and supporting documentation, and/or prior approval will warrant a LiP point.

Sick Certificates:

Medical or health-related certificates must be in the approved formats articulated in the CQUniversity Assessment Policy and Procedure (HE Coursework), section 4.53.
Please note, 4.53(f), A required medical or health-related certificate 'in the approved form' meets all the following criteria: Contains sufficient evidence to enable an informed decision regarding the application. Non-specific statements that are not acceptable include but are not limited to the following: "the student is not fit for duty" and "the student is suffering from a medical condition or illness". A statement that "the patient is, in my opinion, suffering from a medical condition, the exact nature of which I cannot divulge for reasons of patient privacy" would be acceptable.

You must notify staff before beginning scanning on any day (compulsory labs, manned practice, unmanned practice, and practical skills assessments) if you are injured or ill. In the event that your condition could harm or negatively impact either yourself or those around you (e.g. put you at risk of exacerbating an injury, or pass on viral or bacterial infections to other students and staff), you will be sent home and, in the event of it being a compulsory lab or practical skills assessment, will need to provide acceptable medical documentation for your absence, as described above.

Students who are sick and/or injured and cannot attend a practical skills assessment on the scheduled day must notify the unit coordinator (email, phone) and local campus staff (in person, phone, email) before the start of their assessment. The practical skills assessment will be postponed to another day.

You must upload all of the required documentation for this assessment by the due date and time to obtain a 'PASS'. If you are absent for a lab, please indicate the reason for this yourself on your formative feedback form and attendance record - a tutor's signature is not required.

• PASS/FAIL assessment.
• To obtain a 'PASS', all documentation must be completed correctly and submitted on or before the corresponding due date and time.
• No more than THREE Lapses in Professionalism are permitted to obtain a 'PASS'
  
• All documents must be legible and uploaded in PDF format only.

The purpose of this assessment is to develop self-reflection skills by setting weekly goals and following up on progress. This assessment will require you to complete 5 Formative Feedback Forms and one Mock Skills Feedback form to be uploaded in Week 12. Formative Feedback Forms must be completed BEFORE leaving at the end of each lab (as you would be required to complete documentation for each patient's scan before the end of a clinical shift), and to have it signed off by your instructor. You must upload all of the required documentation for this assessment by the due date and time to obtain a 'PASS'.

If you are absent for a lab, please indicate the reason for this yourself on your formative feedback form - a tutor's signature is not required.  Please note details under Assessment 4 (Professional Behaviour Assessment) which outlines the procedures for lab absences.

• PASS/FAIL assessment.
• To obtain a 'PASS', all documentation must be completed correctly and submitted on or before the corresponding due date and time.
• All documents must be legible and uploaded in PDF format only.