Applied Clinical Theory and Skills 5
Credit points
(Generally, 1 credit = 10 hours of classes and independent study.)
Location
Prerequisites
(Or equivalent to be determined by unit coordinator)
Co-requisites
(Corequisite units must be studied concurrently with this unit)
Overview
In Applied Clinical Theory and Skills 5, students will consolidate the communication and management strategies utilised by registered osteopaths. There will be an opportunity to apply rehabilitation principles developed in previous units to workplace musculoskeletal complaints and patients undergoing orthopaedic and occupational health and safety interventions. Students will explore the social, cultural, economic and biological factors contributing to health outcomes and how these may impact patients in osteopathic practice. Through critical reflection, students will examine their role as primary health practitioners and demonstrate their commitment to working towards improved health outcomes and a shared future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and the wider Australian community.
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to:
- Critically reflect on the psychosocial, environmental, systemic and ethical factors that may contribute to disparities in health outcomes for patients presenting in osteopathic practice;
- Articulate a working knowledge of cultural safety in health provision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples;
- Contextualise the scope of an osteopath in the peri-orthopaedic setting, including some common pre-operative and post-operative interventions; and
- Interpret occupational health and safety principles to justify targeted ergonomic patient interventions.
Assessment
For Melbourne campuses
The case study requires students to undertake a risk assessment and apply strategies within the scope of practice of an osteopath for monitoring, management and referral in an occupational health and safety patient scenario. In the report, students will reflect on the role of the osteopath in the Australian health system and prioritise self-determination and cultural safety for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. Students will design a plan to promote culturally safe osteopathic care. The Clinical Reasoning Task assesses students’ ability to provide culturally responsive communication, management and referral strategies across the life span for diverse patient populations. This includes patients with a disability and those who may identify as gender, sexuality, culturally, or linguistically diverse. Students will demonstrate these skills by providing ‘best practice’ responses related to peri and post-orthopaedic care.
Assessment type: Case Study | Grade: 30%
Workplace risk assessment and video oral patient management plan (Individual, 600 words and 5 minutes)
Assessment type: Other | Grade: 35%
Clinical Reasoning Task (Individual, 15mins)
Assessment type: Report | Grade: 35%
Written reflective piece and a culturally safe plan for practice (Individual - 1250 words)
80% attendance is required for practical classes, which develop knowledge, competency and safety in practical clinical assessment and treatment skills. These requirements align with the VU Osteopathic Course documentation to the AOAC.
Required reading
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' health & wellbeing
Biles, B., & Biles, J. (2019) | Oxford University Press
Culture, diversity and health in Australia: Towards culturally safe health care.
Dune, T., McLeod, K., & Williams, R. (Eds.). (2021) | Routledge.
RECOMMENDED TEXTS: Feehan, J., Tripodi, N., & Apostolopoulos, V., (Eds.) (2022). Exercise to Prevent and Manage Chronic Disease Across the Lifespan. Academic Press.
As part of a course
This unit is studied as part of the following course(s):