MEDIMAGE 725 : Cardiac Pathophysiology

Medical and Health Sciences

2024 Semester Two (1245) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Explores cardiovascular disease as it pertains to a disturbance in the normal structure and function of the heart. Students build on an introduction to normal cardiac structure and function to gain extensive knowledge of the changes to anatomy and physiology that lead to cardiovascular conditions. Students can integrate this knowledge of aetiology, clinical features, and treatment options, into the clinical setting.

Course Overview

The prevalence of heart disease remains high in New Zealand with almost 1 in every 3 deaths caused by cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, Māori and Pacific communities experience cardiovascular disease (CVD) at disproportionately high rates in comparison with other ethnicities. Discover the physiology of the cardiovascular system in its normal state, starting at the cellular level and focusing on knowledge of the cardiac cycle, and integrating electrical and mechanical events to understand blood pressures and flow. Students build on this basic introduction of normal cardiac structure and function, to gain extensive knowledge of the changes to anatomy and physiology that lead to cardiovascular conditions such as atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, acute coronary syndromes, valvular heart disease, heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, pericardial disease, cardiomyopathies, and hypertension. The course will end with a brief overview of cardiac pharmacology. Students will be able to develop this knowledge to enhance clinical competency and growth as a reflective practitioner who understands and continues to learn about underlying causes of clinical presentations of cardiovascular disease.

The course is delivered fully online by distance via the University of Auckland’s learning management system Canvas. It will incorporate a range of learning approaches including videos, webpages, links to the library databases and resources, and utilising online technologies to promote shared learning opportunities.

Course Requirements

No pre-requisites or restrictions

Course Contacts

Course Director
Dr Sibusiso Mdletshe
Senior Lecturer
Email: sibusiso.mdletshe@auckland.ac.nz
https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/sibusiso-mdletshe

Course Coordinators
Ashley Mattson
Professional Teaching Fellow
Email: ashley.mattson@auckland.ac.nz
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-mattson-698b561a2/?originalSubdomain=au

Allanah Harrington
Professional Teaching Fellow
Email: allanah.harrington@auckland.ac.nz
https://profiles.auckland.ac.nz/allanah-harrington

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 6: Communication
Graduate Profile: Master of Health Sciences

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Describe the physiological basis and clinical use of inotropes, vasopressors, vasodilators, antiadrenergic, antiarrhythmics, diuretics, antithrombotic and lipid-regulating pharmaceuticals commonly used in the treatment of heart disease. (Capability 3.2)
  2. Demonstrate an advanced understanding of cardiovascular physiology and cardiovascular disease mechanisms using real-world applications. (Capability 1.2 and 3.2)
  3. Integrate knowledge of cardiovascular disease mechanisms with aetiology, pathogenesis, clinical features, and risk factors for common cardiovascular disorders. (Capability 3.1)
  4. Critically analyse and interpret normal and abnormal 12 lead ECGs associated with various cardiac pathologies. (Capability 3.3 and 4.1)
  5. Critically analyse cardiovascular structure and its importance in maintaining cardiovascular function in health and disease. (Capability 4.1)
  6. Critically evaluate the pathophysiology presented in case studies with respect to recent scientific literature and clinical guidelines. (Capability 4.1 and 6.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Quizzes 10% Individual Coursework
Assignments 20% Individual Coursework
Case Studies 30% Individual Coursework
Test 40% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6
Quizzes
Assignments
Case Studies
Test
This course is 100% internally assessed. An aggregated mark of 50% or more is required to successfully pass this course. Resubmission of failed assessments is not permitted.

Penalties for excessive word count and/or late submission (without prior written approval for an extension) will be applied in accordance with the 'Medical Imaging Assessment Requirements and Presentation Criteria' document.

The course Canvas page has more detailed information on assessment processes and requirements.

Workload Expectations

Following University workload guidelines, a standard 15-point course represents approximately 150 hours of study. This equates to approximately 12 hours per week and may be broken down as follows:

  • Set readings relevant to cardiac physiology and pathophysiology theory (40 hours)
  • Other resources provided on Canvas e.g. videos, websites (10 hours)
  • Assignments and self-directed learning (100 hours)


Delivery Mode

Online

The course is delivered online. Where possible, study material will be available at course commencement to allow some degree of flexible learning.

This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

This textbook is available as an ebook online. A hardcopy is also available at the Philson Library.

The required textbook for this course is:

Lily, L. S. (Ed.). (2021). Pathophysiology of heart disease: An introduction to Cardiovascular Medicine (7th Edition). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.  

In addition, Students will be directed to a large selection of readings and other resources that will be able to be accessed online via Canvas and the Philson Library databases.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

This course is offered for the first time in 2024 (semester 2) and therefore no previous students' feedback exists.

Other Information

Communication
All official communication to a student will be sent to the student’s current University email address (username@aucklanduni.ac.nz) and the student is responsible for ensuring that any desired forwarding to other addresses is in place and operating correctly. Staff will not be responsible for any consequences if students fail to read and respond to University correspondence in a timely manner.

Students are encouraged to use the course ‘Discussion’ forum on Canvas as much as possible for communication with staff and other students. Email may be used for more private matters. Email communication to University staff and supervisors must be sent from the student’s University email address.

As a rule, students are advised to log on at least twice a week. Logging on regularly allows regular checking of 'Announcements' as well as reading and responding to messages from peers on 'Discussions'.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

The way to avoid plagiarism is to reference your work. Please refer to the following website for further information about academic referencing: www.cite.auckland.ac.nz/

The Student Academic Conduct Statute (2021) provides further advice on how to avoid plagiarism.
More information can be found in the ‘Medical Imaging Programme Information’ on Canvas.

The penalties for plagiarism can be severe, including losing some or all of the marks for the assignment. Major offences can be sent to the University’s Discipline Committee, where further penalties can be imposed.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Contact details for the Medical Imaging Postgraduate Student Representatives may be found in the Medical Imaging Postgraduate Programme Information on Canvas.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

The delivery mode may change depending on COVID restrictions. Any changes will be communicated through Canvas.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Fitness to practise (FTP)
As health professional students, in addition to meeting the University of Auckland graduate profile capabilities, students in the Medical Imaging postgraduate programmes are required to demonstrate their fitness to practise. This always applies to students, whether they are on campus, on placement or elsewhere.

Fitness to practise (FTP) is concerned primarily with patient and public safety. It also is concerned with upholding professional standards, including the relevant professional code of conduct, and contributing to the maintenance of the reputation of the profession and public confidence in the profession.

For further information visit FMHS Fitness to Practise Policy (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/the-university/how-university-works/policy-and- administration/teaching-and-learning/fmhs-code-of-fitness-to-practise/fmhs-fitness-to-practise- policy.html)

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course students may be asked to submit coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.

Published on 08/07/2024 02:11 p.m.