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Course profile

Digital Health in Clinical Practice (HLTH7002)

Study period
Sem 2 2024
Location
External
Attendance mode
Online

Course overview

Study period
Semester 2, 2024 (22/07/2024 - 18/11/2024)
Study level
Postgraduate Coursework
Location
External
Attendance mode
Online
Units
2
Administrative campus
Herston
Coordinating unit
Medicine Faculty

The focus of the course is on the deployment of digital health technology into healthcare and self-care. Using a series of clinical examples, this course examines the utility of digital health technologies in clinical practice. The distinctly different sectors of hospital, community (primary care) and home will be explored and the significant digital health technologies that are relevant to each sector. In addition you will examine how technology can support and engage the consumer in self-care 'wellness' priorities of governments as they seek to ensure future good population health. Implementation of ICT in Australia, other developed and developing nations will be covered.

Australian healthcare is actively integrating information communication technology (ICT) into patient-centred care. The e-health policy of the Australian Government centres on a connected electronic model of communication to enable the sharing of accurate and up to date patient information across all tiers of health services and clinicians. This communication model is underpinned by a range of patient/clinician communication techniques and a ubiquitous personally controlled electronic health records. This course leads you to explore the current and future application of ICT in healthcare in Australia. You will review the peer-reviewed evidence to appraise clinical efficacy and utility data, research and discuss the socioeconomic and patient safety benefits and barriers of ICT integration into models of care and then determine if the use of technology can assist with a particular field of medical interest – either professional or personal.

Course contact

Course staff

Lecturer

Guest lecturer

Professor Anthony Smith
Associate Professor Liam Caffery
Dr Jaimon Kelly
Dr Emma Thomas

Timetable

Additional timetable information

This course is delivered online, so there is no class timetable available on SI-net. The learning activities are outlined in the Course Profile and further details are provided through the course Learn.UQ site.

Aims and outcomes

This course is designed to introduce you to the utility of digital health technology/tools and systems and clinical informatics within the clinical practice of healthcare. You will gain an understanding of the acknowledged gaps in healthcare delivery (at client, clinician and organisational levels) and the intended application/vision of digital health to address those gaps. You will investigate a range of digital health technologies in the areas of clinical practice, person-centric engagement with healthcare, organisational workflows and research. The course content is underpinned by the quadruple aim of healthcare (i.e. how does digital health and clinical informatics improve the health of the population, improve the patient experience of care, reduce healthcare costs and improve the work life of health providers?). 

Learning outcomes

After successfully completing this course you should be able to:

LO1.

Demonstrate greater understanding of the advent of information and communication technologies (ICT) and the socioeconomic, policy and public health issues that drive its innovation and integration.

LO2.

Identify various types of information and communication technologies that have been successfully integrated into health and its subsequent impact on health outcomes.

LO3.

Understand the technical, quality, legal and fiscal expectations of ICT for appropriate healthcare use.

LO4.

Identify various clinical scenarios that demonstrate effective use of patient-centric ICT in healthcare.

LO5.

Understand the future of ICT use in Australia with regards to healthcare priorities and the aging population.

LO6.

Determine if ICT can improve aspects of clinical care relative to own clinical field of interest or expertise

Assessment

Assessment summary

Category Assessment task Weight Due date
Reflection Assessment Task 1: Online Discussion
  • Online
5% (1% for each of the 5 discussions)

5:00 pm 2/08/2024

5:00 pm 9/08/2024

5:00 pm 23/08/2024

5:00 pm 4/10/2024

5:00 pm 18/10/2024

Quiz Assessment Task 2: Multi-Choice Quiz (Online)
  • Hurdle
  • Online
25%

6/09/2024 5:00 pm

Presentation Assessment Task 3: Short Case (Narrated)
  • Hurdle
  • Online
30%

4/10/2024 5:00 pm

Essay/ Critique Assessment Task 4: Final Essay
  • Hurdle
  • Online
40%

25/10/2024 5:00 pm

A hurdle is an assessment requirement that must be satisfied in order to receive a specific grade for the course. Check the assessment details for more information about hurdle requirements.

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Online Discussion

  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Reflection
Weight
5% (1% for each of the 5 discussions)
Due date

5:00 pm 2/08/2024

5:00 pm 9/08/2024

5:00 pm 23/08/2024

5:00 pm 4/10/2024

5:00 pm 18/10/2024

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06

Task description

During the semester we will use Padlet to encourage collaborative learning and problem solving - this is an important element of the learning process. Another objective of this activity is to exchange ideas about the concepts and processes covered in the course with your fellow students. In Teaching Weeks 2, 3, 5, 10 & 12 a topic for discussion will be posted on the Course Assessment page with a link to a related Padlet. You will contribute your thoughts/ideas to the Padlet. Worth 1% each for meaningful/relevant contributions (specific guidelines / word limit will be provided). Participation in Assessment Task 1 is not mandatory. Late submissions will not be marked.

Submission guidelines

Submission instructions will be provided via Learn.UQ.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

You will receive a mark of 0 if this assessment is submitted late.

Assessments submitted after the due date without an approved extension will receive a late penalty and will not be marked.

Assessment Task 2: Multi-Choice Quiz (Online)

  • Hurdle
  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Quiz
Weight
25%
Due date

6/09/2024 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

During teaching week 7 you will sit an online multi-choice quiz (MCQ); 25 questions (worth 1 mark each.) Quiz questions are drawn from the Weeks 1-6 Learning Resources. 

 

Hurdle requirements

To achieve a grade of 4 or above, you must complete and submit this mandatory assessment item.

Submission guidelines

Submission instructions will be provided via Learn.UQ.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Assessments submitted after the due date without an approved extension will receive a late penalty.

Assessment Task 3: Short Case (Narrated)

  • Hurdle
  • Online
Mode
Product/ Artefact/ Multimedia
Category
Presentation
Weight
30%
Due date

4/10/2024 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L02, L03, L04, L05

Task description

Narrated Short Case Presentation: Integrating digital health technology (12 minutes duration)

The aim of this task is to prepare and narrate a short case report in a PowerPoint format; the short case outline, template and detailed instructions will be provided via Learn.UQ.

You are required to review the four cases provided in the template, choose one case and research and summarise an appropriate evidence-based digital health application.

You will produce, narrate & submit the assessment using the provided PowerPoint template.

Hurdle requirements

To achieve a grade of 4 or above, you must complete and submit this mandatory assessment item.

Submission guidelines

Submission instructions will be provided via Learn.UQ.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Assessments submitted after the due date without an approved extension will receive a late penalty.

Assessment Task 4: Final Essay

  • Hurdle
  • Online
Mode
Written
Category
Essay/ Critique
Weight
40%
Due date

25/10/2024 5:00 pm

Learning outcomes
L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06

Task description

You will be provided with a choice of topic or a scenario relating to the overall learning of the course. You are expected to write an essay critically analysing the issues relating to the subject. Full instructions and criteria will be provided on Learn.UQ.

Word count - not to exceed 3000 words excluding cover page / references / header & footer content. 

Hurdle requirements

To achieve a grade of 4 or above, you must complete and submit this mandatory assessment item.

Submission guidelines

Submission instructions will be provided via Learn.UQ.

Deferral or extension

You may be able to apply for an extension.

The maximum extension allowed is 14 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.

Late submission

A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.

Assessments submitted after the due date without an approved extension will receive a late penalty.

Course grading

Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.

Grade Cut off Percent Description
1 (Low Fail) 0 - 24

Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

2 (Fail) 25 - 44

Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes.

3 (Marginal Fail) 45 - 49

Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes

Course grade description: Please note: You will be unable to achieve a grade above 3 if you do not complete all mandatory assessment items, regardless of overall course performance.

4 (Pass) 50 - 64

Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Course grade description: Please note: To achieve a grade of 4 or above, you must complete and submit all assessment items.

5 (Credit) 65 - 74

Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes.

6 (Distinction) 75 - 84

Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes.

7 (High Distinction) 85 - 100

Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes.

Additional course grading information

You are required to complete and submit all pieces of mandatory assessment to pass this course. Assessment Tasks 2, 3 & 4 are mandatory; Assessment Task 1 is not mandatory. You do not have to pass each assessment piece individually but need to gain 50% or more to pass overall. Note - half marks may be given.

Students who do not pass this course often display some or all of the following features, depending on the nature of the assignment or task:

  • lack basic knowledge and understanding of the essentials in subject matter;
  • incorrect or incomplete answers;
  • poor structure, organisation and coherence of thought;
  • shows some grasp of problems, but lacks clarity;
  • no evidence of independent thought;
  • no evidence for originality;
  • low level of professionalism and presentation.

Calculation of Final Grade

The percentage mark for this course is reached by calculating the weighted average percentage mark achieved across the marked assessment tasks. The total of the weighted assessment tasks for the course will be rounded to two decimal points if required, with the final mathematical rounding to an integer at the end yielding a percentage mark. A mark of x.5% or greater will be rounded up to (x+1)%. A percentage mark of less than x.5% will be rounded down to x%.

Supplementary assessment

Supplementary assessment is available for this course.

Additional assessment information

Please note that all submission dates for assessments are in Brisbane time - Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST).

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides emerging tools that may support you in completing some assessments. You may appropriately use AI in completing your assessment tasks for this course unless otherwise indicated by the Course Coordinator. You must clearly reference any use of AI in each instance. A failure to reference AI use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. Refer to the following guide regarding referencing of AI:ᅠOverview - ChatGPT and other generative AI tools - Library Guides at University of Queensland Library.

Learning resources

You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.

Library resources

Find the required and recommended resources for this course on the UQ Library website.

Learning activities

The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.

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Learning period Activity type Topic
Multiple weeks

From Week 1 To Week 3

Lecture

Module One: Overview of ICT in healthcare

Each teaching week a Study guide, required reading and lecture material are provided; the weekly topics are:

  • Week 1: Contextualising digital health
  • Week 2: The importance of quality data and information
  • Week 3: What is driving the integration of digital into health?

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04

Multiple weeks

From Week 4 To Week 7
(12 Aug - 08 Sep)

Lecture

Module Two: ICT and the patient

Teaching Weeks 4-7 (weekly learning resources include Study guides, Required Readings and Lecture(s)):

  • Week 4: Improving access to care - focus on telehealth
  • Week 5: Mobile devices and health
  • Week 6: Assisting and monitoring remote patients
  • Week 7: What's working & making a difference for patients?

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L06

Multiple weeks

From Week 8 To Week 11
(09 Sep - 13 Oct)

Lecture

Module Three: ICT and the clinician

Over Teaching Weeks 8-11 we cover:

  • Week 8: Clinical information systems
  • Week 9: Clinical databases and search engines
  • Week 10: Technology for clinical decision making
  • Week 11: Clinicians - what's working and making a difference?

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L04, L05, L06

Multiple weeks

From Week 12 To Week 13
(14 Oct - 27 Oct)

Lecture

Module Four: The Vision of ICT in Healthcare

The final two weeks of this course we explore the prospective application of ICT in healthcare and review the key learnings from the course:

  • Week 12: Digital health applications
  • Week 13: In review

Learning outcomes: L01, L02, L03, L04, L05, L06

Policies and procedures

University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:

Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.