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

‘Acute pericarditis’ is an inflammation of the pericardium that can result in chest pain. The ECG in acute pericarditis can evolve through as many as four stages of changes, and the temporal evolution of ECG changes can be highly variable. Echocardiography can be used to exclude associated complications of acute pericarditis such as pericardial effusion and/or tamponade. Whilst a rare complication, chronic inflammation of the pericardium may result in ‘constrictive pericarditis’.

Within your essay:

• Discuss the pathophysiology of pericarditis and discriminate between the etiology observed in developed and developing countries.
• Identify clinical findings which would suggest a diagnosis of acute pericarditis.
• Identify ECG changes characteristic of acute pericarditis and suggest at least two other differential diagnoses which would need to be excluded.
• Define ‘constrictive pericarditis’ and describe several 2D echocardiographic findings which may support its diagnosis.
• Briefly discuss the clinical management and prognosis of pericarditis, including reference to common pharmaceutical interventions.
• Include several illustrative echocardiographic images and an ECG example within your essay to support discussion.

Word count: 1200 words count +/- 10%, to be submitted as a word document.

Word count does not include headings or references, but does include diagram explanations and labelling.

Referencing: Vancouver.

Minimum 5 peer reviewed journal articles must be cited. Literature titles must be current (<5 years of age), excepting seminal works.

You will be assessed on your ability to:

• Locate and critically evaluate information
• Recognise pertinent professional information
• Describe practical aspects of electrocardiography and echocardiography
• Produce a scholarly essay

A copy of the marking rubric can be found HERE.  This assessment task carries a 40% weighting toward the final unit grade.

Should a student fail this weighted assessment, a supplementary assessment will be made available, provided criteria outlined in the 'Grades and Results Procedure Policy' are satisfied. Students who qualify for a supplementary assessment will be individually notified with details upon grade certification.

Being able to correctly interpret rhythm strips and ECGs is crucial to providing good health care. Comprehensive ECG analysis can provide vital clues about the nature and location of heart problems.

A PASS must be obtained to pass unit overall.

Students will be presented with 10 different 12 Lead ECG recordings, in standard format.

The ability of students to correctly diagnose and interpret information displayed on each electrocardiogram will be assessed by asking the student to respond to a series of questions.  

Questions will focus on specific features demonstrated on the ECG presented, applying aspects of the 'step-wise' method of ECG interpretation.

Following 10 min of test perusal, 1 hour will be provided to successfully completed this assessment task.  

Students will be prepared for this assessment through lectures, tutorials and provision of revision tasks in a similar format during unit delivery.

Students will be assessed on their ability to:

• determine cardiac rate, rhythm and axis
• identify hypertrophy and conduction defects
• identify ischaemia, infarction and associated anatomical relationship
• identify arrhythmia(s)
• use correct terminology when discussing ECG waveforms, segments, intervals and associated anomalies

There is only ONE opportunity to re-sit this assessment task.

A copy of the first assessment piece is not available for viewing prior to resit. Failing students will be individually notified on Monday 20th May Week 10, and provided with feedback regarding first attempt.

Resits will occur on: Wednesday the 29th May Week 11 at 10am on campus of enrolment. (Campus specific room numbers will be advised through unit Moodle site)

Final moderation of resit attempts may take several days. In interim, students should prepare to undertake remaining unit assessment tasks, regardless of anticipated outcome. All grades are 'provisional' until certified.

Students must achieve a 'Novice competency level' for each assessment component, to pass this assessment task overall.

Assessments will occur on: Wednesday the 22th May Week 10 and Friday the 24th of May. Students should envisage attendance at campus being required for the majority of these days.

Students will be notified of campus specific assessment schedules on: Monday the 13th of May Week 9.

• All students must be available to act as a patient model for peer practical assessments.
• Students may have to be a patient model on more than one occasion.
• Students cannot request who they scan for their practical assessment.

This assessment task has both a professional and technical component. The technical requirement has two sub-components - a practical scanning task and a separate QLAB measurement task.

Professional and technical requirements are discussed in the unit lab manual, lab sessions, lectures and tutorials.

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

This task component requires the student to demonstrate appropriate professional behaviour both pre-scan, during and post-scan. This includes demonstrating appropriate patient care techniques and effective communication. Effective communication includes being able to obtain relevant patient history, informed consent, and to direct 'patients' accordingly. Students must also demonstrate appropriate sanitation and respect for fragility of equipment used within the laboratory setting.

The Professional requirement is performed and assessed in conjunction with the Technical Part A - Practical scanning task.

A time limit of 10 minutes is provided to complete the professional behavioural assessment task. This is in addition to the practical scanning time limit of 1 hour. Students will be assessed using the 'Assessment of Readiness for Clinical' (ARC) tool.

Technical - 'scanning and measurement' requirements:

Technical requirements associated with this assessment, incorporate two components:

A. Practical scanning task

Students will be required to demonstrate appropriate 2D and Mmode echocardiographic scanning technique, image optimisation and acquisition, in a reasonable set time period, to a 'novice level' of competency.

A scanning time limit of 1 hour will be applied to image acquisition. Students will be assessed using the 'Assessment of Readiness for Clinical' (ARC) tool.

B. QLAB measurements

Students will also be required to perform a series of offline measurements using the QLAB workstations.

A 30 min time limit will be applied to measurement acquisition. Students will be assessed using the QLAB ARC tool.

To pass this assessment, both the professional and technical components must be graded as a 'pass'. Students are advised to carefully review assessment ARC tools.

The components of this assessment are graded separately, so that if one is passed and another 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.

No marks or feedback will be given at the time of assessment, or prior to moderation across campuses.

There is only ONE opportunity to re-sit components of this assessment task.

Re-sits will occur on: Wednesday the 5th June Week 12 on campus of enrolment.

Failing students, and students required to act as patient models, will be individually notified of re-sit schedule on Wednesday the 29th of May.

All enrolled students must be available to act as a patient model for peer resits, if requested by unit coordinator. Students may have to be a patient model on more than one occasion. Students cannot request who they scan for their practical assessment. Prior to attempting resit, students will not be advised of their allocated patient model.

Final moderation of resit attempts may take several days. In interim, students should prepare to undertake remaining unit assessment tasks, regardless of anticipated outcome. All grades are 'provisional' until certified.

Professional behaviour is a critical part of any medical imaging profession and encompasses the manners in which we treat out colleagues, patients and the professional settings and equipment provided to us. The purpose of this assessment is to ensure that students from the medical echocardiography program are well-equipped to embody the high standards of professionalism that are expected from CQUniversity students whilst on clinical placements. In addition, this assessment task will prepare you for the attendance and documentation responsibilities associated with clinical placement.

This is a PASS/FAIL assessment. There are no resit opportunities for this assessment task.

Lapses in professionalism will result in the award of a LiP (Lapse in professionalism incidence).

Using this demerit system, a maximum of three LiPs can be issued.

• If a fourth LiP is issued, this assessment task will be graded as a FAIL
• If any exhibited behaviour is deemed as UNSAFE for clinical practice, the professional behaviour assessment will be graded as a FAIL at the discretion of the unit coordinator.
• Awarded LiP points are detailed and summated on the ‘Professional Behaviour Assessment Rubric’ and acknowledged on the 'Lab Attendance Document'.
• You will be required to be present for every scanning tutorial and QLAB session.
• Failure to attend a compulsory scanning tutorial or QLAB session will result in the allocation of a LiP. The only exception will be in the event of illness, in which case medical documentation will be required and no demerit will be issued. If you are absent for a lab, please indicate this on your Lab attendance record - a tutor's signature is not required. Medical certificates verifying any episode of illness, should be uploaded along with lab attendance document.
  
  Students are encouraged to review the documents listed below, which further discuss appropriate professional behaviour and LiP allocation.

• Click here for further details regarding 'Expected Professional Behaviour and LiP allocation'.
• Click here for ASA CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT FOR SONOGRAPHERS and the CQU CODE OF CONDUCT.

This assessment task will require you to complete and submit the documentation listed below:

• A signed Lab Agreement to be uploaded in Week 1 by Friday 15th March 5 pm AEST
• A signed Consent Form - Sonographic Examination for Teaching Purposes to be uploaded in Week 1 by Friday 15th March 5 pm AEST
• A completed and signed Professional Behaviour Assessment Rubric to be uploaded in Week 12 by Friday 7th June 5 pm AEST
• A completed Lab Attendance Document to be scanned and uploaded in Week 12 by Friday 7th June 5 pm AEST

You must upload all of the required documentation for this assessment by the due date and time to obtain a 'PASS'.

The purpose of this assessment is to develop self-reflection skills by setting weekly goals and following up on progress.

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 on your formative feedback form - a tutor's signature is not required.  
• All absences must be discussed with the unit coordinator, following the processes outlined under assessment task 4.

PASS/FAIL assessment. To obtain a 'PASS', all documentation must be completed correctly and submitted on or before the corresponding due date and time.

This assessment will require you to upload:

5 completed Formative Feedback Forms and one completed Mock 'Assessment of Readiness for Clinical' (ARC) tool.

(A completed 'Assessment of Readiness for Clinical' (ARC) tool will be provided to you by your tutor following your individual Mock practical skills test during week 8)