Clinical Skills 4A
Credit points
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Location
Prerequisites
HBO2007 - Biomedical Science for Osteopathy 7
(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)
Co-requisites
(Corequisite units must be studied concurrently with this unit)
Overview
This unit introduces students to clinical examination, medical tests and osteopathic management and treatment techniques relevant to the musculoskeletal and medical conditions affecting the thorax and medical conditions affecting the cranial nerves. With this unit, students will further develop psychomotor skills in high-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) spinal manipulation. Students will be able to develop their psychomotor skills in HVLA on peers under close guidance from educators. Students will build on previous knowledge on history taking skills and will learn how to develop focussed questions for a specific complaint relevant to the thorax. Clinical reasoning continues to be developed in this unit with a focus on patient presentations affecting the thorax, however there is an expectation that students are now able to integrate information from a patient history, clinical examination and medical tests to justify their differential diagnoses relating to a presenting complaint.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- Justify key history taking questions for a presenting complaint related to the thorax, respiratory and cardiovascular systems;
- Evaluate and interpret findings from clinical examinations of systemic health (including vital signs), the thorax, the peripheral vascular system, and neurological function, including cranial nerve assessment, to inform clinical decision-making;
- Interpret common medical tests that may be used in diagnosis and management of conditions of the thorax;
- Exemplify clinical reasoning for analysing common conditions of the thorax; and
- Exhibit and explain osteopathic manual techniques of the thorax.
Assessment
For Melbourne campuses
The online test will assess fundamental knowledge in history taking, clinical examination and medical tests relevant to conditions of the thorax. The Case Study Analysis assesses student knowledge of examination, diagnostic imaging, treatment and management strategies based on a case study. These assessments are scaffolded to the Observed Performance in a Simulated Setting (OPSS) where students demonstrate their assessment and treatment skills based on a case vignette on a peer model.
Assessment type: Test | Grade: 20%
Online Quiz (45mins, in-class invigilated)
Assessment type: Test | Grade: 30%
Individual case study analysis (MCQ and extended response) (60mins in-class, invigilated)
Assessment type: Practical Demonstration | Grade: 50%
Observed Performance in a Simulated Setting (OPSS) (30 minutes)
80% attendance is required for Clinical Skills workshops, which develop knowledge, competency and safety in practical clinical assessment and treatment skills. Students must pass the Observed Performance in a Simulated Setting (OPSS) assessment as demonstration of requisite assessment and treatment skills are critical to students’ safe practice with patients. These requirements align with the VU Osteopathic Course documentation to AOAC.
Required reading
Manipulation of the spine, thorax and pelvis: An osteopathic perspective.
Gibbons, P., & Tehan, P. (2016) | Australia: Elsevier.
Evidence Informed Orthopedic Conditions: 300+ Patient Centred Principles and Best Practices.
Vizniak, N. A., Fairweather, L., Murray, N., Hussain, S., DeLapp, D., Eni, G., Davidson, T., & Hedrich, T. (2022). | Professional Health Systems Incorporated
As part of a course
This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):