Description
Pathophysiological Processes Project
Course Outcomes: This assignment enables the student to meet the following course outcomes.
1. Explain the pathophysiologic processes of select health conditions.
2. Predict clinical manifestations and complications of select disease processes.
3. Correlate lifestyle, environmental, and other influence with changes in levels of wellness.
Requirements:
NOTE: Students should NOT provide any medical/nursing advice or education to
interviewees. This assignment is for educational purposes only. Refer interviewee questions
to their physician.
1. Each student is to choose a chronic medical disorder that they would like to learn more
about from a list provided (find list below).
2. It is the responsibility of the student to research the topic using current literature (at least 2
current professional resources), become familiar with the pathophysiology, causes, risk
factors, common clinical manifestations and common complications for the disorder.
3. Once the student has become familiar with the disorder, it is their responsibility to locate
an individual to interview (interviewee). You may find the individual with approved
disorder first but should not perform the interview until you have completed research on
the topic. 10 points will be deducted for not completing interview
The interviewee must be at least 18 years old and able to answer questions by
themselves
The interviewee must currently have a chronic disease/disorder. If an interviewee
has been diagnosed with a disease/disorder but has NO manifestations or
complications related to the disorder they DO NOT qualify for the assignment.
Acute infections/diseases DO NOT qualify (pneumonia, urinary tract infection, flu,
colds).
The interviewee cannot be a patient from the clinical setting or a patient from your
work environment (hospitals, doctor’s office, LTC facility, home health, etc…)
The interviewee may be a relative, friend, colleague, or stranger.
Please use the individual’s own words in relation to their experience with the
disease/disorder.
4. Questions to be answered (Found in resources/references):
Introduction (20 points)
o 1 paragraph – Approximately 200 words
o Identify and introduce the chosen disorder
o Disease description
o Epidemiology of the disease
Incidence/prevalence (new cases per year/how many people are
affected total)
Age group most affected
Gender most affected
Prognosis
Causes and Risk Factors (20 points)
o Common causes of the disease/condition
o Risk factors for the disease/condition (impact of age, gender, influence of the
environment, genetic basis, lifestyle influences)
Pathophysiology (20 points)
o Describe in detail the pathophysiology of the disorder. (Do NOT just copy
this section from a resource-use your own words and understanding with
reference)
o Describe changes occurring at the cellular, tissue, and organ level that
contribute to the disease process.
o Describe adaptation of the cells and body in response to the disease.
o Relates the disease process to manifested signs and symptoms.
Clinical Manifestations (10 points)
o What are the common clinical manifestations of the disease/disorder
according to your resources?
o Describe the rationale for each manifestation. Using the pathophysiology,
explain why we see the manifestations presented in the disorder.
Complications (10 points)
o Describe the common complications of this disorder/disease according to your
resources.
o Describe the rationale for each complication. Using the pathophysiology,
explain why we see the complications presented in the disorder.
o Discuss the implications to the patient when complications are left untreated.
Diagnostics (10 points)
o List of laboratory and diagnostic tests used to determine the presence of the
disease.
o Discuss what the results will show in the presence of the chosen disease.
5. References/Citations
Minimum of 2 professional references-within 5 years
Your textbook
Professional website (.com is not professional-can use either .org, .gov, or .edu)
Scholarly journals
Reference page and in-text citations must be in APA format.
Turnitin score must be 24% or less.
You must use in-text citations for all information that you use in the slides after
each entry/sentence.
One missing citation will result in a 5-point deduction
Two missing citations will result in a 10-point deduction and an academic
integrity violation
6. APA Style and Organization (10 points)
a. Reference list submitted – at least two professional references
b. APA format – 7th Edition
c. Grammar and mechanics free of error
7. Answered during Interview: 10 points will be deducted for not completing interview
What is the age of the individual being interviewed? What is the relationship of the
individual to you? How long have they had the disorder?
What clinical manifestations of this disorder did the individual experience? How
does it compare to what you discovered in your resources?
What complications of this disorder did your individual experience? How does this
compare to what you discovered in your resources?
What other medical conditions/disorders has your individual been diagnosed with?
Do their other medical conditions have any effect on the chosen disorder?
How does the disease affect the individual’s daily living/activities? (repeat
hospitalizations, has to take a lot of meds, any activity restrictions, a lot of
appointments)
How does the disease/disorder affect the individual’s outlook on life? (Feel like a
burden to family, do they have good family support, feel hopeless, optimistic,
good coping mechanisms?)
8. PowerPoint Structure
Please use the power point template loaded on the class shell.
Headings with included questions have already been provided for you
Disease/Disorder Examples
Genetic Diseases-any type
Cancer-any type
Hematologic-blood disorders
ITP, TTP, HIT
Anemia-any type
Leukemia
Lymphoma
Multiple Myeloma
HIV
Cardiac System
Hypertension
Heart Failure
Chronic venous insufficiency
Cardiomyopathy-any type
Pulmonary System
Asthma
COPD-chronic bronchitis, emphysema
Cystic Fibrosis
Cancer
Neurologic System
Stroke
Parkinson’s
Alzheimer’s-early onset-still cognitively intact and can answer interview questions
Huntington’s
Multiple Sclerosis
Myasthenia Gravis
ALS
Cancer
Reproductive System
Polycystic ovarian syndrome
Endometriosis
Cancer
Digestive System
Crohns
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcer-which type
Pancreatitis-chronic
Hepatitis-B or C only
Cirrhosis
Cancer
Endocrine System
DM I or II
Graves
Hashimoto
Cushing’s
Addison’s
Gigantism
Cancer
Integumentary System
Psoriasis
Lupus
Pressure Ulcer
Melanoma
Scleroderma
Cancer
Musculoskeletal System
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Fibromyalgia
Gout
Ankylosing spondylitis
Osteoporosis
Osteomalacia
Cancer
Renal System
Renal failure
Cancer
Polycystic renal disease
