Overview
This unit provides a structured programme of study facilitating the development of increased competence in the critical application of advanced communication skills in clinical practice. You will learn about the theoretical principles underpinning advanced communication, undertake a review of literature in the field, develop advanced communication skills, and critically reflect on their application, in order to improve the information and support you provide to patients, students, peers and other health professionals. Areas covered will include responding to challenging situations, effective communication with students, self awareness when interacting with patients and report writing.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
There are no requisites for this unit.
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 - 2022
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 Postgraduate 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 SUTE data
The assessment item relating to writing a formal sonographic report to document sonographic findings was thought provoking, authentic and interesting.
Continue to retain the authentic assessment item where students are required to develop formal written sonographic reports to document sonographic findings.
Feedback from SUTE data
Students commented that the lectures and information provided were interesting and had strategies to implement in real practice.
Continue to provide information in lectures and other learning resources related to communication strategies that students can apply to real life practice.
- Critically reflect upon and evaluate your own use of advanced communication within clinical practice.
- Create reasoned plans for advanced communication in challenging situations based on an analysis of the relevant literature.
- Apply knowledge of advanced communication to situations involving clients, students and other health professionals and discuss the outcome.
- Construct written reports which interpret patient findings and discuss recommendations based on information from case studies undertaken .
This masters unit does not lead to entry into the sonography or echocardiography profession. It is for advanced practice by qualified practitioners. As such it does not require external accreditation but we will be seeking approval for the course from the accrediting body, the ASAR.
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 60% | ||||
| 2 - Portfolio - 40% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | ||||
| 2 - Communication | ||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||
| 4 - Research | ||||
| 5 - Self-management | ||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||
| 7 - Leadership | ||||
| 8 - 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 | |
| 1 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 60% | ||||||||
| 2 - Portfolio - 40% | ||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
Additional Textbook Information
None
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.
m.fenech@cqu.edu.au
k.russo@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
- The Art of Communication
- Verbal and non-verbal communication
- Models of verbal communication
- Vocal Communication
Chapter
Recorded Lectures
Lecture slides
e-reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Effective Communication with Patients
- Therapeutic Communication
- Communication in challenging situations
Chapter
Recorded Lectures
Lecture slides
e-reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Communication of results to patients
- Communication of unexpected findings to patients
- Communication of bad news to obstetric patients
Chapter
Recorded Lectures
Lecture slides
e-reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Communication with other healthcare professionals
- Effective communication in teamwork
- Belbin team roles
- Effective communication in collaborative healthcare
- Effective communication in conflict resolution
Chapter
Recorded Lectures
Lecture slides
e-reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Effective communication between educators and students
- Learning Styles
- Teaching Styles
Chapter
Recorded Lectures
Lecture slides
e-reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Break Week
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Communication of results in Radiology
- Informed written consent
- ISBAR in Radiology
- Artificial Intelligence
- Written Reports
Chapter
Recorded Lectures
Lecture slides
e-reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Communication of ultrasound results by Sonographers
- Informed consent
- Parental-fetal bonding
- Worksheets
- Written Reports
Chapter
Recorded Lectures
Lecture slides
e-reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Revision Week
Chapter
No new topics are introduced this week. Concentrate on completing the first assessment.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Communication of Health Information by the media
- Newspapers, TV
- Internet
- Social Media
Chapter
Recorded Lecture
Lecture slides
e-reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Health Communication in Pandemics
- Persuasive Communication
- Contact Tracing
Chapter
Recorded Lecture
Lecture slides
e-reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
- Propaganda model of communication
- Health Promotion
- Persuasive model of communication
Chapter
Recorded Lecture
Lecture slides
e-reading list
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Revision Week
Chapter
No new topics are introduced this week. Concentrate on completing the second assessment.
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
No Exams are scheduled for this unit.
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
It is important to check your emails to ensure you are receiving regular updates about this unit throughout the term which are provided via email.
The tutorial schedule for this unit will be advised at the start of term, so keep an eye out for tutorial times and dates to be announced via email and updated on the unit Moodle site. These may be updated throughout the term.
You will be required to obtain four clinical sonographic cases to allow you to discuss the sonographic reports associated with these as part of a portfolio assessment task associated with this unit. It is important to be aware of the assessment requirements of this unit early in the term to ensure that you leave yourself enough time to collect appropriate cases and obtain permission to discuss from your workplace.
For any queries related to this unit, do not hesitate to contact the Head of Course Post Graduate Medical Sonography, Dr Michelle Fenech (email: m.fenech@cqu.edu.au or phone: 07 3295 1180).
1 Presentation and Written Assessment
Interactions in healthcare can often be challenging due to environmental factors, workload, information overload, time pressures, poor communication and challenging colleagues, students or patients. Communication and listening skills are essential for every interaction to be effective.
There are two parts to this assessment: A written component and a video presentation.
Part 1- Written component (80% of the mark)
You are required to write a 2000 word essay in which you will critically reflect on your effective communication skills in a challenging situation related to your professional or clinical environment. This may include an interaction with a client, a patient (e.g. interaction with an angry patient or when delivering unexpected news to a patient), a problem student, a colleague or other health professionals.
This essay will narrate the significant conversation/interaction and include a description of the incident/event (what happened?) and the emotions and issues involved (why it happened?), the communication style used and the outcome of the event.
The essay will include a reflection of the event, any pitfalls that occurred, a review of related literature and provide a suggestion of best practice in the situation in light of evidence (how did others solve the problem?).
You will then create a reasoned plan for future communication in similar significant circumstances (how you would deal with this situation in the future informed by your reflection and literature findings).
The 2000 word limit excludes the title, headings, footnotes, figure legends and references.
Part 2- Video Presentation (20% of the mark)
You are required to provide a 5 to 10-minute video presentation, where you discuss one aspect of communication, related to your chosen challenging situation outlined in your essay. You will summarise your reasoned plan focussing on one aspect of your communication (initial conversation, the outcome etc.). You can include a role-play within this presentation if you wish.
To submit the video presentation you will need to create an unlisted YouTube account and upload your recorded video on your YouTube channel.
The link to the YouTube video address should be provided at the end of the written component of the assessment (before the references).
Assessments without the recorded video will be marked as FAIL.
A detailed instruction and a marking rubric are available on unit's Moodle page.
Week 8 Friday (9 Sept 2022) 2:00 pm AEST
The written assessment including the link to the video is due at 02:00 p.m. on Friday 9th of September 2022. Late submissions (without prior approval of extension) will be subject to deduction of 5% overall marks per 24 hours delay.
Week 10 Friday (23 Sept 2022)
The assessment mark, a detailed feedback and a marking rubric will be provided for students on Moodle by 02:00 p.m. on Friday 23rd of September.
The submission will be assessed with particular reference to the following:
- Engaging introduction
- Clear and concise description of scenario and outcome
- Critical reflection and evaluation of advanced communication skills
- Future plans for advanced communication based on an analysis of relevant literature
- Convincing argument regarding chosen style of communication
- Reflective thinking regarding communication skills used
- Clear conclusion
- Adherence to academic writing conventions
- Correct portrayal of an aspect of challenging communication in video presentation using appropriate language
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Research
- Self-management
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Critically reflect upon and evaluate your own use of advanced communication within clinical practice.
- Create reasoned plans for advanced communication in challenging situations based on an analysis of the relevant literature.
- Apply knowledge of advanced communication to situations involving clients, students and other health professionals and discuss the outcome.
2 Portfolio
For this assessment, a portfolio of four written ultrasound reports related to four separate complex clinical cases in which a sonographic examination was conducted by you from your routine clinical practice will be presented.
The chosen clinical cases need to demonstrate at least one ultrasound diagnosed pathology.
Each clinical case must include:
- The referral form (completely anonymised with patient's and referrer's details removed),
- Relevant ultrasound images
- Completed sonographer worksheet
- Written sonographic report (one created by the radiologist and one created by yourself) including examples of a structured and unstructured format
- Any further investigations required
- Where relevant, a differential diagnosis must be included
The portfolio will include a reflection on the writing experience and learning points that can enhance your use of sonographic report writing in the future.
Week 12 Friday (7 Oct 2022) 2:00 pm AEST
The portfolio is due at 02:00 p.m. on Friday 7th of October 2022. Late submissions (without prior approval of extension) will be subject to deduction of 5% overall marks per 24 hours delay.
Exam Week Friday (21 Oct 2022)
The grade and a detailed feedback will be available by 02:00 p.m. on Friday 21st of October 2022.
The Assessment Criteria will address the following:
- Student's knowledge of duty of care and best practice as a sonographer.
- Recognition and understanding of the relevant guidelines and laws governing communication of radiological findings.
- Evidence based best practice should be referred to when completing the portfolio.
- Any resources should be clearly cited using Vancouver style of in-text and end-text referencing.
- Accurate documentation and communication of findings following the recommended guidelines.
- The reports should be written in an appropriate language and be free of any spelling and grammatical errors.
- Detailed Assessment Criteria and marking rubric are available on this Unit's Moodle page.
- Each report accounts for 25% of the total mark.
- The pass mark is 50%
- This assessment accounts for 40% of your total unit grade.
- Knowledge
- Communication
- Cognitive, technical and creative skills
- Ethical and Professional Responsibility
- Apply knowledge of advanced communication to situations involving clients, students and other health professionals and discuss the outcome.
- Construct written reports which interpret patient findings and discuss recommendations based on information from case studies undertaken .
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?
