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Unit of study_

SLEE5106: Advanced Sleep Medicine

Semester 1, 2024 [Online] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit of study will introduce the student to a broader understanding of the relationships between sleep and sleep disordered breathing with a wide range of common clinical conditions. Modules include discussion of links between sleep disordered breathing and comorbid conditions such as cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, and cancer. Implications of sleep-disordered breathing in pregnancy, respiratory disease and other conditions are examined. Sleep disorders specific to the paediatric population and the role of dental sleep medicine is presented. The importance of sleepiness and sleep disorders in the community in the eyes of the law is examined with emerging technologies used for diagnosis and treatment of primarily sleep related breathing disorders completing the unit. Learning will include regular short answer quizzes, as well as broader written assessments that encourage the student to look into the future.

Unit details and rules

Unit code SLEE5106
Academic unit Sleep Medicine
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
SLEE5101 and SLEE5102 and SLEE5103
Corequisites
? 
SLEE5104
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Kerri Melehan, kerri.melehan@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Supervised exam
? 
Final exam
Online MCQ and short answer questions
40% Formal exam period 2 hours
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10
Assignment Module 1/2 assignment
Written assignment
10% Week 05
Due date: 24 Mar 2024 at 23:59
4 -6 questions
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO3 LO4
Assignment Module 3 assignment
Written assignment
10% Week 09
Due date: 28 Apr 2024 at 23:59
4-6 questions
Outcomes assessed: LO2 LO4 LO5
Assignment Module 4/5 assignment
Written assignment
10% Week 11
Due date: 12 May 2024 at 23:59
4-6 questions
Outcomes assessed: LO6 LO7 LO8
Assignment Essay
Essay
30% Week 13
Due date: 26 May 2024 at 23:59
1500 word Essay
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO5

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 Module 1: why do we sleep? Individual study (3 hr) LO1
Week 02 Module 2.1: Sleep-disordered breathing and comorbidities: Introduction and metabolic disorders Individual study (3 hr) LO2
Week 03 Module 2.2: Sleep-disordered breathing and comorbidities: Cardiovascular disease Individual study (2 hr) LO2
Week 04 Module 2.3: Sleep-disordered breathing and comorbidities: Oncology and kidney disease Individual study (3 hr) LO2 LO3
Week 05 Module 2.4: Sleep-disordered breathing and comorbidities: Disorders of the brain Individual study (3 hr) LO2
Week 06 Module 3.1: Sleep across the spectrum of clinical disorders: Pregnancy Individual study (3 hr) LO4
Week 07 Module 3.2: Sleep across the spectrum of clinical disorders: Respiratory diseases Individual study (3 hr) LO2
Week 08 Module 3.3: sleep across the spectrum of clinical disorders Individual study (3 hr) LO5
Week 09 Module 4: Paediatric sleep disorders and their treatment Individual study (3 hr) LO6 LO7
Week 10 Module 4: Paediatric sleep disorders and their treatment Individual study (3 hr) LO6 LO7
Week 11 Module 5: Dental sleep medicine Individual study (3 hr) LO8
Week 12 Module 6: Community aspects of sleep Individual study (3 hr) LO9
Week 13 Module 7: Advances in diagnosis and management Individual study (3 hr) LO10

Attendance and class requirements

This course is delivered online, with no specific attendance requirements.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings for this unit can be accessed through the Library, available on Canvas

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Recognise that the concept of "why we sleep" cannot be attributed to any single mechanism/process but that many important functions occur exclusively during sleep
  • LO2. Understand the links between sleep-disordered breathing and different comorbidities such as insulin resistance, diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, dyslipidaemia, kidney failure, pituitary disorders, neurologic disorders, COPD, asthma and cardiovascular disease
  • LO3. Appreciate that aspects of cancer and its treatment may be associated with sleep disturbances and understand that factors associated with obstructive sleep apnea can promote cancer growth and increase mortality
  • LO4. Understand the physical and hormonal factors that influence sleep and breathing in pregnancy and appreciate the nuances of SDB in pregnancy that can impact maternal and foetal health
  • LO5. Understand the relationship between sleep/sleep-disordered breathing and gastrointestinal problems, chronic pain, blood disorders, dermatological disorders and miscellaneous disorders such as AIDS, Lyme disease, chronic fatigue syndrome and African sleeping sickness
  • LO6. Gain an overview of disorders that first present in childhood including Down's Syndrome, achondroplasia, Prader-Willi syndrome, Ehler-Danlos syndrome, Ellis-van Creveld syndrome, Noonan syndrome, Pierre-Robin sequence, mucopolysaccharidosis and osteogenesis imperfecta and their relationship with sleep and sleep-disordered breathing
  • LO7. Appreciate the changes that occur in sleep and breathing from infancy to adolescence, understanding the differences between children and adults in the clinical presentation, epidemiology and testing of sleep disorders and gain insight into the various treatment options available in the paediatric population
  • LO8. Understand the prevalence, pathophysiology and treatment of sleep bruxism, links to sleep disordered breathing and temporomandibular disorders and understand the importance of orthodontic treatment of sleep-disordered breathing, particularly in children
  • LO9. Gain insight into the relevance of sleepiness and sleep disorders in the eyes of the law and understand the relevant sleep loss phenomena that impact on performance
  • LO10. Understand the different signals that are used for detection of SDB in the home, appreciate the positive and negative aspects of consumer devices and apps and understand how novel treatment options work and the physiologic targets of experimental therapies

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.