In recent years, methamphetamine-related hospitalisations have increased 13-fold in NSW alone. Unfortunately, this is a national trend: deaths involving methamphetamine have overtaken alcohol to become the third most common substance implicated in accidental drug deaths in Australia, rising from 175 in 2013 to 442 in 2016. These statistics are reflected in an increasing prevalence of prehospital cases involving acute behavioural disturbances (ABD) secondary to psychostimulant use.

This task requires you to complete a 2,000-word report on the prehospital management of psychostimulant emergencies. You will analyse peer-reviewed literature for evidence on current best-practice in managing these presentations, and compare these recommendations against current protocols employed by Australian statutory ambulance services.

This task is worth 50% of your overall mark. You must attain a minimum mark of 50% for this task to pass, and you must pass this task to pass the unit.

· Presentation and layout: Layout formatting of report body is consistent and correct APA style as stipulated; cover page includes name and student number, unit ID, due date and any extension status, and calculated word count (excluding citations, reference list).

• Content: All required subsections are present and completed as directed; at least six current relevant peer-reviewed papers are used.
• Style: This task requires writing at the standard of a third-year undergraduate student. Information is presented in a clear & logical sequence; written in academic style; conforms to word count; and demonstrates correct grammar and spelling.
• Referencing: All sources are cited and referenced appropriately throughout this task in correct APA 7th edition style.
• File format: Submitted as a Word document.
• Word count: 2,000 words +/-10%, excluding cover page, in-text citations, and reference list. Calculate your word count before submission and include this on the cover page.
• Late submissions: Late submissions will be accepted, but penalties will accrue at 5% for every calendar day past the due date in the absence of an approved extension.
• Academic integrity: All submissions are subject to review of the associated Turnitin report.

Report formatting:

You must format your written report using APA formatting style. The APA doesn't just set citation and reference styles, but have layout requirements too; these stipulate rules on the font, margins, headings and subheadings, spacing and returns, and how we layout our reference list. Please apply the following formatting to your layout:

• Cover page shows your paper's title, name and student number, this unit code, and the word count excluding the exclusions (title page, in-text citations, and reference list). Start these 1/3 down from the top, and make them horizontally centred.
• No fancy templates on the cover page or on the sides of each page of the report; keep the background plain and white.
• One inch margins (2.54cm) on all sides (usually MS Word default margins).
• Left margin alignment; NOT justified margins.
• First line of each paragraph of the report body is indented 3-5 characters.
• Times New Roman or Arial font, size 12. Either is fine, but use just one font for the entire document.
• Double spacing throughout the entire document.
• Section headings are centred and bolded in sentence case; use the headings provided for each question within the content section of this assessment task.
• No extra returns after each paragraph or reference (this is why we have the indentations, headings, and hanging indents).
• Reference list starts on a new page and is strictly alphabetised.
• Each reference has a hanging indent of 5-7 characters.

Report content:

Your report will comprise the following content. Utilise current peer-reviewed literature to support your statements at all times, and review this literature when contrasting published evidence with current ambulance protocols.

• Definition: Identify what substances are classed as psychostimulants and outline the differences between illicit and prescribed substances.
• Epidemiology: What is the prevalence of psychostimulants in Australia? What is the relevance to pre-hospital care?
• Pathophysiology: What are the specific body systems involved with psychostimulant use and explain their systematic effects.
• Review of current protocols: Discuss the treatment options and considerations in the treatment of psychostimulant emergencies
• Pharmacological interventions: Compare the use of midazolam, droperidol, ketamine and other sedation methods for safety and effectiveness.
• Safety concerns: What are the critical considerations of patient safety and appropriate paramedic thought processes when sedating patients under the influence of a psychostimulant.
• Conclusion: Does the evidence found within your research support or refute current ambulance service protocols to manage psychostimulant emergencies. 

For this assessment, students will be required to attend each day of a compulsory residential school.

There will be a total of two (2) assessment tasks in the format of Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). These tasks are designed to test your theoretical knowledge combined with your clinical assessment and patient management skills. All assessment tasks align with the learning outcomes for this unit, as described in the Unit Profile.

The two (2) OSCEs will take the format of a structured scenario where you will be allocated 20 minutes to complete each task. The OSCE is designed to assess your knowledge and understanding of the material covered throughout the unit in a structured practical environment. Furthermore, the OSCE will assess your ability to perform a thorough patient assessment and history and use this information to formulate a provisional diagnosis. In combination with your patient assessment and provisional diagnosis, you will implement appropriate and timely interventions, procedures and/or skills. Your ability to communicate effectively and overall scene management will also be assessed. Finally, you will be required to demonstrate your ability to give a patient handover to a senior clinician or other health professional.

Critical Points

· You must achieve a pass mark on each individual OSCE to be awarded an overall pass for the residential school.

· The pass mark for each OSCE is 50%.

· Only one reattempt will be provided should a student fail one of the two OSCE's

· The inability to achieve a pass mark for two (2) OSCE's will result in a fail for the unit as no reattempt will be offered.

· Failure to undertake or achieve a pass mark for two OSCE's will result in a fail for this assessment and the unit.

Students will be assessed on the Clinical Practice Guidelines, Clinical Practice Procedures and Drug Therapy Protocols as per the Queensland Ambulance Service Clinical Practise Manual. This will be explored in more depth throughout the unit. Any concerns surrounding these criteria will need to be discussed with the Unit Coordinator at the unit's commencement.

Students are responsible for allocating themselves for a residential school. Failure to allocate appropriately before arrival may lead to academic penalties. Numbers at residential schools will be capped, and a position at your preferred location is not guaranteed regardless of geographical location or previous attendances. Preferences will be given in order of student allocation. The Unit Coordinator will not be responsible for assisting with residential school allocation changes.

Critical Errors

Critical errors in this unit will be classed as anything, by act or omission, that causes immediate harm or the potential to cause harm yourself, partner, patient or bystanders, or any procedure performed outside your scope of practice. During any form of assessment, if any of the following critical errors are witnessed, if safety permits, the scenario will continue; however, the assessment will be graded as a fail. Furthermore, any critical error discovered on review or moderation will also result in no marks being given for that particular assessment:

· Unsafe defibrillation.

· Incorrect joules delivered during defibrillation.

· Defibrillation of a non-shockable rhythm.

· Failure to recognise cardiac arrest (>1minute).

· Failure to shock a shockable rhythm in a timely manner (<2 minutes).

· Failure to perform a complete drug check.

· Incorrect sharps disposal or unsafe practice with a sharp.

· Performing a skill or procedure or administering an incorrect drug/drug dosage outside your scope of practice.

· Any grossly unsafe practice, as determined by the assessing academic.

If you do not understand any of the above, please do not hesitate to clarify with your unit coordinator.

The online quiz will incorporate multiple-choice questions, short and medium-length answer responses, and case studies to assess your theoretical knowledge of topics covered throughout the unit.

The online test will incorporate any topics covered in this unit including anatomy and pathophysiology, toxicological, toxinological or environmental emergency processes, presentations and appropriate pre-hospital management of the various condition covered.

Students will be assessed on the Clinical Practice Guidelines, Clinical Practice Procedures and Drug Therapy Protocols as per the Queensland Ambulance Service Clinical Practise Manual. This will be explored in more depth throughout the unit. Any concerns surrounding these criteria will need to be discussed with the Unit Coordinator at the unit's commencement.

The assessment aligns with the learning outcomes for this unit, as described in the Unit Profile.

This is a 90 minute timed quiz with a pass mark of 50% and you must pass this task to pass the unit.

You must complete the quiz in the allocated time. There will be no opportunity to save your answers and return to the quiz at a later time.

The test will be opened for exactly seven (7) days.

Only one (1) attempt will be granted to achieve a pass mark for this assessment.

In the absence of an approved extension, there will be no opportunity to complete this assessment after the due date.

This quiz is an individual assessment task. You are not permitted to collaborate with other students whilst undertaking this assessment. Any attempt or evidence of collaboration will result in an academic misconduct investigation.