Patient-centred Communication (11616.1)

Required texts

Gjyn O'Toole Communication  - Core Interpersonal Skills for Health Professionals 4th Edition ISBN 9780729542449

This text is available as paper or electronic copies of some editions from UC Library

Submission of assessment items

Extensions & Late submissions

Any assessment item submitted WITHOUT the specified information on the first page will be returned to the student and not marked until this requirement is met. Late penalties will be applied (see below).

Late submission:

• Mark adjustment: 10% of the maximum mark available for the assessment task will be deducted for each day late up to 3 days. For example an essay awarded 60% (60/100) submitted 2 days late will receive a mark adjustment of 10% per day, therefore, the adjusted maximum mark for that item will be 40% (40/100).
• Similarly, if weighting is used then a piece of work worth 50% of the unit which received 30/50 would be reduced by 5 marks per day (i.e. 10% of 50) and would therefore receive a maximum adjusted mark of 20/50 if late by two days.
• Submissions received more than 3 days after the prescribed date and time will not be accepted for marking, a mark of zero (0) will be awarded for the item.
• For the purposes of these penalties, all days of the week count, including weekends and public holidays, even when the University may be closed.
• The minimum possible mark for late submission is zero.
• For clarification, one (1) minute past the specified due date and time is considered a late submission.

It is students' responsibility to be familiar with the electronic submission process (e.g., the use of CANVAS and Turnitin). Students are reminded to ensure they plan well enabling adequate time to submit assessments prior to the deadline, in order to avoid a mark adjustment.

Extensions to assignments, placement, deferred intra-semester tests and examinations:

Students are only permitted one extension per assignment and one deferral per intra-semester test/examination/placement (on the grounds of illness or other special circumstances as per UC Assessment Procedures). Students are NOT PERMITTED to defer an already deferred intra-semester test, exam or placement. A request for extensions / deferral must be on the Assessment Extension form with relevant documentation and must be lodged with the Unit Convener as soon as possible and no later than 3 business days from the due date. Students should note that deferral of exams held in the Final Assessment Period (which are centrally timetabled) follow a different process and are assessed by the examinations office.

Special assessment requirements

Students must apply academic integrity in their learning and research activities at UC. This includes submitting authentic and original work for assessments and properly acknowledging any sources used.

Academic integrity involves the ethical, honest and responsible use, creation and sharing of information. It is critical to the quality of higher education. Our academic integrity values are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility and courage.

UC students have to complete the Academic Integrity Module annually to learn about academic integrity and to understand the consequences of academic integrity breaches (or academic misconduct).

UC uses various strategies and systems, including detection software, to identify potential breaches of academic integrity. Suspected breaches may be investigated, and action can be taken when misconduct is found to have occurred.

Information is provided in the Academic Integrity Policy, Academic Integrity Procedure, and University of Canberra (Student Conduct) Rules 2023. For further advice, visit Study Skills.

Participation requirements

100% attendance is expected at all required tutorials and 100% participation is expected unless otherwise approved (in writing) by the unit convener.

Required IT skills

Students should be conversant with searching for and accessing information via electronic means; the use of Canvas; and word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software.

Using generative AI

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) tools like ChatGPT can aid but should not replace independent thinking. If using genAI tools for the major project (topic development, book chapter, multimedia presentation), acknowledge their use in or provide an appropriate citation. Acknowledgement is not required for low-level tasks such as improving spelling, grammar, and quality of written expression.

You are responsible for content you submit. Be aware of limitations of genAI tools such as inaccuracies, biases, and incomplete content. GenAI tools work best for topics you already understand, with carefully crafted prompting based on peer-reviewed research. Refine prompts for better results and fact-check generated content. Despite the risks, GenAI tools can aid brainstorming, concept explanation, synthesis of ideas, and improve the readability and quality of written expression. For further information please refer to UC library GenAI guide (https://canberra.libguides.com/genai) and the Academic Integrity Module.

In-unit costs

The following costs are expected for this unit:

• Self-printing of electronically provided material
• Textbooks

Work placement, internships or practicums

None

Additional information

Style Guide for report formatting

Unless otherwise specified by a student's specific enrolled discipline, all written assessment pieces (formative and summative) must conform to the following requirements:

• Cover Sheet with student ID (identification) number, name of the assignment, and word count. (Student name must not be entered on the Cover Sheet).
• Headings in bold, maximum font size 16 pt.
• Font size: 11 pt – Times New Roman, Arial, or Calibri.
• Margins are no less than 1.5cm on all sides.
• Page number at the bottom right-hand corner of the footer.
• Citations and References for Pharmacy Students are given in NLM/Vancouver style (chronological numeric) ONLY. Information on this referencing style can be found on the library website at https://canberra.libguides.com/c.php?g=599301&p=4149536 
• Reference styles for non-pharmacy students may vary for each Discipline and can be found on the Canvas site.
• Privacy statements if required (see above).
• Assignment requirements (first page) see above.
• Any word limits specified in assignments (in this Unit Outline or in task descriptions on Canvas) will INCLUDE all tables, figures, and appendices, but EXCLUDE references (unless otherwise stated).
• Submissions which exceed the specified word (or page) length will be truncated at the word (or page) limit and only assessed to this point.

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