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Unit outline_

GMED5005: Ethics and Evidence in Genomics

Semester 2, 2023 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This is the capstone unit of the Genomics and Precision Medicine Master's degree and it aims to develop the ethical and critical thinking needed to inform best clinical practice in Genomic Medicine. It is divided into two parts: an introduction to key ethical concepts and methods of ethical analysis relevant to health care practice and research, and an overview of evidence. Students will critically appraise the evidence base related to an area of practice in their workplace or a clinical guideline. This will require the development of a clinical question, a literature review, then an appraisal of the literature and application of evidence to individual patient care. Learning modules will include how to carry out a literature review, an example of how clinical practice and guidelines have changed based on changing evidence and review, and further refinement of clinical epidemiology and critical appraisal skills developed in CEPI5100 Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Genomic Medicine
Credit points 6
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
CEPI5100 and 18 credit points of stream specific units (GMED5001, GMED5002, GMED5003, GMED5004, WARC5001, CEPI5312)
Prohibitions
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Alan Ma, alan.ma@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Online task Ethics online tasks
Online task
10% Multiple weeks 300-400 words each
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2
Online task Evidence online tasks
Online task
40% Multiple weeks 300-1000 words each
Outcomes assessed: LO4 LO6 LO5
Assignment Ethics essay
Essay
20% Week 07
Due date: 17 Sep 2023 at 23:59
1000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3
Assignment Evidence: major written assessment
Critical Appraisal
30% Week 11
Due date: 22 Oct 2023 at 23:59
1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO7 LO8

Assessment summary

  • Ethics online tasks: Short ethics task in response to a question posed in the relevant week’s content module. These on-line tasks are not ‘marked’ but students will receive a participation mark for their satisfactory and timely completion.
  • Ethics essay: Topic to be provided closer to the date.
  • Evidence online tasks: Sequential and related tasks on evidence-based medicine project. Students will select a clinical scenario, construct a focused clinical question, search the literature for appropriate articles and summarise the articles. Students will also be asked to provide an evidence presentation which incorporates work from previous evidence online tasks.
  • Evidence: major written assessment: Students will incorporate work from previous online tasks to appraise the evidence on a selected clinical scenario. Work will be assessed according to its application of evidence, identification of biases in literature, and provision of a final decision.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Module 1: Ethics Online class (10 hr)  
Week 02 Module 1: Ethics Online class (10 hr)  
Week 03 Module 1: Ethics Online class (10 hr)  
Week 04 Module 1: Ethics Online class (10 hr)  
Week 05 Module 2: Evidence Online class (10 hr)  
Week 06 Module 2: Evidence Online class (10 hr)  
Week 07 Module 2: Evidence Online class (10 hr)  
Week 08 Module 2: Evidence Online class (10 hr)  
Week 09 Module 2: Evidence Online class (10 hr)  
Week 10 Module 2: Evidence Online class (10 hr)  
Week 11 Module 2: Evidence Online class (10 hr)  
Week 12 Module 2: Evidence Online class (10 hr)  
Week 13 Module 2: Evidence Online class (10 hr)  

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Explain and compare the features of predominant ethical theories relevant to evidence based health care practice and research
  • LO2. Describe and critically evaluate ethical principles and concepts such as autonomy, capacity, vulnerability, best interests and consent and their role in health care practice and research
  • LO3. Apply these ethical concepts to relevant contemporary issues or challenges in health care practice and research
  • LO4. Formulate a clinical question so that it fits into one of the four main areas (diagnosis, prognosis, intervention, harm) and can be answered by finding and using the best evidence
  • LO5. Select sources of EBM material appropriate for a given question
  • LO6. Retrieve appropriate evidence through optimal querying of selected sources
  • LO7. Critically appraise retrieved evidence for validity, importance and applicability including how the limitations of retrieved evidence modifies its applicability to patient care
  • LO8. Apply the factors involved in clinical decision making as they relate to an individual patient

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Since this unit was last offered in 2022, we have modified some word counts to align with the other streams in this capstone unit. We value your feedback about any aspect of the unit of study and your experience as a student of Sydney Medical School. To help ensure our courses meet your needs and maintain a high standard, we welcome your feedback at any time, and we ask you to complete the Mid-Semester Evaluation Survey and the Unit of Study Survey at the end of the semester. You can also rate any component of the unit using our star rating system found at the bottom of many pages as you progress through the unit. Your ratings and comments are anonymous and specifying what you liked and didn’t like about any of the learning materials, assessment items, discussion forums, feedback etc will help us to target our improvement efforts. Please note that your participation in this unit of study permits de-identified information about your learning experience and interaction with learning resources to be used for the purpose of improving the student learning experience.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.