https://courseoutline.auckland.ac.nz/dco/course/CLINIMAG/708/1225

CLINIMAG 708 : Mammographic Clinical Practice

Medical and Health Sciences

2022 Semester Two (1225) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Addresses normal and abnormal mammographic imaging appearances, technique evaluation and adaptation, and includes reflection on clinical practice relating to mammography. The course will ensure students develop the knowledge, competencies, skills and attitudes needed to demonstrate mastery in academic and professional mammographic practice.

Course Overview

This course enables the student to provide evidence of their clinical competence while emphasising the importance of synthesising theory and clinical practice elements. Students will evaluate their own clinical practice specifically relating to technique, patient management and image optimisation to ensure diagnostic accuracy. In particular, this course will promote higher level clinical, professional and reflective skills in the student. Learning activities and assessments are designed to support the development of not only clinical competency, but also growth holistically as a reflective practitioner.

The course is delivered fully online and incorporates a range of learning approaches including videos, webpages, links to the library databases and resources, and utilising online technologies to promote shared learning opportunities. Academic learning is expected to inform clinical practice and enhance levels of clinical competency.

This course is a compulsory course within the PGCertHSc (Mammography) programme. For admission to this course, departmental approval is required and a concession request must be submitted when applying to enrol in this course. Access to a clinical mammography department is required.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: MEDIMAGE 707

Course Contacts

Course Director
Dr Rhonda-Joy Sweeney
Lecturer
Email: r.sweeney@auckland.ac.nz
https://unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz/people/profile/r-sweeney

Course Coordinator
Heidi Bowmast
Professional Teaching Fellow
Email: heidi.bowmast@auckland.ac.nz
https://unidirectory.auckland.ac.nz/profile/heidi-bowmast

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 4: Communication and Engagement
Capability 5: Independence and Integrity
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities
Graduate Profile: Master of Health Sciences

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Demonstrate clinical competence when performing and evaluating a wide range of mammographic examinations. (Capability 5.1, 5.2, 6.1 and 6.2)
  2. Differentiate and explain normal and abnormal anatomy, and integrate knowledge of pathophysiology, mammographic physics and clinical data, with imaging appearances. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1 and 2.2)
  3. Discuss epidemiology of breast cancer and identify signs and symptoms of breast pathology. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 6.1 and 6.2)
  4. Demonstrate appropriate clinical judgement skills by critically evaluating mammographic positioning techniques, views and image quality, suggesting and justifying possible modifications. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 3.1 and 3.2)
  5. Critically evaluate a range of both standard and advanced mammographic techniques available to investigate breast pathology. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.1 and 2.2)
  6. Demonstrate effective communication skills in a range of clinical contexts. (Capability 4.1 and 4.2)
  7. Apply an evidence-based approach to clinical decision-making and problem solving. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 3.1 and 3.2)
  8. Demonstrate accountability and personal insight, and reflect on own mammographic clinical practice. (Capability 2.1, 2.2, 5.1 and 5.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Online Discussion 20% Individual Coursework
Clinical Reflective Essay 35% Individual Coursework
Case Study 45% Individual Coursework
Clinical ePortfolio Individual Coursework
4 types 100%
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Online Discussion
Clinical Reflective Essay
Case Study
Clinical ePortfolio

Workload Expectations

Following University workload guidelines, a standard 15-point course represents approximately 150 hours of study. This may be broken down as follows:
  • Set readings relevant to mammographic clinical practice (30 hours)
  • Other resources provided on Canvas e.g. videos, websites (10 hours)
  • Assignments and self-directed learning (110 hours)

Delivery Mode

Online

The course may include live online events including tutorials and these will be recorded.

Where possible, study material will be available at course commencement.

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.

The required textbook for this course is:
  • Hogg, P., Kelly, J., & Mercer, C. (2015). Digital mammography: A holistic approach. Springer.
Students will not be expected to purchase this textbook as they can access it online via the Philson Library catalogue. 

Course materials are made available in the course website located in the University’s learning platform Canvas, which also includes reading lists (where available). Students will also be able to access a large selection of online resources via 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.

Postgraduate courses do not have a Class Representative. However, the Medical Imaging Postgraduate Student Representatives can take feedback to the Medical Imaging Board of Studies. Contact details for these representatives may be found in the Medical Imaging Postgraduate Programme Information on Canvas.

In the last course evaluation, students indicated that they liked the wide range of relevant resources, online discussions, applying learning in practice and correlating to the theoretical part of the course, and having supportive colleagues which greatly improved learning.

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 general 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 against online source material 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 document ‘Guidelines: Conduct of Coursework’ provides further advice on how to avoid plagiarism. It 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 applies to students at all times, 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.