CQUniversity Unit Profile.

As a Sonographer, a comprehensive knowledge of duplex imaging techniques and recognition of ultrasound appearances in the presence of a vascular disease are imperative. Knowledge of the pathophysiology of vascular disease together with the ability to recognise haemodynamic changes in venous and arterial flow equips sonographers with the skills required to interpret the findings and impart the correct information to the referring clinician.

The aim of this assessment task is to assess the student's ability to apply their knowledge of vascular sonographic anatomy and the pathophysiology of vascular disease to present clinical cases. This assessment also examines students' research skills and expects a high degree of analytical and critical thinking.

This assessment item will describe a clinical case with vascular pathology. You are required to reflect upon the role of ultrasound in the management of the vascular pathology discussed. Within your presentation, you will describe connections between clinical presentation, aetiology, pathophysiology and the outcomes of non-imaging and imaging studies. You will discuss possible vascular interventions and where relevant, post-intervention sonographic appearance. Additionally, if relevant, post-intervention ultrasound appearances should be discussed.

You should then apply your knowledge to provide a preliminary report of your findings with the aid of a diagram and correlate it to the final report. This assessment item will not only enhance your knowledge, communication, cognitive, technical and creative skills but will also help in strengthening your self-management and professional responsibilities.

You have the option of selecting one interesting vascular case from your ultrasound practice, if you do not currently have access to vascular cases, you can source cases and images from the internet or any other source as long as you acknowledge and fully reference the source.

The portfolio should address the following:

• Brief history and presentation with the clinical question.
• Discussion of other imaging and non-imaging investigations at the time of writing this assessment and pre-test diagnosis (with the degree of confidence).
• Discussion of the aetiology and pathogenesis of the disease process.
• Details of ultrasound examination technique performed.
• Discussion of findings of ultrasound diagnosis and comparison of findings with non-imaging tests.
• Discussion on the further management of the patient including possible vascular interventions.
• Discussion of post-intervention ultrasound findings if relevant.
• A minimum of 5 references are to be cited for the case.

The case report should not be more than 1500 words (excluding the reference list). Relevant images (completely anonymised) are to be included.

Each case report will be assessed by considering each of the following: (Detailed marking rubric is available on Moodle site).

• Have you presented the case history adequately enough to raise a clinical suspicion or narrow differential diagnosis?
• Can you link the presenting clinical symptoms to the vascular scan findings?
• Have you included enough relevant detail? Can you evaluate the physiology, pathophysiology and possible interventional options based on your scan findings?
• Have you identified if post-interventional ultrasound appearances are relevant to discuss?
• Does your rationale indicate that you understand the topic? Can you apply practical skills and critical thinking to advanced clinical assessment and reporting of the vascular pathology cases?
• Have you adequately supported your explanation by citing relevant and recent credible sources from literature?
• Is your spelling, grammar and use of vocabulary exemplary?
• Have you kept to the word limit?
• Have you used the correct referencing style both in-text and end-text?
• Have you included images of a reasonable quality?

Every health professional needs to possess a body of knowledge that is relevant to their scope of practice whereby the fundamentals are required to be understood which you will build upon clinically. To demonstrate your understanding and knowledge of this unit you are required to complete an online test.

You will complete an online test to assess your understanding of the concepts delivered in this unit. The test can be accessed through the assessment tab on Moodle. It will be open for one week during week 12.

Students will need to provide typed responses to 10 online questions within the 1.5 hour time period. Ultrasound image viewing questions may be included and you are required to be familiar with normal and pathological sonographic imaging of the areas discussed in this unit.

Students will need to note opening and closing times to complete the test during this time period. The test will be open for 90 mins (allowing 9 minutes per question on an average) and only ONE attempt is allowed. Once started, the test cannot be paused or restarted. As the test is online and open book, you will find it useful if you have produced your own notes and that you are familiar with the unit information.

Questions will be drawn from a pool of questions to allow tests to be different for each student. This assessment is to be undertaken as an individual. As with all other university assessment, colluding with other students on non-group work tasks is considered academic misconduct, and may lead to action being taken. Inserting answers from other websites at the time of the online test without referencing the source is considered plagiarism.

The online test will be open from the Monday of week 12 (10th February 2020) at 09:00 am (AEST) to the Sunday of week 12 (16th February 2020) at 05:00 pm (AEST). Students based in Western Australia and Eastern States other than Queensland, please be aware of the time difference between your state and AEST.

Please note: You MUST start the test before 03:30 pm (AEST) on 16th of February as the test automatically closes at 05:00 pm (AEST).

Responses will be assessed according to

• Use of appropriate terminology and descriptors as well as grammar, spelling, the relevance of response and competence in addressing all elements of the question.
• The student's ability to appropriately interpret sonographic images/graphs/tables and then to succinctly compose an appropriate response based on their learning from the unit