Pathophysiology

Purpose:  This Pathophysiology course is designed for the conceptual study of disease in general rather than studying particular disorders.  All disorders can be approached using the pathophysiology concepts introduced on the first day of class.  You will apply these concepts to investigate one disease of your choice in an oral presentation worth 15% total.  We will use a stepped approach to develop the paper using proper APA format.

 

General Instructions:

1) Step #1: Choose one disease from the list of diseases associated with the content of the course.  You will become an expert on this disease!

AIDS/HIV

Hemophilia

Arthritis, Rheumatoid

Asthma

Cancer: Breast

Cancer: Other (pick one!)

Cancer: Ovarian

Cancer: Prostate

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA – Stroke)

Congestive Heart Failure

Crohn’s Disease

Cystic Fibrosis

Diabetes Type 1

Diabetes Type 2

Emphysema (COPD)

 

Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Huntington’s Disease

Hypertension

Leukemia

Lupus, Systemic

Myocardial Infarction

Multiple Sclerosis

Muscular dystrophy

Peripheral Vascular Disease

Renal Insufficiency/Failure/Acute

Renal Insufficiency/Failure/Chronic

Scleroderma

Sickle Cell Disease (Anemia)

Thalassemia major

 

Directions: Using the items described below, create an outline for your topic.  Include the information that you have identified in your sources. Full sentences are not necessary in this step – individual words are enough.  However, I need enough information to judge if your content is complete, so be specific. Below is an example of how to do this step.

You may want to include a note about the source to remind yourself where it is from.

ANY COMMENTS WRITTEN ON THIS ASSIGNMENT ARE FOR GUIDANCE ONLY AND DO NOT INFLUENCE THE GRADE ON THE FINAL PAPER.

EXAMPLE:

Topic: Swine flu

1.     Definition: novel, contagious upper respiratory virus (Merck Manual)
2.    Etiology: H₁N₁ virus

III.   Incidence:  (could include brief info about where it started, how it spread)

1.   morbidity: 100,000 people got sick (or give a %)
2.   mortality: 140 people died per 100,000
3.   Risk factors: people who are in frequent contact with large numbers of others.
4.   school aged children
5.   working adults
6.   pregnant women
7.    Pathophysiology: (what happens on a cellular level?)
8.  enters through mucous membranes
9.  attaches to receptor sites on cells
10.  injects genetic material into cell to reproduce
11.  cell damage causes inflammatory response (describe)
12.   Signs and symptoms: (how does patho cause these things to happen?)
13.  inflammation causes tissue swelling, resulting in
14.  airway swelling, obstruction, shortness of breath
15.  pain, sore throat
16.  excess mucous, cough
17.  immune response produces cytokines, increasing temp

VII.  Diagnostic tests:

1.  based on signs and symptoms
2.  can use lab tests (list them and describe them)

VIII. Treatments:

1.   symptomatic treatment: fluids, rest, humidification
2.   medications: Tamiflu
3.   hospitalization: ventilatory support, IV fluids
4.    Sequella and complications:
5.   usually resolves by itself
6.   can lead to respiratory distress
7.   pleurisy or pneumonia
8.  shock and death

 

A).   Briefly define the disease.  For instance, “Chick pox is a contagious viral disease

most commonly seen in childhood that results in a generalized raised, red,

maculopapular rash accompanied by intense itching, known as pruritis.”  Be sure to

use and define any medical terminology.  Only use one or two sentences. Cite all

sources in the text, even if the material is paraphrased.

B).   State the morbidity and mortality of the disease (how many people get it – either

% of the population or the number per 100,000 each year.) Cite your sources.

C).   Identify the etiology of the disease.  If there is no specific etiology, explain some of

the theories that scientists currently believe about the disease.

D).   Identify any risk factors for the disease.  Be sure to put these in paragraph form – I

will take off for lists! Be very specific: say what age, what gender, etc. For instance,

say “African-American males over aged 65” rather than race, gender, and age.

E).   Explain the pathophysiology of the disease.  Be sure to explain what is

happening on the cellular level and link it to the signs and symptoms.. This should

be the largest portion of the paper. I am looking for terms and concepts used class.

F).   Identify and define the signs and symptoms of the disease.  Be sure to use the

correct medical terminology for the signs and symptoms, and explain them.  I am

looking for how the pathophysiology causes the signs and symptoms.

G).   Identify and describe the diagnostic tests used and the abnormal findings that would

confirm the diagnosis of the disease.  Again, be specific.  Give normal and

diagnostic values for lab tests, abnormal scan findings, etc.

H).   Describe the standard treatments used for this disease.  Tell me what meds are used

and what they do.  Briefly describe surgeries and treatments.

I).    Describe the complications and sequellae that may arise from the disease.  Use

appropriate medical terminology and define any terms.

J).   Include the references and appropriate citations in APA style on a separate page.

Examples of References

Bastione, J.K., Pepitone, S., & Collard, G. (2001).  The relationship between personality     type and area of practice in graduate baccalaureate nurses. Nursing Administration,11(7),315-321.  Retrieved from the PsycArticles database.

Rowan, D.Q. (2004). APA references for nursing students. Nursing Education Quarterly,      4(2), 57-62.

Smith, M.B. & Jones, L.C. (2006).  Pathophysiology for nursing students. New York:     Lippincott.