Overview
This unit advances your study of obstetric ultrasound from MEDS12006 into the second trimester as well as building on breast ultrasound foundations which were created in MEDS12003. You will explore the sonographic assessment of normal and pathological obstetric ultrasound and breast ultrasound cases. You will participate in simulated scanning sessions to facilitate the identification of normal sonographic appearance of the second trimester fetus as well as basic breast scanning techniques and lesion localisation. Clinical scenarios are used to engage you in the sonographic decision-making process which culminates in the creation of sonographer reports.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: MEDS12003 Superficial Structures in UltrasoundandMEDS12006 Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology 1
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 - 2019
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 Evaluation
Lecture format, pace and content depth is well received by students
Ensure any new or updated lectures keep the same general format of existing lectures
Feedback from Student Evaluation
Tutorial format with pop quiz questions is well received by students
Tutorials were increased from fortnightly to weekly in 2018. Keep this frequency and ensure pop quiz questions remain part of the delivery as a revision tool.
Feedback from Student Evaluation
A video of a morphology scan (or parts of this) could be included to enhance learning
This has been attempted before, but with little success as it is dependent on patients being available to scan. A video of a morphology scan will be attempted again as it would be a good resource for the students if it can be achieved.
- Analyse normal and abnormal obstetric ultrasound findings with reference to embryology, clinical presentation, sonographic appearance and aetiology
- Analyse normal and abnormal breast ultrasound findings with reference to anatomy, clinical presentation, sonographic appearance, aetiology and correlation with other breast imaging modalities
- Analyse clinical scenarios to provide a differential diagnosis and produce sonographic reports
- Formulate strategies for the provision of safe and ethical patient care
- Apply sonographic techniques, appropriate to obstetric and breast ultrasound respectively, to produce limited examinations in a simulated environment.
The learning outcomes for this unit relate to the requirements of the Australian Sonographers Association Competency Standards for the Entry Level Sonographer as listed here.
Unit 1-3, 7 & 10.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| 1 - Practical and Written Assessment - 40% | |||||
| 2 - Examination - 60% | |||||
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 - Practical and Written Assessment - 40% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Examination - 60% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Before We Are Born, Essentials of Embryology and Birth Defects
Edition: 9th (2016)
Authors: Moore, KL, Persaud, TVN, & Torchia MG
Elsevier
Philadelphia Philadelphia , PA , USA
ISBN: 9780323313377
Binding: Paperback
Callen's Ultrasonography in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Edition: 6th (2017)
Authors: Mary E. Norton, Leslie M. Scoutt, Vickie A. Feldstein
Elsevier
Philadelphia Philadelphia , PA , USA
ISBN: 978-0-323-32834-0
Binding: Hardcover
Textbook of Diagnostic Sonography
Edition: 8th (2018)
Authors: Hagen-Ansert, S
Elsevier
Philadelphia Philadelphia , PA , USA
ISBN: 9780323353755
Binding: Hardcover
Additional Textbook Information
Any of the above texts can be purchased at the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
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.
d.chester@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
The Fetal Environment
Chapter
Content provided in lectures and reading items on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Online Safety Induction to be completed prior to 12 March 2019
COMPULSORY
Module/Topic
Fetal Age and Size in the Second and Third Trimester
Fetal Reports and Graphs
Chapter
Content provided in lectures and reading items on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Fetal Neural Tube Structures
Chapter
Content provided in lectures and reading items on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Formative Moodle Quiz
Lab #1 Wednesday 27/03/2019
Module/Topic
Fetal Heart
Chapter
Content provided in lectures and reading items on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Practice Sonographer Worksheet
Module/Topic
Fetal Heart...continued
Chapter
Content provided in lectures and reading items on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Mock Exam
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Normal Fetal Chest, Abdomen and Pelvis
Chapter
Content provided in lectures and reading items on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Formative Moodle Quiz
Lab #2 Wednesday 24/04/2019
Module/Topic
Abnormal Fetal Chest, Abdomen and Pelvis
Chapter
Content provided in lectures and reading items on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Practice Sonographer Worksheet
Module/Topic
Normal and Abnormal Fetal Limbs
Fetal Anomalies
Chapter
Content provided in lectures and reading items on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Lab #3 Wednesday 08/05/2019
Module/Topic
Multiple Gestations
Chapter
Content provided in lectures and reading items on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Formative Moodle Quiz
Ultrasound Images and Discussion Due: Week 9 Monday (13 May 2019) 10:00 am AEST
Module/Topic
Breast Anatomy
US Appearance of Normal Breast Tissue
Chapter
Content provided in lectures and reading items on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
US Appearance of Breast Pathology
Correlation of Breast US with Other Imaging Modalities
Chapter
Content provided in lectures and reading items on Moodle page
Events and Submissions/Topic
Mock Exam
Module/Topic
Review week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Unit coordinator details:
The unit coordinator for MEDS13001 is Deanne Chester. The best way to contact Deanne is via email at d.chester@cqu.edu.au. Deanne's office number is 07 3295 1175 although she has sonography lab commitments and is often away from her desk. It is often best to email and request a scheduled meeting (over the phone or in person) if necessary.
Additional unit information:
This unit includes three practical sonography lab sessions. During these sessions you will be simulating a limited 2nd trimester morphology ultrasound examination (2 sessions) and a limited breast ultrasound examination (1 session). These sessions will also enable you to produce the images required for the Practical & Written Assessment item due in week 9 (Monday 13 May 2019).
Please note you MUST undergo the Lab Safety Induction to be permitted access to the labs during the term. If the induction has not been completed you will be excluded from the lab sessions.
Access to the internet is required to undertake this unit, as unit materials, tutorials and updates will be provided via Moodle, email and Zoom.
Weekly resources will include access to relevant websites, activities and readings. To give yourself the best chance of success please ensure that you undertake all readings and activities that are provided to you. There will be several opportunities for formative assessment and feedback during the term. Due to previous student feedback, there is no prescribed text set for this unit. If you are interested in having a reference text for your studies and to assist you in your early years as a graduate, please see recommendations under 'Additional Resources' on the Moodle page.1 Practical and Written Assessment
This assessment item is designed to allow you to solve clinical problems in a sonographic context and critically evaluate the process and product.
This will be based around the following components:
Practical component - Acquisition of images
Part A
Using the 2nd trimester obstetric phantoms in the CQU sonography lab, you will personally acquire the following relevant and appropriately optimised images:
- Placental location / cord insertion
- Fetal situs and lie (split screen)
- Bi-parietal diameter (BPD) / head circumference (HC)
- Abdominal circumference (AC)
- Femoral length (FL)
- 4 Chamber Heart (4CH)
- Aortic root / left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT)
- Pulmonary artery root / right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT)
ONE image only from each of 1 - 8 above are submitted.
Multiple measurements of parameters should be performed and this will be evident in the report page data.
Report pages and graphs (as relevant to the above listed images) are to be included in the submission.
Part B
Using the breast phantoms in the CQU sonography lab, you will personally acquire the following:
- A short video including audio (using smart phone or similar) demonstrating how to perform cross hatch survey scanning technique
- A short video including audio demonstrating how to perform radial and anti-radial survey scanning technique
- 4 x o'clock US images taken at 12, 3, 6 and 9 positions, appropriately optimised, annotated and using body marker
- Choose ONE lesion within the breast phantom and image it with appropriate optimisation, annotation and body marker in TWO orthogonal planes
Written component - Discussion of image series
You will provide a reflective discussion on your imaging series (1500 words total).
Part A
For EACH image submitted:
- discuss the clinical purpose or importance of each image and/or measurement (Why do we take the image/measurement? How is the information used clinically?). Include citations/referencing for this section as required.
- critique the image quality (specifically any aspects needing improvement)
- summarise any difficulties encountered (If it was challenging, why? Do you think it would be different on a patient compared to the phantom? Would there be different challenges on a live fetus?).
- provide suggestions for future improvement when you next attempt this in a clinical setting (be specific and reflective in your thoughts).
Part B
For the images of your chosen lesion ONLY:
-
critique the image quality (specifically any aspects needing improvement)
- describe the lesion using appropriate terminology (appearance, size, location, etc)
- based on the appearances of the lesion you have chosen, determine the BIRADS classification
Referencing
Referencing is a vital component of any academic work and plagiarism is taken seriously by the university. Please refer to the Academic Misconduct Procedure available on the IMPortal available HERE.
In the medical field (in which sonography is included), journals use a numbered style of referencing for citing references. This can be Vancouver style, AMA, or other combinations. This often depends on the publication.
Hence for this unit the bibliographic style you are to use is Vancouver referencing style.
Week 9 Monday (13 May 2019) 10:00 am AEST
Upload submissions to Moodle
Week 11 Monday (27 May 2019)
Practical component - Acquisition of images
Your images will be assessed for:
- optimisation
- scan plane
- accurate measurement/s
- annotation
- use of ultrasound machine features (zoom, chroma maps, split screen, etc)
Written component - Discussion of image series
Your discussion will be assessed on:
- spelling, grammar, academic writing
- referencing
- adherence to word count (word count marks not allocated if too brief or too lengthy; additional words will not be assessed)
As well as the following:
Part A
- justification of clinical relevance of images/reports/graphs
- quality of critique on image quality
- reflection of difficulties encountered in the acquisition process
- suggestions for improvement in a clinical setting
Part B
- quality of critique on image quality
- accuracy of description
- knowledge of basic lesion characterisation
The following assessment supports can be found on the unit Moodle site
- Marking rubric
- Assessment Video
- Exemplars of previous submissions
- Vancouver referencing information
- Analyse normal and abnormal obstetric ultrasound findings with reference to embryology, clinical presentation, sonographic appearance and aetiology
- Analyse normal and abnormal breast ultrasound findings with reference to anatomy, clinical presentation, sonographic appearance, aetiology and correlation with other breast imaging modalities
- Apply sonographic techniques, appropriate to obstetric and breast ultrasound respectively, to produce limited examinations in a simulated environment.
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
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?
