Writing in Health Professions – Case Study: Headache – Advanced

Description

This five-week advanced course equips high school students with writing skills essential for health professions, focusing on case studies. Through writing exercises, you’ll explore communication best practices, audience adaptation, research strategies, and case study structure. By the end, you’ll confidently craft case studies for various audiences in the health field.

Learning Outcomes:

• Master effective communication in health professions.
• Understand case study writing principles and structure.
• Adapt writing for diverse audiences (peers, stakeholders, patients).
• Utilize various research methods (academic resources, interviews, data collection).

Course Schedule:

Week 1: Foundation of Health Communication and Case Studies

• Objectives: Grasp the importance of communication in healthcare and understand case study writing basics.
• Activities:
  • Lecture/Discussion: Importance of clear communication in healthcare settings.
  • Reading Assignment: Articles on best practices for health communication.
  • Writing Assignment: Reflect on the significance of communication in healthcare.
  • Group Activity: Analyze a sample case study, dissecting structure and content.
• Homework:
  • Summarize a provided sample case study.
  • Finish the patient interview questions

Week 2: Dr. Cris Anderson – Tailoring Writing for Your Audience

• Objectives: Learn to adapt writing for different audiences and explore effective health communication styles.
• Activities:
  • Lecture/Discussion: Tailoring messages for healthcare professionals, patients, and community stakeholders.
  • Review the patient interview questions assignment:
• Homework:
  • Develop a case study outline targeting a specific audience.
  • Research and gather data relevant to your chosen case study.

Week 3: Crafting Case Studies: Structure & Research

• Objectives: Understand the structure of case studies in health professions and explore various research methods.
• Activities:
  • Lecture/Discussion: Case study structure and research methods (academic research, data collection, interviews).
  • Reading Assignment: Analyze case study examples from different health professions.
  • Writing Assignment: Draft the introduction and background sections of your case study.
  • Group Activity: Discuss and strategize research approaches for your case studies.
• Homework:
  • Conduct research using at least two different methods (e.g., academic journals, interviews).
  • Continue drafting your case study.

Week 4: Refining Your Case Study

• Objectives: Emphasize revision as a core writing process and improve drafting through feedback.
• Activities:
  • Lecture/Discussion: The writing process, highlighting the importance of revision.
  • Reading Assignment: Articles on effective case study revision techniques.
  • Writing Assignment: Complete the first draft of your case study.
  • Peer Review: Exchange drafts and provide feedback on structure, content, and clarity.
• Homework:
  • Revise your case study based on peer feedback.
  • Prepare for individual conferences with the instructor.

Week 5: Polishing and Presenting Your Work

• Objectives: Finalize your case studies and professionally present them to the class.
• Activities:
  • Individual Conferences: One-on-one meetings with the instructor for personalized feedback.
  • Writing Assignment: Incorporate final revisions into your case study.
  • Presentation Preparation: Develop a presentation summarizing your case study.
• Homework:
  • Finalize your case study.
  • Prepare and practice your presentation.

Final Week Activities:

• Presentations: Students present their case studies to the class.
• Reflection: Write a brief reflection on course learnings and their application to future health professions.

Grading Breakdown:

• Participation & In-class Activities: 20%
• Writing Assignments & Homework: 30%
• Peer Reviews & Feedback: 20%
• Final Case Study: 20%
• Presentation: 10%

Required Materials:

• Access to academic databases for research.
• Note-taking supplies for in-class activities.
• Computer for writing assignments and research.
• Completion of intermediate course

Weekly Assignments for Writing in Health Professions – Case Study (Building on Headache Course)

Week 1: Foundation of Health Communication and Case Studies

• Building on Headache Course: Utilize the information you gathered from your Week 1 and 2 assignments in the Headache course. Select one of the individuals you interviewed and focus on their case for your health professions case study.
• Homework:
  • Summarize the chosen individual’s headache experience, including:
    • Demographics (age, gender, etc.)
    • Frequency and duration of headaches
    • Description of the headaches (location, pain intensity, etc.)
    • Associated symptoms (nausea, light sensitivity, etc.)
    • Perceived triggers (stress, food, etc.)
    • Any prior medical consultations or diagnoses
  • Research the specific type of headache your chosen individual experiences (e.g., tension headache, migraine) using credible academic sources (databases provided by the instructor).

Week 2: Tailoring Writing for Your Audience

• Objective: Adapt your case study writing for a healthcare professional audience (e.g., doctor, nurse).
• Homework:
  • Develop a case study outline targeting healthcare professionals.
  • Focus on including relevant medical terminology while maintaining clarity.
  • Rewrite a section of your case study (e.g., presenting complaint) for a healthcare professional audience, ensuring it provides all the necessary information for diagnosis.

Week 3: Crafting Case Studies: Structure & Research

• Objective: Explore the structure of case studies in health professions and delve into research methods.
• Activities:
  • Analyze the structure of sample case studies provided by the instructor, focusing on sections like introduction, presenting complaint, past medical history, etc.
• Homework:
  • Draft the introduction and background sections of your case study, adhering to the identified structure.
  • Conduct research using at least two different methods:
    • Review relevant academic articles on your chosen headache type.
    • Consider interviewing a healthcare professional specializing in headaches (optional, with instructor approval).

Week 4: Refining Your Case Study

• Objective: Emphasize revision and utilize peer feedback to improve your case study draft.
• Homework:
  • Complete the first draft of your case study, including sections like presenting complaint, past medical history,physical examination, diagnosis, and discussion.
  • Participate in peer review sessions, exchanging drafts with classmates and providing constructive feedback on structure, content, and clarity.

Week 5: Polishing and Presenting Your Work

• Objective: Finalize your case study and prepare a professional presentation.
• Homework:
  • Revise your case study based on instructor and peer feedback.
  • Incorporate final edits and ensure your case study adheres to formatting and citation guidelines provided by the instructor.
  • Develop a presentation summarizing your case study for the class, ensuring clear communication and appropriate visuals.