CQUniversity Unit Profile
CHIR13015 Applied Nutrition and Pharmacology
Applied Nutrition and Pharmacology
All details in this unit profile for CHIR13015 have been officially approved by CQUniversity and represent a learning partnership between the University and you (our student).
The information will not be changed unless absolutely necessary and any change will be clearly indicated by an approved correction included in the profile.
General Information

Overview

This unit aims to provide you with the skills to apply the fundamental principles of human nutrition and pharmacology to enhance the musculoskeletal well-being of your future patients. It commences by reviewing the essential principles in these disciplines, ensuring your knowledge is comprehensive and evidence informed. Subsequently, you will focus on the elements of pharmacology and nutrition most pertinent to your role as a health professional.

Details

Career Level: Undergraduate
Unit Level: Level 3
Credit Points: 6
Student Contribution Band: 8
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load: 0.125

Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Co-requisite:CHIR13010 Systems and Pathology

Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).

Offerings For Term 1 - 2025

Brisbane

Attendance Requirements

All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).

Class and Assessment Overview

Recommended Student Time Commitment

Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.

Class Timetable

Bundaberg, Cairns, Emerald, Gladstone, Mackay, Rockhampton, Townsville
Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney

Assessment Overview

1. Case Study
Weighting: 25%
2. Online Quiz(zes)
Weighting: 25%
3. Online Test
Weighting: 50%

Assessment Grading

This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.

Previous Student Feedback
Unit Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
  1. Analyse the role of nutrients in maintaining overall health and preventing chronic illness, through an understanding of the fundamentals of nutrition.
  2. Evaluate current evidence in the area of nutrition concerning dietary advice and interventions.
  3. Manage musculoskeletal conditions with an appreciation of the fundamental principles of pharmacology, including the effects and adverse reactions of commonly prescribed drugs.
  4. Analyse a food diary and provide evidence informed dietary advice for conditions that may present to a chiropractic clinic.

The learning outcomes in this unit contribute to the development of clinical and professional competencies as outlined by The Council on Chiropractic Education Australasia (CCEA) on behalf of The Chiropractic Board of Australia.

Alignment of Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Graduate Attributes
N/A Level
Introductory Level
Intermediate Level
Graduate Level
Professional Level
Advanced Level

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes

Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Case Study - 25%
2 - Online Quiz(zes) - 25%
3 - Online Test - 50%

Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes

Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4
1 - Communication
2 - Problem Solving
3 - Critical Thinking
4 - Information Literacy
5 - Team Work
6 - Information Technology Competence
7 - Cross Cultural Competence
8 - Ethical practice
9 - Social Innovation
10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures
Textbooks and Resources

Textbooks

There are no required textbooks.

IT Resources

You will need access to the following IT resources:
  • CQUniversity Student Email
  • Internet
  • Unit Website (Moodle)
Referencing Style

No referencing style set.

Teaching Contacts
Dawn Dane Unit Coordinator
d.dane@cqu.edu.au
Schedule
Week 1 Begin Date: 10 Mar 2025

Module/Topic

Food and Nutrition: Basics & Intro to Pharmacology

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 2 Begin Date: 17 Mar 2025

Module/Topic

Indigenous & Australian diets & Nutritional guidelines; Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 3 Begin Date: 24 Mar 2025

Module/Topic

The Macronutrients & Food-Drug Interactions and Drugs of Abuse

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 4 Begin Date: 31 Mar 2025

Module/Topic

Overview of Nutritional Assessment & Haemostasis and Anticoagulant Drugs

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 5 Begin Date: 07 Apr 2025

Module/Topic

Water, Vitamins and Minerals & Inflammation, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online quiz opens on Friday at 12pm closes on Friday at 5pm

Vacation Week Begin Date: 14 Apr 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 6 Begin Date: 21 Apr 2025

Module/Topic

Energy Intake and Weight Management & Drugs for Cardiovascular Diseases

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 7 Begin Date: 28 Apr 2025

Module/Topic

Nutrition for Exercise and Sports & Drugs for lowering lipids, Modulate autonomic and neuromuscular junction functions

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Case Study Due: Week 7 Friday (2 May 2025) 3:00 pm AEST
Week 8 Begin Date: 05 May 2025

Module/Topic

Preconception, Conception, Pregnancy and Lactation & Contraceptive and Sexual Dysfunction Pharmacology

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 9 Begin Date: 12 May 2025

Module/Topic

Nutrition During Infancy, childhood and adolescence & Drugs for managing respiratory and allergic conditions

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 10 Begin Date: 19 May 2025

Module/Topic

Nutrition in Pre-adolescence, adolescence and young adult & Pharmacology of the CNS

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Online quiz opens on Friday at 12pm closes on Friday at 5pm


Online Quizzes Due: Week 10 Friday (23 May 2025) 5:00 pm AEST
Week 11 Begin Date: 26 May 2025

Module/Topic

Nutrition During Adulthood and Prevention of Chronic Disease & Drugs to manage common non-cardiovascular diseases

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Week 12 Begin Date: 02 Jun 2025

Module/Topic

Nutrition in Older Adult & Antibiotics, antiemetics, Drugs for Diabetes, Menopause and HRT, prostate enlargement

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Review/Exam Week Begin Date: 09 Jun 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

End of Term Test Due: Review/Exam Week Tuesday (10 June 2025) 1:00 pm AEST
Exam Week Begin Date: 16 Jun 2025

Module/Topic

Chapter

Events and Submissions/Topic

Assessment Tasks

1 Case Study

Assessment Title
Case Study

Task Description

You will be provided with a case study featuring a patient presenting to a chiropractic clinic with a musculoskeletal condition commonly influenced by nutrition. The case will include relevant medical history and a three-day food diary.

Your task is to: Evaluate the patient’s dietary habits based on the provided food diary, analyse how the patient’s current diet may be contributing to their condition. Formulate evidence-informed dietary recommendations that align with current research in nutrition and dietary interventions. Present your findings and recommendations in a concise video presentation (3 minutes) and submit your presentation slides.

Your response should integrate current evidence on nutrition and demonstrate an understanding of dietary modifications that could improve the patient's condition.

Please consider, AI is not a peer reviewed nor a primary source for referencing, and is not always current, so it must not be used as a reference in this assignment, or used for video creation. Further details to be found in the Assessment Rubric on Moodle 


Assessment Due Date

Week 7 Friday (2 May 2025) 3:00 pm AEST

Online Moodle submission: 1x Video File, 1x Slide Presentation


Return Date to Students

Week 9 Friday (16 May 2025)


Weighting
25%

Minimum mark or grade
50

Assessment Criteria

You will be assessed on the following criteria:

Evaluation and Selection of Evidence, Analysis of Food Diary, Quality of Recommendations, Presentation Delivery and References.

 


Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Evaluate current evidence in the area of nutrition concerning dietary advice and interventions.
  • Analyse a food diary and provide evidence informed dietary advice for conditions that may present to a chiropractic clinic.

2 Online Quiz(zes)

Assessment Title
Online Quizzes

Task Description

There will be two quizzes in this unit (week 5 and 10) that will assess your knowledge of nutrition and pharmacology. They will consist of multiple-choice and short-answer questions, content will be provided in Moodle weekly module/topics. Each quiz will be worth 12.5% of your final grade. The tests will open on the Friday of the designated week at 12pm and close at 5pm. Please make note that the quizzes will close at 5pm so leave yourself enough time to complete them.


Number of Quizzes

2


Frequency of Quizzes

Other


Assessment Due Date

Week 10 Friday (23 May 2025) 5:00 pm AEST

The quizzes will open at 12pm and close at 5pm in weeks 5 and 10.


Return Date to Students

Week 12 Friday (6 June 2025)

Results will be released to students within 2 weeks of the assessments being completed (ie/ week 7 and 12)


Weighting
25%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

You will be assessed on your ability to select and or provide the correct answers posed in the quiz. 


Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Analyse the role of nutrients in maintaining overall health and preventing chronic illness, through an understanding of the fundamentals of nutrition.
  • Manage musculoskeletal conditions with an appreciation of the fundamental principles of pharmacology, including the effects and adverse reactions of commonly prescribed drugs.
  • Analyse a food diary and provide evidence informed dietary advice for conditions that may present to a chiropractic clinic.

3 Online Test

Assessment Title
End of Term Test

Task Description

The final test will assess student knowledge of nutrition and pharmacology. It will consist of multiple-choice, short-answer questions and a few extended response questions, content tested will be provided in Moodle weekly module/topics across weeks 1-12. The Test will test both theoretical knowledge and clinical application relevant to Chiropractic practice.


Assessment Due Date

Review/Exam Week Tuesday (10 June 2025) 1:00 pm AEST

The test will start at 11am. Please refer to timetable and Moodle forum for computer lab details.


Return Date to Students

Exam Week Friday (20 June 2025)

The end of term test results will be visible in Moodle within 2 weeks of completing the task.


Weighting
50%

Minimum mark or grade
50%

Assessment Criteria

You will be assessed on your ability to select and or provide the correct answers posed in the end of term test. 


Submission
Online

Learning Outcomes Assessed
  • Analyse the role of nutrients in maintaining overall health and preventing chronic illness, through an understanding of the fundamentals of nutrition.
  • Evaluate current evidence in the area of nutrition concerning dietary advice and interventions.
  • Manage musculoskeletal conditions with an appreciation of the fundamental principles of pharmacology, including the effects and adverse reactions of commonly prescribed drugs.

Academic Integrity Statement

As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.

Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.

When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.

Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.

As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.

What is a breach of academic integrity?

A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.

Why is academic integrity important?

A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.

Where can I get assistance?

For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.

What can you do to act with integrity?