This unit introduces students' to clinical examination, medical tests  and osteopathic management and treatment techniques relevant to the conditions affecting the thorax. With this unit, students will further develop psychomotor skills in spinal manipulation therapy. Students will be able to develop their psychomotor skills in SMT 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. Clinical reasoning continues to be developed in this unit with a focus on patient presentations affecting the thorax, however there is an expectation 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.

Unit details

Location:
City Flinders
Study level:
Undergraduate
Credit points:
12
Unit code:
HBS2002

Prerequisites

HBS2404 - Clinical Skills 4

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Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
  1. Relate the principles of advanced history taking to the recording of details for the presenting complaint  
  2. Exhibit and interpret a clinical examination of systemic health (vital signs) and systems of the thorax (cardiovascular, respiratory, vascular, musculoskeletal);  
  3. Interpret common medical tests that may be used in diagnosis and management of conditions of the thorax  
  4. Exemplify clinical reasoning for analysing common conditions of the thorax  
  5. Exhibit and explain osteopathic manual techniques of the thorax  

Assessment

The formative assessments for this unit are: - Online quizzes - In-class peer examination (history taking, examination and treatment simulation) - Contribution to CBL group
Assessment type Description Grade
Test Theory paper (computer based) 25%
Project Video of history taking with reflective journal (10 minutes) (equivalent to 1,500 words) 25%
Practicum Practical examination of technique (20 minutes) and examination (20 minutes) (hurdle requirement) 50%
90% attendance is required at tutorials, CBL and practical workshop classes in the osteopathic program as part of accreditation requirements. The practical workshops in this unit are interactive and develop students manual and examination skills for work as an osteopath. Further students are able to seek feedback from the teachers on meeting the learning outcomes and planning for assessment tasks. Note: A minimum pass grade (50%) for the practical examination (technique) (hurdle) and satisfactory completion of the two online quizzes (safety considerations of manipulation), including submission of the observation journal is required to complete the unit overall as the assessment tasks are reflective of the nature of osteopathic practice.

Required reading

Students will be provided with an up-to-date reading list via the VU Collaborate system.

Manipulation of the spine, thorax and pelvis: An osteopathic perspective. 4th Ed
Gibbons, P., & Tehan, P. (2016)
Australia: Elsevier.

Bates' guide to physical examination and history taking. 11th ed.
Bickley, L. S. (2012)
Philadelphia, US: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

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