University of Cape Town

Contact: Dr Geney Gunston

[e-mail]

Tel. [phone]

Title: Development of Spatial Visualisation Ability

No. of students: 2 (working as a pair)

Type: Design, Implementation and Review of Practical Intervention

Summary: There is evidence that poor spatial visualisation ability correlates with poor performance in anatomy learning and that interventions can improve students’ spatial visualisation ability.

A pilot intervention was implemented in 2011 to assist students, with the aid of tactile physical engagement with shapes, to improve their ability to visualise (and sketch on paper) the cross-sections of a structure in given planes and to visualise (and create a 3D model of) a three-dimensional structure from limited information given in cross-sections in three orthogonal planes. The results of the ‘pre-and post-testing’ were positive and student evaluation results indicated that the intervention was beneficial and relevant. These factors suggest that the intervention should be continued and expanded.
The aim of this SSM is to critically reflect on the 2011 intervention, in the light of current literature on the topic and feedback received on presentation of the pilot intervention at the Anatomical Associations of Southern Africa conference, and then to design an improved intervention, with an appropriate pre- and post- test and evaluation questionnaire. The intervention will be then be implemented during semester 2 HUB practical sessions and the impact reviewed.
See http://www.teachingandlearning.uct.ac.za/podcasts/

Vera Frith & Geney Gunston - Developing Medical Students’ Spatial Visualisation Ability [Podcast] [Presentation] for more info on pilot intervention.

Module no: 30

Contact: Prof Graham Louw

Tel: [phone]

[e-mail]

No of students: 12

Title: Model building in Gross Anatomy

Summary: These six students, working in pairs, will be required to build large 3-D models of specific regions of the body. The models will be based on ones that are commercially available, and will be used for teaching and learning in our various undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The students will experiment with, and use, various forms of modeling materials. The regions to be built will be negotiated with students and staff. This is a fun and appropriate way to learn 3-D anatomy!
Module no: 31
Contact: Dr C Slater

Tel: [phone]

[e-mail]

No of students: 2

Title: Medical student attitudes towards and experiences of

cadaver dissection

Summary: Cadaver dissection can be a traumatic experience for some medical students and an uncomplicated one for others. In this project, students will be required to review the literature on their peers’ attitudes towards cadaver dissection. A questionnaire will be designed to explore issues of particular importance at this University and of those commonly encountered in the literature. The questionnaire is to be answered voluntarily and anonymously by first and second year medical students. The students are to analyse their data, report back on their findings and make recommendations to minimise psychological discomfort that some students experience.

Module no: 32

Contact: Dr C Slater & Dr Owen Porrill

Tel: [phone]

[e-mail] / [e-mail]

No of students: 2

Title: Regional anaesthesia of the upper limb:

a clinical anatomical review

Summary: Regional anaesthesia of the upper limb requires a precise knowledge of the nerves, their relations and surface anatomical markings. In this project students will be required to review the current literature on regional anaesthetic techniques in the upper limb and observe some of these procedures in theatre. They will then be required make a cadaver dissection of the origin and course of the upper limb nerves demonstrating features (e.g. relations and landmarks) that are particularly relevant to regional anaesthetic techniques. In addition to the literature review and written reflection on the dissection, students will be invited to make a short oral presentation of their findings to the Department of Anaesthetics.

Module No: 33 (Physiology)

Contact: Dr Roisin Kelly/ Dr Asfree Gwanyanya

[e-mail]/ [e-mail]

Tel. [phone]

Title: ECG changes during positional changes and

cardiovascular procedures

No. of students: 4

Type: Laboratory /Interpretation

Summary: The incidence of heart disease has increased greatly in South Africa due to urbanization and an increase of obesity and diabetes. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a non-invasive diagnostic and monitoring tool that is widely used in the evaluation of heart diseases. In this module the student(s) will analyze electrocardiograms (ECG) pre-recorded in a rat model of myocardial infarction. This data includes ECG recordings taken in both the supine and lateral recumbent position together with data recorded during intraarterial cannulation, thoracotomy and coronary artery ligation.

During the course of the project, the student(s) will learn how to analyse the ECG using Chart Pro software and to interpret the findings. They will also perform a literature search on cardiac electrocardiography in order to gain a deeper understanding of cardiac electrical abnormalities. They will conduct basic statistical analyses on the data generated. During their final week the student will write a report that will include the literature review, the experimental findings, and a discussion of the study and its clinical implications.

Module no: 34 (Biomedical Engineering)
Contact: Mladen Poluta

Tel: [phone]

Title: Process improvement in functional units at a tertiary hospital

No. of Students: 4x2 = 8

Type: Situational analysis

Summary: At least four different functional units should be assessed, two of which should be similar in nature (to highlight possible commonalities). For each functional unit:

• 
  Analyse key functions, processes and interactions within the functional units (and their interaction with their external environments)
  
• 
  Identify obstacles, including lack of information and/or technology
  
• 
  Identify areas for improvement and what else can be done to improve the situation (e.g. task shifting).
  
• 
  Report on your findings (written report and presentation)
  

Module no: 35

Contact: Mladen Poluta

Tel: [phone]

Title: Clinical Engineering staffing requirements for a tertiary hospital

No. of Students: 2

Type: Situational analysis

Summary:

• 
  Review the different models (provided) for CES activities and responsibilities, and related in-house staffing needs.
  
• 
  Interview CES personnel and other CES stakeholders/key informants.
  
• 
  Formulate a model that is most appropriate to a tertiary hospital.
  
• 
  Test this model at the two local tertiary institutions (GSH and Red Cross Childrens Hospital) and make necessary adjustments if needed.
  
• 
  Report on your findings (written report and presentation)
  

Module no: 36
Contact: Mladen Poluta

Dept: Human Biology (HTM Programme)

Tel: [phone]

Title: Clinical Technologist staffing requirements for a

tertiary hospital

No. of Students: 2

Type: Situational analysis

Summary:

• 
  Review the activities and responsibilities of clinical technologists, and related staffing needs.
  
• 
  Interview clinical technologists from different clinical specialties and other key informants.
  
• 
  Formulate a Clinical Technologist staffing model that is most appropriate to a tertiary hospital.
  
• 
  Test this model and make necessary adjustments if needed.
  

Report on your findings (written report and presentation)
CLS – LAB2002S
Module no: 37 (Microbiology)
Convenor: Dr Colleen Bamford

[e-mail]

Tel: [phone]

Title: Review of the quality of blood culture practices in

local hospitals

No of students: 4

Summary: The detection and characterisation of bloodstream pathogens is a key task of the diagnostic microbiology laboratory. This impacts significantly on the management of individual patients and also determines local antibiotic susceptibility patterns, which in turn influence the empiric antibiotic therapy choices. A number of seldom- considered factors such as the volume of blood inoculated and the time to incubation of the bottle, as well as the sterile technique of the phlebotomist, influence the yield and time to positivity of blood culture samples.

This SSM project will encompass a critical evaluation of the quality of local blood culture practices in the emergency units of local adult and paediatric hospitals. The students will be exposed to both laboratory and clinical environments and to the role of microbiologists in liaison between the two. Study methods are likely to include direct observation, weighing of blood culture bottles, and review of laboratory and patient records. The information gained through this SSM has the potential to improve patient management.