| Effective Term: | 2025/05 |
| Institute / School : | Institute of Health and Wellbeing |
| Unit Title: | Pathology and Pharmacology in the Older Adult |
| Unit ID: | HEALA6400 |
| Credit Points: | 30.00 |
| Prerequisite(s): | Nil |
| Co-requisite(s): | Nil |
| Exclusion(s): | Nil |
| ASCED: | 060311 |
| Other Change: | |
| Brief description of the Unit |
The purpose of this unit is to prepare health care professionals with an in-depth understanding of the natural pathophysiological changes that occur as a function of the ageing process. The unit will explore the major body systems, the changes as a result of ageing and associated implications for practice. Pharmacology, including the implication for ageing on pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and the concept of polypharmacy, are examined in the context of pathophysiological alterations. |
| Grade Scheme: | Graded (HD, D, C, P, MF, F, XF) |
| Work Experience Indicator: |
| No work experience |
| Placement Component: | |
| Supplementary Assessment:Yes |
| Where supplementary assessment is available a student must have failed overall in the Unit but gained a final mark of 45 per cent or above, has completed all major assessment tasks (including all sub-components where a task has multiple parts) as specified in the Unit Description and is not eligible for any other form of supplementary assessment |
| Course Level: |
| Level of Unit in Course | AQF Level(s) of Course | | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | | Introductory | | | | | | | | Intermediate | | | | | | | | Advanced | | | |  | | |
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| Learning Outcomes: |
| Knowledge: |
| K1. | Critically examine and explain the pathological effects of ageing and selected disease process at a cellular and systemic level and their associated manifestations in the older adult. |
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| K2. | Identify appropriate and inappropriate response to pharmacological therapy as a result of alterations in physiology associated with ageing. |
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| K3. | Analyse and describe the characteristics of physiological alterations or disease within each of the physiological systems and identify the etiological factors associated with the ageing process. |
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| Skills: |
| S1. | Critically evaluate the effect of physiological mechanisms of ageing and how they manifest in physical presentation. |
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| S2. | Identify and discuss the physiological factors that impact on the older adult at both a cellular and systemic level. |
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| S3. | Critically analyse the physiological and pathological changes associated with ageing and the possible beneficial and adverse outcomes of pharmacotherapy in the older adult through comprehensive assessment |
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| Application of knowledge and skills: |
| A1. | Interpret the epidemiology, physiologic changes, physical and psychological conditions commonly seen in older adults in the development of a coordinated approach to reducing drug related problems through the process of comprehensive geriatric assessment. |
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| A2. | Demonstrate a fundamental knowledge of how age related physiological changes in older adults can affect the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of common medications. |
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| Unit Content: |
Examination of each body system including the pathophysiology of normal ageing, common changes associated with ageing and their pharmacological management. |
| Graduate Attributes: |
| Federation University recognises that students require key transferable employability skills to prepare them for their future workplace and society. FEDTASKS (Transferable Attributes Skills and Knowledge) provide a targeted focus on five key transferable Attributes, Skills, and Knowledge that are be embedded within curriculum, developed gradually towards successful measures and interlinked with cross-discipline and Co-operative Learning opportunities. One or more FEDTASK, transferable Attributes, Skills or Knowledge must be evident in the specified learning outcomes and assessment for each FedUni Unit, and all must be directly assessed in each Course.
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| FED TASK and descriptor | Development and acquisition of FEDTASKS in the Unit | | Level | FEDTASK 1
Interpersonal | Students will demonstrate high-level skills to effectively communicate, interact and work with others both individually and in groups Students will be required to display (in person and/or online) high-level skills in-person and/or online in: • Effective verbal and non-verbal communication via a range of synchronous and asynchronous methods • Active listening for meaning and influencing • High-level empathy for others • Negotiating and demonstrating extended conflict resolution skills • Working respectfully in cross-cultural and diverse teams | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 2
Leadership | Students will demonstrate the ability to apply leadership skills and behaviours Students will be required to display skills in: • Creating, contributing to, and enabling collegial environments • Showing self-awareness and the ability to self-reflect for personal growth • Inspiring and enabling others • Making informed and evidence-based decisions through consultation with others • Displaying initiative and ability to solve problems | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 3
Critical Thinking and Creativity | Students will demonstrate an ability to work in complex and ambiguous environments, using their imagination to create new ideas Students will be required to display skills in: • Reflecting critically on complex problems • Synthesising, evaluating ideas, concepts and information • Proposing alternative perspectives to refine ideas • Challenging conventional thinking to clarify concepts through deep inquiry • Proposing creative solutions in problem solving | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 4
Digital Literacy | Students will demonstrate the ability to work proficiently across a range of tools, platforms and applications to achieve a range of tasks Students will be required to display high-level skills in: • Finding, accessing, collating, evaluating, managing, curating, organising and appropriately and securely sharing complex digital information at a high-level • Receiving and responding to messages in a range of digital media • Using digital tools appropriately to conduct research • Contributing proficiently to digital teams and working groups • Participating in and utilising digital learning opportunities | 1 - Yes | FEDTASK 5
Sustainable and Ethical Mindset | Students will demonstrate the ability to think ethically and sustainably. Students will be required to display skills in: • The responsible conduct of research • Making informed judgments that consider the impact of devising solutions in multiple global economic environmental and societal contexts • Demonstrating commitment to social responsibility as a professional and a citizen • Generating research solutions which are sustainable,ethical, socially responsible and/or sustainable • Extending lifelong, life-wide and life-deep learning to be open to diverse others • Demonstrate extended actions to foster sustainability in their professional and personal life. | 1 - Yes |
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| | Learning Outcomes Assessed | Assessment Tasks | Assessment Type | Weighting | | 1. | K1, K2, K3, S1, A1, A2 | Critical analysis of contemporary issues associated with the physiological changes common in the older adult | Essay | 40 - 60% | | 2. | K1, K3, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2 | Application of advanced pathophysiology and pharmacology in the context of ageing | Case study | 30 - 50% | | 3. | K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, A1, A2 | Assessment of principles of advanced pathophysiology and pharmacology in the older adult. | Online Quizzes | 10 - 30% | | 4. | K1, K2, K3, S1, S2, S3, A1, A2 | Satisfactory demonstration of clinically relevant knowledge associated with the advanced pathophysiology and pharmacology in the older adult | Assessment of key clinical knowledge within a workplace practice. | S/U Hurdle |
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