PAEDS 721 : Clinical Care of Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer

Medical and Health Sciences

2022 Semester Two (1225) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

To develop and advance skills, knowledge and expertise in the clinical care of adolescents and young adults with cancer.

Course Overview

PAEDS721 is a 15 point course that can be taken as part of a Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Health Sciences specialising in Youth Health, or included as an elective in a programme of specialist study (i.e. nursing or medical programme) or as a stand-alone paper for certificate of proficiency.  

The course is available to students online and consists of a mixture of teaching delivery methods. These include pre-recorded lectures, zoom life lectures and a one day workshop that can be attended either face to face or via zoom. Lectures will consist of the following teaching modes: 

  • Discussion sessions, sometimes based on case study material.
  • Presentations by guest speakers, experts in their field.
  • Workshops and group activities based on clinical scenarios. 

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: PAEDS 712

Course Contacts

Course Coordinator  
Mrs Heidi Watson 
Professional Teaching Fellow 
Phone: +64 21 337 129 
 
Course Director 
Bridget Farrant  
Email: bridget.farrant@middlemore.co.nz

Course Administrator  
Mrs Upendra Wickramarachchi 
Group Services Administrator 
Email: u.wicks@auckland.ac.nz 

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 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. Knowledge of common Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) cancers including their epidemiology, treatments and survival outcomes. This encompasses understanding New Zealand specific population differences (for example the health inequities experienced by Maori and Pacific AYAs), and how New Zealand fares on an international scale (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 3.1 and 4.1)
  2. Understanding of the unique factors that distinguish AYA cancer care from paediatric and adult cancer care and how these factors influence outcomes (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 3.1 and 6.1)
  3. A comprehensive knowledge and understanding of AYA cancer management principles coupled with an ability to apply these principles to clinical practice. (Capability 1.1, 1.2 and 6.1)
  4. Knowledge of how to effectively advocate for change and improved outcomes for AYAs with cancer (Capability 2.2, 3.1, 4.2 and 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Health Literacy Exercise 25% Individual Coursework
Short Answer Take Home Test x 2 30% Individual Test
Case Presentation of an AYA patient 40% Individual Coursework
Online/Class Contribution 5% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Health Literacy Exercise
Short Answer Take Home Test x 2
Case Presentation of an AYA patient
Online/Class Contribution

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

This course is taught by blended learning with online content (weekly pre-recorded lectures, zoom life lectures, online discussions & activities and reading material) and one block contact day on campus (this can be attended via zoom for students living outside of Auckland).  

Delivery Mode

Online

All material will be provided online. Attendance is required to scheduled online live activities. Attendance on campus is encouraged for the one day workshop with an option for students living outside Auckland to participate via zoom, but in previous years most students have preferred to attend in person. 

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.

This is a multidisciplinary course covering a broad range of topics. There is no prescribed text but substantial readings/reports will be provided in course material. 

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.

Other Information

This is an applied clinical course for health professionals caring and supporting young people with cancer. It builds on the generic knowledge and skills taught in PAEDS712 while providing advanced knowledge and skills in AYA cancer care in areas such as fertility preservation, clinical trial participation, survivorship, consent and ethical issues and palliative care.  

This course is designed for professionals working clinically with young people in a cancer setting: nurses, doctors, radiation therapists, mental health clinicians, social workers, health teachers and youth workers. 

The course does require that students have previously completed PAEDS712 or are currently enrolled in PAEDS712.  
 

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.

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.

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.

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.