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Clinical Applications of Biomedical Sciences

  • Module code: LS6007
  • Year: 2018/9
  • Level: 6
  • Credits: 30
  • Pre-requisites: Successful completion of level 5 of the Biomedical Sciences course or equivalent.
  • Co-requisites: None

Summary

This is a core module in the Biomedical Science field. It can only be taken by those students who have successfully completed all the pre-requisite modules.  It is synoptic in nature, providing students with an opportunity to integrate the knowledge gained from all other modules on the Biomedical Science course. Case studies will be used to provide an overview of biomedical techniques and, more importantly, their applications in clinical diagnosis, prognosis and patient management, including drug interactions and the basis of individual variation in drug responsiveness. The use of pertinent clinical cases encourages students to think 'outside the box' and realise that when dealing with a real patient, knowledge gained from seemingly unrelated modules is required simultaneously in order to make a rational diagnosis.

The module will cover/review the following techniques and discuss their application in common diseases and clinical scenarios: immunoassay development and evaluation, infectious disease diagnosis and microbial identification, molecular and genetic approaches to disease diagnosis, biochemical analyses and histopathological examination of tissues.

Aims

  • To provide students knowledge and understanding of techniques used in biomedical sciences and their application across biomedical disciplines.
  • To discuss the importance of correlation between different biomedical science subjects and provide students with an understanding of the relevance of hospital laboratory investigation in clinical diagnosis.
  • To introduce basic pharmacological concepts essential to understanding the basis for individual variation in response to drugs, and the effects of drugs on outcomes of laboratory tests.
  • To enable students to develop the skills of making and presenting a scientific poster.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Discuss techniques used in biomedical laboratories and their application in clinical settings.
  • Interpret case study information and prescribe a laboratory approach covering biomedical disciplines to provide a diagnosis.
  • Explain and evaluate the hospital medical laboratory approach for a new patient and outline the process by which information from different specialist laboratories is integrated to formulate a diagnosis and for subsequent patient monitoring.
  • Discuss the factors leading to individual variability in drug response altering therapy outcomes and adverse drug events, and be aware of potential ways in which drugs can affect the outcome of laboratory diagnostic tests.
  • Prepare a high quality poster and present it to a scientific audience.

Curriculum content

  • General approach to an 'incoming patient' in a clinical/hospital setting.
  • Significance of present and past medical history and the role of clinical examination.
  • Relevance of biomedical techniques & laboratory reports in diagnosis.
  • Review of techniques used in medical genetics, microbiology, immunology, clinical biochemistry and histopathology; their application and integration with other laboratory and clinical findings.
  • Specialist tests in biomedical laboratories and the role of such investigations in excluding or confirming various probable diagnoses and in the subsequent monitoring of the disease
  • Ethical issues in the biomedical laboratory and analysis of human samples.
  • Individual variability in drug response in the context of patient management (pharmacodynamic or pharmacokinetic). Effect of age, environment, diet, disease and differing physiological states on the response to drugs. Influence of pharmacogenetics in the response to drugs. Drug interactions and drug effects on laboratory test results.

Teaching and learning strategy

Clinical case histories are used to illustrate the importance of basic and clinical sciences in proper understanding of disease, its manifestations, progression and treatment.

Lectures, tutorials, practicals and workshops are used to deliver and discuss the course content. The knowledge-based materials for this module are introduced in lectures, and tutorials provide students an opportunity to clarify any issues and discuss their ideas. Personal tutorials also allow students to reflect on personal and academic development, particularly in relation to preparing for careers within the Biomedical Science field. Practicals and workshops will give students hands on experience of some of the investigative techniques and provide exposure to data/results from other clinical laboratory tests.

Breakdown of Teaching and Learning Hours

Definitive UNISTATS Category Indicative Description Hours
Scheduled learning and teaching 35 hours of keynote lectures 14 hours of workshops/ tutorials 2 practical session of 3 hours each 55
Guided independent study Student independent study 245
Total (number of credits x 10) 300

Assessment strategy

Summative assessment is by a practical report (25%), a poster presentation (25%) and a three hour end-of-module examination consisting of two seen case studies (50%).

Different formative assessments will be given to students both in class and during independent study, with a view to providing students with regular and detailed feedback. This will allow students to develop an awareness of their rate and level of progress and of their strengths and weaknesses.

In order to prepare students for objective structured clinical examination (OSCE)- type practical sessions, links to suitable websites will be provided to students in order to have practice sessions before attending their practical class. For the cytogenetics/molecular genetics practical, students will be summatively assessed by submitting a lab report following the practical session.

Preparation for the poster presentation assessment will involve reflective discussion of good/bad presentations with small student groups.

Work in laboratory practicals, preparation and delivery of presentations and discussion within tutorials will enable the development of key skills in communication, teamwork, presentation, numeracy, ICT and independent learning. Thus, key employability skills such as communication, teamwork and self-management will be enhanced from level 5, while higher level 6 skills in leadership and networking will also be developed during presentations and practical sessions.

Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Strategy (Indicative)

Learning Outcome Assessment Strategy
Discuss techniques used in biomedical laboratories and their application in clinical settings. Practical report (S), Poster presentation (S) and Examination (S).
Interpret case study information and prescribe a laboratory approach covering biomedical disciplines to provide a diagnosis. Preparation for OSCE-type practical (F), Poster presentation (S) and Examination (S).
Explain and evaluate the hospital medical laboratory approach for a new patient and outline the process by which information from different specialist laboratories is integrated to formulate a diagnosis and for subsequent patient monitoring. Poster presentation (S) and Examination (S).
Discuss the factors leading to individual variability in drug response altering therapy outcomes and adverse drug events, and be aware of potential ways in which drugs can affect the outcome of laboratory diagnostic tests. Poster presentation (S) and Examination (S).
Prepare a high quality poster and present it to a scientific audience. Small group discussions (F), Poster presentation (S).

Elements of Assessment

Description of Assessment Definitive UNISTATS Categories Percentage
Written exam 3 hr exam 50%
Practical exam Poster presentation 25%
Coursework Practical report 25%
Total (to equal 100%) 100%

Achieving a pass

It IS NOT a requirement that any major assessment category is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.

Bibliography core texts

There is no single textbook, which will suffice for this module. Students are encouraged to consult texts, which use case histories to illustrate the subject matter.

Bibliography recommended reading

Books belonging to the 'SYSTEMS OF THE BODY' series may be useful. These include (1) The Renal System. ISBN 0443-07478-4 and (2) The Digestive System ISBN0443-07245-5.

Relevant original and review articles.

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