Clinical Diagnosis 1

General Information
Duration 1 semester (14 teaching weeks)
Level Year 3, Semester 5
Unit Weighting Unit Credit Points: 10 credit points
Total Course Credit Points: 320 credit points
Student Workload Number of timetabled hours per week: 4
Number of personal study hours per week: 6
Total workload hours per week :10
Prerequisites/ Corequisites HMS205: Pathophysiology & Microbiology
Academic Details
Description This unit introduces students to Western Medicine Clinical Diagnosis. This unit provides an overview of Clinical Diagnosis in Western Medicine as applied in contemporary biomedical settings. Student are presented with knowledge and skills to conduct clinical interviews, obtain and analyse case histories, undertake a range of physical examinations, interpret radiographic imaging and other diagnostic procedures commonly used in clinical practice and the results of laboratory investigations to establish a biomedical diagnosis.

This unit includes the aims, structure, and logic of a diagnostic interview, ethical, interpersonal and cultural issues, the rationale and procedures of relevant physical examinations, the contemporary application and terminology in various laboratory tests and other diagnosis method and the methods of recording patient information. Issues relating to cultural awareness, difference and relevance of WM and CM diagnosis method, communication and referral based on an understanding of underlying pathology will be emphasised.

Learning outcomes Upon completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain the fundamental theories, principles, processes, technique, equipment, and issues of clinical diagnosis;
  2. Describe appropriately a sequenced and problem-focused interview with proficient skills and case recording in a professional, accurate, legible, secure, ethical and accessible way, and in accord with guidelines issued by the CMBA. Interpret and analyse the information gathered during interview and physical examination, integrate knowledge and skills in diagnosis and differential diagnosis for decision making.
  3. Identify and assess the commonly used laboratory tests and the purpose of these, distinguish between normal and abnormal values for commonly ordered tests, explain the relationship between abnormal laboratory test results and the diagnosis of various diseases, and explain how the results of laboratory tests can influence CM diagnosis and treatment; Apply appropriate descriptive terminology when referring to the findings of ECG and imaging procedures, and the clinical indications for requesting specialized procedures such as ECG, CT, MRI, ultrasound and nuclear medicine studies
  4. Describe the differences and similarities of diagnostic skills and tools between Western medicine and Chinese medicine, and the roles of Western medicine diagnosis in Chinese medicine practice; Describe the roles of cultural and interpersonal factors in healthcare, the rationale and need for referral in certain conditions
Unit requirement To successfully complete the unit, students must: attend 80% of all the lectures and tutorial classes; attempt all assessment tasks and achieve at least 50% of the total marks; and achieve a mark of at least 40% in the final examination.
Assessment Assessment 1: Case Study Analysis (25%)

Assessment 2: Practical Test (25%)

Assessment 3: Final Examination (50%)

Prescribed text * The prescribed and recommended readings are subject to annual review.

Jarvis, C. (2016). Physical examination & health assessment (7th ed.). St. Louis, Mo.: Elsevier/Saunders.

Recommended readings Colledge, N. R., Walker, B. R., & Ralston, S. H. (Eds.). (2010). Davidson’s principles and practice of medicine (21st ed.). Edinburgh, New York: Churchill Livingstone/ Elsevier.

Llewelyn H., Ang H. A., Lewis K., & Al-Abdullah As. (2014). Oxford Handbook of Clinical Diagnosis (3rd ed.). New York : Oxford University Press.

Talley, N. J. (2010). Clinical examination: A systematic guide to physical diagnosis (6th ed.). Chatswood, N.S.W. : Elsevier Australia, 2010.

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