Unit Profile Correction added on 17-04-20
1. Assessment 2 has now been changed to an alternate form of assessment. Please see your Moodle site for details for Assessment 2.
2. Assessment 3, the end of term written examination, has now been replaced with an alternate form of assessment. Please see your Moodle site for details of the assessment.
Overview
This unit explores the abdomen, specifically normal and pathological ultrasound examinations. Online lectures and interactive Zoom tutorials are used to lay the foundation for this knowledge. Sonography images and scanning videos, both of normal and abnormal abdominal organs, are used to familiarise you with how things appear on ultrasound. This unit prepares you for not only MEDS12004 Sonographic Skills Development 1 where you will scan normal abdomens, but also for clinical placement, where patients' pathologies need to be detected by the sonographer. This unit will also allow you to develop the skills required to read and understand patient request forms, including what clinical tests have been done on the presenting patient, and what these tests and results are indicating in terms of areas of concern the referring doctor is looking for in the patient.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite MEDS11001 Fundamentals of Sonographic Practice AND PrerequisiteMEDS11002 Relational Anatomy and Image Recognition AND Corequisite MEDS12001 Physics of Ultrasound
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 - 2020
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 Undergraduate 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 Unit evaluation, instructor reflection.
Students appreciated the well organized and well resourced Moodle site, including Draw-It-To-Know-It.
Maintain Moodle design and range of learning resources.
Feedback from Unit evaluation, instructor reflection.
Students enjoyed the newly added component of the written assignment regarding advances in clinical practice.
Maintain this important component of the assignment.
Feedback from Informal student communication, instructor reflection.
Some students required additional clarification on the requirements of the written assessment.
Review scoring rubric and provide optional clarification tutorial session.
Feedback from Unit evaluation.
Whilst most students completed the final examination in the time available, some students expressed that they would have preferred to have more time allocated to this task.
Review the examination tool and time allocation.
- Identify anatomical structures and commonly encountered pathologies on sonographic images and videos of the abdomen
- Describe anatomical structures and commonly encountered pathologies on sonographic images and videos of the abdomen, using appropriate anatomical and sonographic terminology
- Differentiate the clinical indications, sonographic appearance, and aetiology of abdominal pathologies
- Classify laboratory data relevant to the abdomen
- Analyse clinical scenarios to provide a pathological differential diagnosis, and to produce a sonographic report.
The learning outcomes for this unit relate to the requirements of the Australasian Sonographer's Association Competency Standards for the Entry Level Sonographer.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 10% | |||||
| 2 - Online Test - 40% | |||||
| 3 - Examination - 50% | |||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Communication | |||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | |||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | |||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | |||||
| 5 - Team Work | |||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | |||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | |||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | |||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | |||||
| 10 - 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 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 10% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Online Test - 40% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Examination - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Diagnostic Medical Sonography: Abdomen and Superficial Structures
Edition: 4th (2017)
Authors: Diane M. Kawamura & Tanya D. Nolan
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Philadelphia Philadelphia , Pennsylvan , USA
ISBN: 9781496354921
Binding: Hardcover
Sonography Exam Review: Physics, Abdomen, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Edition: 2013 (2nd)
Authors: Susanna Ovel
Elsevier
St. Louis St. Louis , Missouri , USA
ISBN: 9780323100465
Binding: Paperback
Workbook for Diagnostic Medical Sonography: A Guide to Clinical Practice, Abdomen and Superficial Structures
Edition: 4th (2017)
Authors: Diane M. Kawamura & Tanya D. Nolan
Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins
Philadelphia Philadelphia , Pennsylvan , USA
ISBN: 9781496380579
Binding: Hardcover
Additional Textbook Information
Copies are available for purchase at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Zoom Collaborate
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Vancouver
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
c.tinetti@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Abdominal Vascular Structures
Chapter
- Chapter 4: 3rd Ed: p 57-77, 86-96 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 4: 4th Ed: p 59-79, 87-97 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 13: p 184-198 Sonography Exam Review
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Zoom Session: Wednesday 1pm PER, 3pm BNE & MKY, 4pm MEL & SYD
- Overview & Introduction to Abdominal Ultrasound
Module/Topic
Pancreas
Chapter
- Chapter 7: 3rd Ed: p 207-221 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 7: 4th Ed: p 213-227 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 9: p 123-135 Sonography Exam Review
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Zoom Session: Wednesday 1pm PER, 3pm BNE & MKY, 4pm MEL & SYD
Module/Topic
Gallbladder &
Biliary System
Chapter
- Chapter 6: 3rd Ed: p 165-203 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 6: 4th Ed: p 171-209 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 8: p 105-122 Sonography Exam Review
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Online Quiz #1 - open 10am AEDT Tuesday and closes 6pm AEDT Wednesday (PER take off three hours and BNE/MKY take off one hour for local times)
Module/Topic
Liver
Chapter
- Chapter 5: 3rd Ed: p 101-162 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 5: 4th Ed: p 101-169 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 7: p 86-104 Sonography Exam Review
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Zoom Session: Wednesday 1pm PER, 3pm BNE & MKY, 4pm MEL & SYD
Module/Topic
Abdominal Wall, Diaphragm, and Peritoneal Cavity
Chapter
- Chapter 2: 3rd Ed: p 13-37 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 3: 3rd Ed: p 39-55 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 2: 4th Ed: p 13-39 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 3: 4th Ed: p 41-57 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 15: p 218-221 Sonography Exam Review
- Chapter 18: p 259-264 Sonography Exam Review
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Zoom Session: Wednesday 4pm / 2pm PER ** please note change of time due to daylight savings time ceasing **
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Kidneys
Chapter
- Chapter 10: 3rd Ed: p 265-337 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 10: 4th Ed: p 271-333 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 10: p 136-146 Sonography Exam Review
- (Omitting vascular disorders of the kidneys)
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Zoom Session: Wednesday 4pm / 2pm PER
Module/Topic
Spleen
Chapter
- Chapter 8: 3rd Ed: p 225-241 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 8: 4th Ed: p 229-245 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 11: p 158-169 Sonography Exam Review
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Online Quiz #2 - open 10am AEST Tuesday and closes 6pm AEST Wednesday (PER take off two hours for local times)
Online Tests Due: Week 7 Wednesday (29 Apr 2020) 6:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Lower Urinary System
Chapter
- Chapter 11: 3rd Ed: p 341-365 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 11: 4th Ed: p 335-356 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 10: p 148-149 Sonography Exam Review
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Zoom Session: Wednesday 4pm / 2pm PER
Module/Topic
Prostate
Chapter
- Chapter 12: 3rd Ed: p 367-387 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 12: 4th Ed: p 357-375 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 16: p 229-238 Sonography Exam Review (Prostatic components only)
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Zoom Session: Wednesday 4pm / 2pm PER
Module/Topic
Adrenal Glands
Chapter
- Chapter 13: 3rd Ed: p 389-416 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 13: 4th Ed: p 377-402 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 12: p 170-175 Sonography Exam Review
Events and Submissions/Topic
- ON-CAMPUS IN CLASS TEST Tuesday 3pm / 1pm PER - please check the forum posts in week 9 to confirm which computer lab you will be required to attend. You will need to arrive at least 10 minutes early to ensure computer is ready to go by the start time.
On-campus Test Due: Week 10 Tuesday (19 May 2020) 3:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Gastrointestinal Tract and Retroperitoneum
Chapter
- Chapter 9: 3rd Ed: p 243-262 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 9: 4th Ed: p 247-269 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 14: p 199-211 Sonography Exam Review
- Chapter 14: 3rd Ed: p 419-433 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 14: 4th Ed: p 405-419 Abdomen & Superficial Structures
- Chapter 12: p 170 & 175-183 Sonography Exam Review
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Revision Week
Chapter
- Abdomen Mock Exam:
- Sonography Exam Review p 271 - 294
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Revision/Exam Week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
- Zoom Session: Wednesday 4pm / 2pm PER
Module/Topic
Exam Week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
- WRITTEN EXAMINATION
Unit Coordinator Information:
The unit coordinator for 2020 is Celia Tinetti. Celia is based on the Melbourne campus and can be reached via email: c.tinetti@cqu.edu.au or telephone: 03 9616 0528. Please note, all staff emails end in ".cqu.edu.au" - Celia also has a student account but this is not monitored; emails sent to this account will be missed.
Unit Details:
MEDS12002 is a 6 credit point unit and is a prerequisite for MEDS12004 Sonographic Skills Development 1 (SSD1), which is run in term two of second year. This unit has had a few changes this year to ensure your learning is aligned with what is required of you in SSD1, where you will be performing actual ultrasound examinations on the abdomen. While there is no abdominal scanning this term, so you won't be in the driver's seat so to speak, you will be in the passenger seat, looking at normal and pathological images and surveys of the abdomen. This early exposure to what you may observe when scanning will help prepare you for next term when you are in the driver's seat. The teachings of 'Abdominal Ultrasound' will be regularly revisited throughout your studies and your knowledge will be relied upon to assist in passing future laboratory abdominal scanning practical assessments. As you progress through your clinical units, you will also benefit from revising content from the unit as a part of your critical thinking skills. I encourage you to carefully study the unit profile and to be active in the unit online discussion forums. It is recommended that you commit to 12.5 hours of study per week, therefore a total of 150 study hours upon completion of this unit.
This year's assessment tasks consist of three items:
- Online Quizzes (10%) - there are two online quizzes in weeks 3 and 7. These are primarily around patient referrals for abdominal ultrasounds but may extend to other areas in the unit. There is no minimum pass mark for these, but it is highly recommended that you attempt them to see where your learning is at and specific areas you may need to improve upon.
- On-campus Test (40%) - This compulsory on-campus test will assess anatomy and pathology identification and knowledge from sonographic images and videos. Areas for assessment will be covered throughout the term. You require a minimum of 50% to pass this assessment item.
- Written Examination (50%) - end of term 2-hour written assessment which will assess all materials covered in lectures, tutorials, and on the unit Moodle site within this unit. You require a minimum of 50% to pass this assessment item.
Zoom Tutorial Sessions:
Zoom will be the software of choice for tutorial delivery - please ensure that you are proficient in the use of this platform. Zoom tutorial sessions will be conducted throughout the term - please see Unit Outline for exact dates and times. While every attempt is made to record tutorials, technical mishaps may prevent tutorials from being uploaded for later viewing, so attendance in real-time is highly recommended. Case study scenarios will be used to facilitate sonographic worksheet completion to consolidate 'Abdominal Ultrasound' unit teachings. Tutorial material may be included in the on-campus test and the written examination.
Good luck this coming term - keep on top of your studies each week, take advantage of the tutorials (I'm always happy to answer any queries you have along the way), and get excited ... the information you learn in this unit will be needed your whole life as a sonographer! And remember, if you need a hand or clarification of anything, I am only an email away.
1 Online Quiz(zes)
There will be 2 online tests which will be held in weeks 3 and 7. Once available, tests are open for 32 hours (i.e. open at 10am on Tuesday and close Wednesday at 6pm Melbourne time AEDT/AEST). The content of these tests will be related to laboratory data, clinical history, and sonographer worksheet documentation; they will be in a multiple-choice question and short answer format.
This is an open book test, so you have the opportunity to consult your notes, lecture slides, text books, and the unit Moodle page.
You are allowed one attempt at each test so please ensure you are prepared beforehand.
Once the test has commenced, approximately 1 minute per question will be given – for example, a 20-question test would be given a time limit of 20 minutes to complete. Test dates and topics are available on the unit Moodle site.
2
Other
Week 7 Wednesday (29 Apr 2020) 6:00 pm AEST
Week 7 Friday (1 May 2020)
There is no minimum pass mark for this first assessment item. However, it is strongly recommended that you attempt them as they may contain information that is similar to the end of term written examination. Answers will be either correct or incorrect and tabulated by the Moodle online unit system following the quiz being closed.
These assessment tasks must be completed on or before the due dates listed on the unit Moodle site. No late submissions are permitted after the test has closed, so please ensure adequate time for completion, with additional time for computer mishaps. If you have computer / test access difficulties, you need to contact TaSAC as soon as possible for assistance, and the unit coordinator (after you've contacted TaSAC) if you cannot complete the test in the allocated time before the end of the test (Wednesday 6pm AEDT/AEST).
- Differentiate the clinical indications, sonographic appearance, and aetiology of abdominal pathologies
- Classify laboratory data relevant to the abdomen
- Analyse clinical scenarios to provide a pathological differential diagnosis, and to produce a sonographic report.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Information Literacy
2 Online Test
There is one supervised on-campus test, held in week 10 on Tuesday May 19th, 2020. On-campus attendance is compulsory. PER students will need to attend at 1pm with all other campuses attending at 3pm. Notification of the computer lab you will need to attend and further instructions will be given after break week.
This is a closed book test. No phones, smart watches, or other devices are allowed to be with the student during the test.
Students will have a series of images and short videos of sonographic scans and accompanying questions. Images and videos will include both normal and pathological sonographic imaging of areas covered throughout the term. Required answers may include explaining what has been demonstrated in the images or video using appropriate sonographic language and including anatomical features, a provisional diagnosis, and where else you may need to extend the examination.
Week 10 Tuesday (19 May 2020) 3:00 pm AEST
Week 12 Tuesday (2 June 2020)
You will be marked on your ability to identity and describe normal anatomical and pathological entities within sonographic images and videos.
You will be required to:
1. use accurate spelling for anatomy and pathology, and use appropriate sonographic terminology;
2. recognise normal anatomical structures on sonographic images and videos;
3. be able to describe in appropriate sonographic terminology, pathological entities and processes;
4. be able to come up with a provisional diagnosis relative to the sonographic image or video; and
5. recognise the need for extension of the sonographic examination with certain sonographic findings
- Identify anatomical structures and commonly encountered pathologies on sonographic images and videos of the abdomen
- Describe anatomical structures and commonly encountered pathologies on sonographic images and videos of the abdomen, using appropriate anatomical and sonographic terminology
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
Examination
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?
