Clinical case studies are an excellent tool for learning physiology and discussing biological concepts in groups. This individual project will consist of a case study you will design and write yourself. The case may involve any of the organ systems of the body we have studied throughout this course, and it can involve any condition or disease EXCEPT COVID-19 (for no other reason than because I’m so damn tired of it!). If you’d like to write a case on a body system we haven’t covered, just run it by me first.
See below for a few examples of case studies, but every case starts with a compelling story. Some case studies are written in a format that mimics actual medical records, while others have more of a narrative setup. You will have to do some research on how the disease you chose commonly presents and figure out how to translate its features into a story. At a minimum, your case should include the following:
Subjective – this is the narrative and/or what the patient tells the provider when taking a medical history. Some case studies are written in paragraph narrative form, while others might start with the narrative and then transition into a more formal medical progress note.
Features that might be included in the subjective section (you do NOT have to include all of these, just those that pertain to your case):
The narrative itself, told in either 1st or 3rd person or as a dialogue
Chief complaint and history of present illness (what specifically, is causing the patient to seek medical care today?)
Past medical history (includes any major illness/surgery a patient has experienced in the past and any chronic medical conditions being managed currently)
Current medications
Social history (job, marital status, smoking, drinking, etc.) – only if relevant (e.g. being a smoker is a serious risk factor for cardiovascular disease)
Objective – includes the following:
Physical exam findings
Vital signs
Lab / medical imaging results
Labs are often presented in a table or as bullet points
Imaging – if you can find an image of the disease in question that looks like it would apply to your case, you’re welcome to include it too (be sure to give photo credit)
A typical progress (SOAP – Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) note would end with an Assessment (may be a diagnosis or a hypothesized one) and a Plan of care. You will most likely NOT include these sections in your case, as this is the part we want your (theoretical) students to figure out!
Discussion questions – This is the most important part, as it is what gets students thinking and collaborating. A well-written case has content and questions that are designed to lead the student to the probable diagnosis without giving it to them outright. Some present the case first with all the questions at the end, while others utilize an interrupted format in which thought questions are included throughout.
Answer key to all questions.
You may submit your case study EITHER as a Word document (like a worksheet you might do in class) OR as a PowerPoint presentation (useful for guiding a large class through the study together). Your case should be at least 4 pages long at a minimum and must include at least 5 essay-style questions (though you may also include a few short answer/multiple choice questions in addition to those 5).
Grading will be based primarily on the accuracy of your scientific information, but your creativity and writing style will also come into play. Proofreading and formatting will also be a percentage of your grade. I realize this assignment may be somewhat different from what your are used to – please contact me any time with questions or if you need some help getting started.
Examples of diffrent causes studeies as well as the rubric
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