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Unit of study_
BIOS1173: Disease in Ageing
2022 unit information
This unit of study examines the disease processes and other physical health issues, which are important as people age. Students will study the factors which are responsible for the increased incidence of disease in the aged, the role of environmental factors in the development of disease, the relationships between disease and functional limitation, and the measures which can be taken to minimise the development and biological impact of disease. Students will also examine the relationships between the biomedical effects of ageing and sexuality. There will be in-depth consideration of one common disease of the aged, and its management in terms of prevention, treatment and residual disability. This is an entry level unit designed to give students an overview of topics relevant for professional practice. Topics are not covered in the detail that is applicable to specialist clinical units of study. Students who achieve a pass have a basic working knowledge of professionally relevant aspects of ageing. Students who achieve higher grades are better able to integrate various aspects of the unit, and to apply their knowledge to solve problems or explain higher level phenomena.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Medicine and Health
| Study level | Undergraduate |
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| Academic unit | Department of Medical Sciences |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Explain the four basic tenets of medical care; consent for medical treatmentthe role of advanced care directives; and the role of palliative care. Explain the special and legal conditions applying to each.
- LO2. Explain how the ageing population will impact on supply and demand of health services in the future. Explain what is meant by compression of morbidity, how it will impact on health service utilisation and how it can be achieved. Describe the common diseases that cause disability and their relationship to lifestyle. Explain the importance of function and loss of function for older people. Explain what is meant by frailty and how it develops. Describe the geriatric giants and their implications. Describe successful health promotion for older populations.
- LO3. Describe the role played by caregivers in society in the key factors that determine a carer's readiness/suitability to provide care. Describe the essential requirements for preparing people to assume the carers role. Describe the impacts (negative and positive) of assuming the caregiving role and the factors likely to result in the breakdown of the carer-patient relationship.
- LO4. Describe the importance of sexual activity and discuss the factors that affect sexual activity from a physiological, psychological and social viewpoint. Describe the special problems associated with sexuality in residential care. Describe the relationship between sexual dysfunction and disease in other body systems.
- LO5. Describe the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, hypertension and hypotension in ageing people. Describe the specific pathogenesis of myocardial infarction, transient ischaemic attacks and stroke and explain the principles of rehabilitation for these diseases.
- LO6. Describe the common diseases that occur in the ageing nervous system with special reference to dementia, delirium, depression and Parkinson's disease. Describe the diagnosis and management of these conditions, and the strategies used to overcome difficulties such as communication and behavioural problems.
- LO7. Describe the pathogenesis of Type II diabetes mellitus and the lifestyle factors associated with its development. Describe the common complications associated with Type II diabetes mellitus, why they occur, and the implications for function. Describe the strategies that can be used to manage and treat Type II diabetes mellitus and how they are implemented.1. How are the two types of diabetes differentiated in regard to the role of insulin and age of onset? Which type of diabetes is more common in older people?
- LO8. Describe the cellular level changes that lead to the development of tumours and why they occur. Differentiate between benign and malignant tumours. Explain the information that is required when a diagnosis of a tumour is made; the current approaches to cancer treatment and the complications. Describe the general principles applying to cancer screening and discuss them with particular reference to prostate cancer. Generate advice regarding prostate cancer screening for men on the basis of their age.
- LO9. Describe the prevalence of osteoarthritis in Australia its effects on individual function and the burden placed on the healthcare system. Describe the underlying risk factors for, pathogenesis and symptoms of osteoarthritis and how prevalence varies age and gender. Describe the various pharmacological and nonpharmacological strategies that can be used to manage osteoarthritis
- LO10. Describe how the prevalence of accidents changes with increasing age and the factors that contribute to this change. Describe the assessment of someone who has suffered a fall including the risk factors and functional consequences. Describe the significance of fear of falling and learning how to get up after a fall for fall prevention and injury minimisation. Describe how burns in older people can be minimised. Describe the important factors associated with driving in older people and how they can be aged.
- LO11. Describe the relationship between exercise and the incidence of chronic and acute disease. Describe the benefits of exercise programs for older people, the barriers that may prevent older people undertaking exercise and specific guidelines for different types of physical activity in older people. Explain the relationship between exercise and cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disease, cancer and dementia.
Unit availability
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