VETS1018 Veterinary Professional Foundations Semester 1 2024

Clinical Research Skills Assignment

Preamble

This assignment will help veterinary and veterinary technology students to appreciate the importance
and usefulness of veterinary literature and how it relates to clinical reasoning and patient management/
care in clinical veterinary practice.

This task helps to contextualise lecture content from VETS1018 and should also provide baseline
scaffolding for further self-directed learning during the programme. In this project you will synthetise
literature into a clinically relevant and useful framework that speaks directly to the way in which
veterinarians and clinical veterinary teams approach the work up and management/ care of animal
patients.

Foundational research skills used for this task will prepare you for assignments across the Bachelor of
Veterinary Science and Bachelor of Veterinary Technology programmes, and for your continued
professional development following graduation.

Learning objectives

Completion of this assignment will help you to:

• Contextualise lecture material related to establishing animal health, veterinary medicine,
clinical reasoning, surgery, diagnostics, communication skills and patient care
• Appreciate the way clinical cases present and are managed in veterinary practice
• Locate relevant papers from the literature and compile a succinct summary of a common
veterinary condition using standard headings and conventions used for a ‘case report’ format
• Conduct a targeted critical review of collated literature and draw logical conclusions in relation
to research findings and quality

Use of generative artificial intelligence

This assignment provides an opportunity for students to practice a range of skills in research,
comprehension and composition that are required to compile a formal and fully referenced assignment.
These skills include topic and scope selection, searching the library, searching relevant scientific
databases, reading and analysing scientific papers, evaluating and synthesising literature into a concise
review.

For these reasons, the use of generative artificial intelligence (Chat GPT and similar programmes) is not
permitted for this assignment.

Whilst clearly the use of generative AI has already and will likely continue to positively infiltrate many
aspects of our professional working and personal lives, the use of generative AI for this project will limit
your ability to practice foundational research and writing skills required for assignments of this nature.

1
VETS1018 Veterinary Professional Foundations Semester 1 2024

Staff contacts

Joerg Henning (Part B) Dan Schull (Part A) Rebekah Scotney (Part A) Navin Prakash (Part A)
Ph. (07) 5460 1846 Ph. (07) 5460 1845 Ph. (07) 5460 1952 Ph. (07) 5460 1964
j.henning@uq.edu.au d.schull@uq.edu.au rebekah.scotney@uq.edu.au navin.prakash@uq.edu.au

Vet and Vet tech Vet student queries Vet tech student queries Vet tech student queries
student queries

Assignment due date and submission process

Assignments are to be submitted by 5pm Wednesday 1 May 2024 via the VETS1018 Blackboard site.

All applications for an Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) for the assignment must be lodged
online. Information about the process, including acceptable reasons for an extension and the
supporting documentation required, can be found on the my.UQ website
(https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/manage-my-program/exams-and-
assessment/applying-extension). If your circumstances meet the requirements, you will need to
complete the Extension of Assessment Due Date (EADD) form online through your ‘My Requests’ tab
via the my.UQ Dashboard before the assignment due date.

Task description

Part A – Literature Review and Overview of Condition (1500-2000 words)

Compile a succinct literature review of one animal disease/ condition either commonly seen by
veterinary practices in Australia, or one that is commonly subjected to preventative strategies for
example vaccinations, anthelmintics and other husbandry interventions (list provided on Blackboard).
If you already work or volunteer in a veterinary practice, you are welcome to select a disease/ condition
that is seen regularly by the clinic you work in.

For your review, it will be relevant to focus on one species for the disease condition (for example
‘hyperthyroidism in cats’ rather than ‘hyperthyroidism in dogs and cats’). However, for a small number
of conditions where the body of literature may be limited, it may be suitable to broaden your review
(for example ‘coccidiosis in native Australian marsupials’).

Compile a succinct overview of the disease/ condition under the following headings:

An ‘Introduction’ that provides a brief overview of the cause/ pathophysiology of the condition.

Signalment: What breed/s, gender/s or age/s of animal are at risk of this condition?

Historical findings: What are the common historical findings noted in animals with this condition? What
sort of things will the owner/ carer report to the veterinarian (and/or veterinary technologist during
triage for emergency cases)? What signs will the owner/ carer have noted in the animal/s prior to
presentation for veterinary assessment? What may have prompted them to seek veterinary care?

2
VETS1018 Veterinary Professional Foundations Semester 1 2024

Physical examination findings: What are the common physical examination findings are noted in
animals with this condition? Please include any anomalies in vital signs that may be detected on clinical
assessment.

Diagnostic tests and procedures: What diagnostic tests and procedures are indicated to confirm the
diagnosis of this disease/ condition?

Treatment: What treatments (including drugs or any procedures performed) are indicated to treat this
condition? Please highlight the patient care/ nursing elements essential to treatment and any special
home-care instructions/ considerations for clients where indicated.

Prognosis: What is the general prognosis for patients with this condition?

Prevention: What preventative strategies (if any) can reduce the risk of animals developing this
condition?

To compile this overview, you must primarily cite journal articles from the peer-reviewed literature.
Scanning textbooks may help you to locate literature for review. In total, we would expect you to
reference at least ten (10) different sources, with at least 70% of the sources from the peer-reviewed
literature. At least two (2) of the sources you select for citation must be research studies (for example:
case studies, case series, cross-sectional studies, case control studies, cohort studies or randomised or
non-randomised clinical trials etc.). Please cite supporting literature according to the Vancouver
Referencing Style (https://guides.library.uq.edu.au/referencing/vancouver-printable).

Part B – Critical Appraisal of the Cited Literature (table and approximately 200 words)

An important skill you will need to develop over the programme is your ability to critically appraise the
veterinary literature. In Part A, you will have cited a range of papers which may include literature
reviews (narrative or systematic) and research studies. As stipulated, at least two of these papers must
be research studies.

Part 1: Dissect two of the studies you cited in Part A. Think critically about the strengths of these
research studies, and possible shortcomings and biases. Use the table format and headings below to
summarize your review of each research study using the PICO/PECO format.

Table 1: Example critical appraisal of two studies that investigated treatment options for pyometra in
bitches

Author(s) Study Patient or Intervention Comparison Outcome Conclusion(s) Rate the

& design population (or (if variable(s) by authors strength of
publication exposure) applicable) evaluated evidence and
date explain why
you assigned
this rating
Jurka et al. Case series Bitches with Aglepristone None 1.Reoccurrence Aglepristone No evidence
(2010) clinical and of pyometra works for treatment
biochemical 2.Post- ‘better’ in comparison,
symptoms of treatment younger dogs because only
pyometra, pregnancy (<5 years) one treatment
varying 3.Age as risk - Efficacy of was assessed
breeds (not factor for treatment - Possible
specified), treatment can be confounder:
age 0.8-9.5 success assessed by pyometra
years, two post- severity
age groups

3
VETS1018 Veterinary Professional Foundations Semester 1 2024

treatment
pregnancy
Fieni Clinical trial Bitches with All groups 2/3 of 1. Percentage Aglepristone - Weak
(2006) (not clinical received bitches in of bitches is an evidence for
randomized) symptoms of Aglepristone two groups cured at day effective treatment
pyometra, received in 14, 28 and 90 treatment of comparison,
varying addition to (evaluated by pyometra because non
breeds Aglepristone, clinical randomisation
(specified), Cloprostonol examination) Combination
age 3.2-8.5 2. Decrease in of
years, three uterus lumen Aglepristone
groups at day 8 and 14 and
based on 3.Leucocyte Cloprostonol
clinical count and is more
presentation plasma effective
progesterone
concentrations
at day 1, 8 and
14

Part 2: Review all the literature you have cited in Part A and compose a summary (approximately 200
words) of the nature of evidence you have included in your report. This should include: (a) a general
summary (eg. percentage of type research studies) of all the range of literature types cited in the
assignment (not just the two publications critically appraised above) and (b) a general statement
regarding the overall strength (eg. biases in research studies) of the of all the range of literature types
reviewed.

Formatting your assignment

The ‘header’ must contain your full name and student number and the ‘footer’ must contain the page
number. Include a ‘Cover page’ with the title of your assignment, your first name, last name, student
number, total word count and a statement of originality (to attest that the work is your own and all
sources have been referenced). Recommended word count is between 1500-2500 words excluding
tables, diagrams, and references. Use 11- or 12-point Times Roman, Arial or Calibri font. Use a line
spacing of 1.5. Please save your file under a name in the format:
VETS1018_Assignment_Surname_Initials (*.doc, *.docx or PDF files suitable).

4
VETS1018 Veterinary Professional Foundations Semester 1 2024

Grading

The assignment will be graded out of 20 and contributes 20% the final grade of VETS1018. Assignments
will be graded according to the assessment criteria outlined below.

Item Assessment Criteria Marks

available
Part A- Literature • All requested content provided /8
review • Appropriate and relevant literature reviewed
• Findings synthesised into a clear and logical overview

Part B – Critical • Two research studies analysed using the PICO/PECO /7

appraisal of cited approach
literature • Strength of evidence evaluated, summary conclusions
provided

Accuracy of • Literature is cited with precision /2

citations and • ‘In text’ citations formatted according to guidelines
referencing • Reference list formatted according to guidelines

Clarity of • Fluent prose, clear articulation and concise writing style /2

expression, • Appropriate veterinary terminology used
spelling and • Spelling and grammar accurate
grammar • Appropriate use of conventions for in text numbers and
units

Following • Adheres to assignment instructions /1

instructions and • Assignment is well presented
formatting

Total Marks Available /20