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Unit of study_

PHTY4225: Advanced Professional Practice B

Semester 2 Early, 2020 [Normal day] - Cumberland, Sydney

This unit provides students with opportunities to explore complex clinical problems for which neurological, cardiopulmonary and/ or musculoskeletal Physiotherapy is indicated. Content will cover at an advanced level issues such as selection of intervention, referral to other professionals and determination of short, medium, and long term management strategies. Using a case-based approach, students will study injuries and diseases of the wrist and hand, respiratory/ cardiac disorders, chronic traumatic brain injury, oncology and complex regional pain syndrome. Management will address issues relating to rehabilitation in community settings, and patients with multisystem disorders, while addressing psychosocial issues that can significantly affect management

Unit details and rules

Unit code PHTY4225
Academic unit Movement Sciences
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
PHTY4221
Corequisites
? 
PHTY4226
Assumed knowledge
? 

None

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Robert Boland, robert.boland@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Skills-based evaluation Practical exam
Clinical skills assessment
30% Week 04 10 minutes
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8 LO9 LO10 LO11
Final exam (Record+) Type B final exam Written exam
Short answer and MCQ
70% Week 08
Due date: 22 Sep 2020 at 09:00

Closing date: 22 Sep 2020
2 hours
Type B final exam = Type B final exam ?

Assessment summary

  • Practical exam: Students will be provided with a case vignette that they will interpret, and from which they will perform an appropriate physical examination to demonstrate techniques from weeks 1 and 2 of the semester.
  • Written exam: The aim of the exam is to assess students clinical reasoning and knowledge assimilation for content from weeks 1 to 7 inclusive.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 01 1. Principles of examination for the hand and wrist, including assessment techniques for the hand and wrist; 2. General management principles for conditions of the hand and wrist Lecture (1 hr)  
Assessment of the hand and wrist and orthopaedic tests for selected conditions Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 02 1. Hand surgery for conditions of the hand and wrist - when to refer?; 2. Management of trauma Lecture (1 hr)  
Case-based tutorials: discussion of management planning and intervention for selected conditions of the hand and wrist, including discussion regarding splinting Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 03 1. Advanced motor control for cervical spine; 2. Exercise prescription for cervical spine; 3. Complex case 1: exercise for cervical spine; 4. Complex case 2: exercise for cervical spine Lecture (1 hr)  
Advanced motor control for the cervical spine: master class - complex case Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 05 1. Advanced management of traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the community: return to pre-injury sport; 2. TBI: management for a complex case; 3. Management issues for oncology patients; 4. Oncology: management for a complex case Lecture (1 hr)  
Complex cases/master class - TBI with co-morbidities Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 06 1. Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS); 2. Advanced case CRPS (laterality, motor imagery); 3. Chronic pain: co-morbidities, risk factors, prognosis: implications for management and assessment tools; 4. Chronic pain: management for a complex case Lecture (1 hr)  
Complex case/master class - patient with CRPS Tutorial (2 hr)  
Week 07 1. The problem patient with chronic pain; 2. A patient with poor outcomes: indications and processes for referral to another physiotherapist; 3. Yellow flags in the clinician: why does your patient become dependent on your treatment?; 4. Patient scenarios/case studies Lecture (1 hr)  
Complex case/master class - patient unresponsive to physiotherapy: management issues for the novice physiotherapist Tutorial (2 hr)  

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: It is faculty policy that students are expected to attend lectures and tutorials as scheduled. Lectures provide essential background information to support tutorials. Therefore, you should attend or preview lectures before attending tutorials. Similarly, most tutorials will include cases to facilitate learning outcomes and to provide clinical examples for learning. Tutorials will also include activities to increase or test your understanding of concepts and practical content. It is Faculty policy that students should attend 80% of tutorials and student attendance will be recorded for tutorials. Therefore, all content is delivered and examinations structured on the assumption that students have attended and actively participated in tutorials.

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.

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. describe the aetiology of selected hand and wrist conditions
  • LO2. describe the clinical presentation for selected conditions that affect the hand and wrist
  • LO3. apply the principles of hand therapy in the assessment and management of selected conditions of the hand and wrist
  • LO4. conduct a physical examination on a person with a condition or injury that affects the hand or wrist, that includes: ‘special’ orthopaedic tests for specific hand conditions, goniometric measurements, and manual muscle testing
  • LO5. describe treatment approaches for selected conditions that affect the hand and wrist
  • LO6. discuss the principles of splinting for an injury or condition that affects the hand or wrist
  • LO7. analyse when a clinical condition is beyond your scope of practice and describe when referral to a hand therapist or hand surgeon is indicated
  • LO8. describe the surgical management for selected conditions of the hand and wrist
  • LO9. describe the essential components of a history and physical examination, including special tests, for common hand conditions
  • LO10. determine appropriate treatment strategies for management of common hand conditions
  • LO11. fabricate simple finger based and thumb thermoplastic splints relevant to the conditions discussed during tutorials
  • LO12. perform various muscle control assessments for selected disorders of the cervical spine
  • LO13. describe and perform assessments for key impairments, and prescribe appropriate exercise interventions for such impairments
  • LO14. formulate an exercise program for patients with selected disorders of the cervical spine
  • LO15. demonstrate an appropriate progression for exercise programs for selected disorders of the cervical spine, appropriate for the stage of the disorder
  • LO16. describe the lifetime care and support scheme
  • LO17. define and describe effective collaborative health care according to the evidence
  • LO18. prescribe an exercise program appropriate for a person with complex neurological impairments
  • LO19. investigate and describe appropriate return-to-sport options for a person with complex neurological impairments
  • LO20. describe the inclusion spectrum for disability sports activities and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the distinct categories
  • LO21. plan and interpret an exercise test for a person with complex neurological impairments
  • LO22. describe the basic physiological processes underlying the development and spread of cancer
  • LO23. describe the physical side effects secondary to treatment for cancer
  • LO24. discuss the need to acknowledge the psychological effects of a diagnosis of cancer and subsequent treatment
  • LO25. apply clinical reasoning to navigate for the treatment of the physical side effects of breast cancer treatment
  • LO26. outline the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying, and the clinical features of complex regional pain (CRPS)
  • LO27. perform a clinical assessment to identify for the presence of CRPS
  • LO28. describe conventional and novel treatment approaches for CRPS
  • LO29. describe the presentation and management for selected chronic pain conditions, including for CRPS
  • LO30. discuss management pathways for patients with selected chronic pain conditions
  • LO31. discuss factors that influence patient and provider preferences for treatment for patients with chronic pain syndromes
  • LO32. discuss the role of other disciplines in the management of chronic pain syndromes
  • LO33. discuss strategies to evaluate a provider’s own approach to the management of a patient with a chronic pain syndrome.

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 except the written exam will now be conducted on line.

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.