Overview
This unit introduces you to obstetric and non-gravid pelvic ultrasound. In this unit you will build upon your anatomical knowledge of the pelvis to include the anatomy of the gravid pelvis. You will study the sonographic appearance, techniques and procedures applicable to pathology of the non-gravid pelvis, including techniques for communicating your findings. You will be introduced to fetal development and the sonographic appearance of the gravid pelvis. You will identify family-centred care strategies employed in the care of the obstetric patient and the ethical, medico-legal and professional issues relevant to safe practice.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisites: MEDS12002 Abdominal Ultrasound and MEDS12003 Superficial Structures in 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 2 - 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 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 Student feedback
Story telling in the form of patient stories were introduced and students expressed their appreciation of these resources.
Continue including these podcasts and consider sourcing more patient stories for the next delivery of the unit.
Feedback from Student Feedback
Students enjoyed Kahoot! quizzes and the use of the Whiteboard in Zoom tutorials as a form of revision.
Continue with these resources and expand on the use of the Whiteboard feature in Zoom. Interaction in tutorials is significantly improved with these two resources.
Feedback from Student feedback
Some lectures were old and require refreshing
Consider refreshing weeks 10, 11 and 12 lectures, and add extra resources on placentation.
Feedback from Self reflection and Five year Course Review
Group work to be removed from this unit and incorporated into clinical units,
Consider an alternative assessment for assessment 2.
- Identify anatomical structures of the pelvis
- Differentiate the aetiology of female pelvic and fetal disease in relation to sonographic appearance
- Critically evaluate clinical data to communicate a differential diagnosis
- Evaluate gynaecological and obstetric imaging in relation to safe practice.
Australasian Sonography Association Competency Standards for the Entry Level Sonographer Units: 1-5, 10
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Online Quiz(zes) - 10% | ||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||
| 3 - Online Test - 60% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 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 | ||||
Textbooks
Callen’s Ultrasonography in Obstetrics & Gynecology
Edition: 6th (2016)
Authors: Norton, M.E., Scoutt, L.M., & Feldstein, V.A.
Elsevier
Philadelphia Philadelphia , PA , USA
ISBN: 978-0-323-32834-0
Binding: Hardcover
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: Vancouver
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
j.wardle@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to the female reproductive system: normal anatomy and physiology
Chapter
There is no prescribed text for this unit.
Weekly readings to complement lecture content will be provided on the unit eReading list.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Embryonic development and congenital anomalies of the female reproductive system
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Ultrasound examination of the female pelvis, including basic Doppler techniques
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Ultrasound appearance of normal female reproductive organs
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Benign disease of the female pelvis
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Written Assessment Part A
due Friday 11th August 2023, 11:59pm
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Malignant disease of the uterus & cervix
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Summative assessment (graded):
Mid Term Moodle Quiz
opens 21st August 2023 12:00 PM AEST
closes 23rd August 2023 12:00 PM AEST
Module/Topic
Malignant disease of the ovary
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis and ultrasound assisted procedures of the female reproductive organs
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Introduction to obstetric ultrasound & embryology
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Written Assessment Part B
due Friday 15th September 2023 11:59pm
Module/Topic
The first trimester ultrasound examination
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Ultrasound assessment of ectopic pregnancy and other first trimester complications
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
The nuchal translucency screening test and other first trimester screening techniques
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Summative assessment (graded):
End of Term Moodle Quiz
opens 2nd of October 2023 12:00 PM AEST
closes 4th October 2023 12:00 PM AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
End of term Online Test
open for two hours between 8AM and 12PM AEST/ 9AM and 1PM AEDST on Wednesday 11th of October 2023
Online Test Due: Review/Exam Week Wednesday (11 Oct 2023) 12:00 pm AEST
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
The unit coordinator for MEDS12006 is Jane Wardle. She can be contacted at j.wardle@cqu.edu.au which is the preferred method of contact. Jane's phone number is (07) 3023 4200.
As this is a 6 credit point unit (delivered via Distance), you are expected to spend on average 12.5 hours each week on study activities for this unit.
This time includes:
- Watching recorded lectures and attending tutorials
- Creating study notes to meet weekly learning objectives using lectures and readings
- Additional resources via the eReading list to supplement your learning
- Researching and working on your assessment
- Completing formative and mock test questions
Tutorials are an opportunity to engage in real time about the content with the unit coordinator and other students, so it is highly recommended to be available for tutorials. The tutorials will be recorded. Attending tutorials is a more active method of learning than watching the recordings. Active learning is a more effective way of learning and improves the chance of success. The schedule for the tutorials will be posted on the unit Moodle site. The online tutorials are an opportunity to ask questions, gain feedback, and join in discussions concerning theoretical concepts and the completion of assessment tasks.
It is important to check your student email regularly as updates about the unit will be sent from the unit coordinator via email. Urgent matters will be announced on the top of the Moodle page and emailed to all students.
1 Online Quiz(zes)
Moodle online multiple choice quiz activity - summative.
Each health profession possesses a body of knowledge, the fundamentals of which must be learnt and understood. This unit provides concepts relevant to the sonographer scope of practice and accreditation requirements which you will build upon in your future clinical capacity.
You will complete TWO online quizzes to assess your concept knowledge.
A mid-term Moodle quiz (assessing content from weeks 1-5) and an end of term Moodle quiz (assessing content from weeks 6-11) will be part of the graded assessment for this unit.
Each quiz will have 20 multiple choice questions to be completed in a 20 minute time limit.
You will only receive ONE attempt at each quiz, and once started, the quiz cannot be paused or restarted
Your score from each quiz will contribute 5% to your final grade (2 quizzes x 5% = 10%).
As with all university assessments, colluding with other students on non-group work tasks is considered academic misconduct, and may be reported to the Academic Integrity Unit.
If extensions are required these must be applied for BEFORE the quiz has closed and answers have been released to students.
2
Other
Mid-term quiz open from MONDAY 21/08/2023 12PM AEST and closes on WEDNESDAY 23/08/2023 12PM AEST. End of term quiz open from MONDAY 03/10/2023 12PM AEST and closes on WEDNESDAY 04/10/2023 12PM AEST. Note these are Queensland times. Please adjust for your state and time zone if applicable.
Results released for each quiz after all students have completed quizzes
Your critical thinking and content recall will be assessed with this assessment item.
Questions will be automatically marked correct or incorrect.
The maximum score (40) that can be accumulated from the two Moodle quizzes equals 10% of the total unit marks.
- Identify anatomical structures of the pelvis
- Differentiate the aetiology of female pelvic and fetal disease in relation to sonographic appearance
- Evaluate gynaecological and obstetric imaging in relation to safe practice.
2 Written Assessment
The written Assessment is made up of Part A and Part B. For this assessment, you are to choose a topic from the
following options:
1. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
2. Endometriosis
3. Malignant neoplasms of the ovary
4. Ectopic Pregnancy
The topic chosen will apply to both Part A and Part B.
The assessment will comprise two essays. One written by Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the other written by you. Both essays are written for newly graduated sonographers requiring revision on the topic of choice.
Part A due to be submitted 11:59pm AEST Friday 11th of August 2023 (Week 5). Part B due to be submitted by 11:59pm AEST Friday 15th of September 2023 (Week 9).
Results will be available ten (10) working days after due date.
Part A:
In this assessment, you will be asked to critique and reference an essay written by AI about one of the topics listed above. The essay will provide a general overview of the pathology, including the pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, and diagnosis. The essay will also discuss the sonographic appearances of pathology. The critique will be done by marking the essay using a rubric based on the rubric from part B. You will also provide in-text referencing and a reference list for the essay using the Vancouver referencing style.
Part B:
You will write an essay on the same topic chosen in Part A. The audience will again be recently graduated sonographers who would benefit from revising the topic as well as information to assist them when they scan a patient with the pathology. As a guide, the essay should cover pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, and sonographic appearances.
The essay should
- Be 1500 words (+/- 10%)
- Demonstrate adequate research from relevant peer-reviewed sources, with collation of important key points presented in a logical format
- Use correct technical terms and be free from spelling, grammatical and formatting errors
- Include appropriate information, diagrams and ultrasound images pertaining to the key points of the presentation and at a suitable level for the target audience
- Use Vancouver referencing style in-text, and for any images and diagrams included
- Provide a correctly formatted reference list
Your assessment should be submitted as a Word document, with 1.5 line spacing and using a 12-point Arial. Save your submitted file to include your full name and student number in the following format: Jane_Wardle_0123456789.docx
- Differentiate the aetiology of female pelvic and fetal disease in relation to sonographic appearance
- Evaluate gynaecological and obstetric imaging in relation to safe practice.
3 Online Test
The end of term online test will assess you on content covered in the whole unit (weeks 1 to 12 inclusive). This includes material covered in lectures, tutorials and any additional resources supplied during the term.
The questions will involve a combination of question types, including short and long answer questions which require typed answers.
Identification of normal and abnormal structures from sonographic images and diagrams will be required.
Ensure you read the questions properly before beginning to formulate your answers and ensure you are using appropriate terminology at all times.
The end of term online test will be available on Moodle and 2 hours working time will be allocated. The test cannot be paused once started, or reattempted once finished.
This is an individual task. The online test must be completed by you, without assistance or collusion with others. Any evidence of collusion will be reported to the Academic Integrity Unit.
Review/Exam Week Wednesday (11 Oct 2023) 12:00 pm AEST
This assessment will be open and accessible to you for two hours at a time of your choosing between 8AM and 12PM AEST/ 9AM and 1PM AEDST on Wednesday 11th of October 2023
Interim results will be made available after marking is completed. These do not become official results until Certification of Grades.
Written response questions will require:
- use of correct anatomic names of structures (including spelling) and recognition of their normal and abnormal sonographic appearances
- use of correct sonographic terminology (including spelling)
- evaluation of clinical information
- detail to demonstrate depth of understanding, critical thinking and pathology awareness including signs and
symptoms
- identification of sonographic imaging planes, protocols, conventions and artefacts
- explanation of pre and post scanning requirements, including medico legal aspects and infection control
standards
- Identify anatomical structures of the pelvis
- Critically evaluate clinical data to communicate a differential diagnosis
- Evaluate gynaecological and obstetric imaging in relation to safe practice.
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?
