Year
2024Credit points
10Campus offering
Prerequisites
BIOL121 Human Biological Science 1
Incompatible
BIOL124 Human Body in Health and Disease 1 , BIOL125 Human Biology 1 , BIOL126 Human Biology 2 , BIOL204 Human Body in Health and Disease 2
Teaching organisation
Teaching and learning strategies will include lectures, tutorials, web-based learning and science laboratory activities. Students will be expected to take responsibility for their learning and to participate actively within group activities, demonstrating respect for the individual as an independent learner.Unit rationale, description and aim
To prevent and manage diseases, promote health and care for their patients/clients, health professionals need to have an understanding of disease processes and drug action.
In this unit students extend their knowledge of the human body by developing an understanding of pathophysiology and pharmacology with respect to selected National Health Priority (NHP) areas and Quality Use of Medicines (QUM). The influence of lifespan changes will also be introduced in the context of these areas and drug administration. Basic principles of microbiology will be linked to infection control practices.
Students will apply scientific knowledge to understand disease processes, risk factors associated with them, and their prevention/management (including pharmacological treatment options) for successful progression to later units in their respective courses.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
| Learning Outcome Number | Learning Outcome Description | Relevant Graduate Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| LO1 | Describe basic principles of pharmacology with respect to Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) | GC1 |
| LO2 | Describe the pathophysiology of selected National Health Priority areas to explain their respective clinical manifestations, prevention, and pharmacological management | GC1, GC2, GC7, GC8, GC9 |
| LO3 | Explain how physiological changes that occur across the lifespan impact on disease processes and drug administration | GC1, GC2, GC7, GC8, GC9 |
| LO4 | Relate microbiological principles to infection control practices | GC1, GC2, GC7 |
NMBA Registered Nurse Standards for Practice
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s Registered Nurse Standards for Practice developed in this unit are:
| Standard/Attributes/Criteria | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
Professional Practice 2.6 | LO1 |
Critical Thinking and Analysis 3.3 | LO1, LO2, LO3,LO4 |
Provision and Coordination of Care 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.1, 6.2, 8.1, | LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 |
Collaborative and Therapeutic Practice 9.5 | LO1 |
NMBA Midwife Standards for Practice
| Standards/Attributes/Criteria | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
LO1 | |
LO2 |
Professional Capabilities for a Registered Paramedic
The Paramedicine Board of Australia is responsible for assessing, consulting on and setting the standards for paramedics practicing in Australia. These standards and relevant domains are articulated in the Professional Capabilities for a Registered Paramedic document. The learning outcomes of this unit are matched to the relevant capabilities, in order to align your development with the requirements of a paramedic.
| Standards/Attributes/Criteria | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
Domain 3: The evidence-based practitioner 3.3 | LO1, LO2, LO4 |
Domain 5: The paramedicine practitioner 5.3 | LO2 |
Content
Topics will include:
Principles of pathophysiology
- Inflammation and cell death
- Oedema
- Healing
- Thrombosis
Principles of pharmacology
- Pharmacokinetics
- Pharmacodynamics
- Adverse drug reactions
- Drug interactions
- Selected drug groups based on NHP areas
Microbiological principles
- Prevention and control of infection
National Health Priority (NHP) areas
- Asthma
- Arthritis and selected musculoskeletal conditions
- Cancer
- Cardiovascular health
- Diabetes mellitus
- Dementia and selected mental health problems
- Obesity
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit fosters student-centred active learning and accommodates diverse student needs. Learning and teaching strategies include a combination of self-paced, online learning and real-time classes. Pre-recorded lectures convey necessary information so that students can gain an overall understanding of and make connections between different components of the learning material. Lectures also inspire questions and provide opportunities for students to check their understanding. Workshop classes consolidate student learning in a supported environment. A series of online, pre-class activities allow students to build foundational knowledge and evaluate their understanding to successfully undertake workshop classes. In workshop classes, students work collaboratively and engage in activities, such as reading, writing, discussion, and problem solving to promote analysis, synthesis and evaluation of class content. Case studies are also used so that students can test and apply their understanding in real world-like scenarios. Early and additional feedback on learning, along with tailored support, helps students master all aspects of the unit’s content
Assessment strategy and rationale
In order to successfully complete this unit, students must obtain an aggregate mark of equal to or greater than 50% for the assessment tasks.
The assessment strategy allows students to progressively develop their knowledge of pathophysiology and pharmacology. The first assessment task is divided into two parts and primarily focusses on knowledge acquisition and assimilation. Part A is an online quiz which assesses basic principles of pathophysiology and pharmacology. This online quiz is an early assessment task, which enables students to receive early feedback regarding their progress in the unit. Part B requires students to relate basic pathology and pharmacology principles to certain National Health Priority areas. The vodcast assessment task requires students to produce a voice recording with accompanying visual material based on a person who has a disease/condition that is a National Health Priority area. This assessment task allows students to apply their knowledge of pathophysiology and pharmacology to a real situation. The final, written assessment task assesses integration and application of key concepts covered in this unit.
Overview of assessments
| Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
Assessment Task 1 - Quizzes Part A This quiz enables students to use appropriate resources to demonstrate knowledge of basic principles of pathophysiology and pharmacology, including lifespan influences on drug administration. Part B This quiz enables students to relate disease processes to clinical outcomes and pharmacological management of selected National Health Priority areas. | 15% 20% | LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 |
Assessment Task 2 - Vodcast The vodcast is an oral presentation that enables students to apply their understanding of pathophysiology and pharmacology in a real life-like scenario by introducing a person who suffers from a disease that is a National Health Priority Area. | 25% | LO2, LO3 |
Assessment Task 3 - Written Assignment The final assessment task enables students to showcase their critical thinking skills to demonstrate their ability to integrate and apply key concepts covered in this unit. | 40% | LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 |
Representative texts and references
Bryant, B., Knights, K. Darroch, S. & Rowland, A. (2019). Pharmacology for health professionals (5th ed.). Chatswood, NSW: Elsevier.
Bullock, S. & Hales, M. (2019). Principles of pathophysiology (2nd ed.) Melbourne, VIC: Pearson Australia.
Copstead, L.C., & Banasik, J.L. (2018). Pathophysiology (6th ed.). St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier Saunders.
Hall, J.E., & Hall, M.E. (2021). Guyton and Hall: Textbook of medical physiology (14th ed.). Philadelphia: Saunders.
Lee, G. & Bishop, P. (2016). Microbiology and infection control for health professionals (6th ed.). French’s Forest, NSW: Prentice Hall.
Martini, F., Nath, J. & Bartholomew, E. (2018). Fundamentals of anatomy and physiology (11th ed.). San Francisco: Benjamin/Cummings.
McCance, K., & Huether, S. (Eds.) (2019). Pathophysiology: The biologic basis for disease in adults and children.(8th ed.). St. Louis, Mo.: Elsevier Mosby.