Undergraduate - UnitPTY2031 - Physiotherapy 3

Theme 1: Personal and Professional Development

• Identify the issues surrounding care and treatment of the patient with chronic illness;
• Develop a range of strategies that enable effective communication with clients with chronic illness;
• Recognise the life-time burden imposed on people with chronic disability;
• Discuss the conflict between autonomy and paternalism in the care and treatment of older people;
• Identify the roles and responsibilities of the physiotherapist and other members of the health care team in the management of the patient with chronic illness.
• Clarify the role of the physiotherapist in Accident & Emergency Care and High Dependency and Intensive care;

Theme 2: Population, Society and Health

• Discuss health policy as an historically dynamic process which fundamentally impacts on individuals in their daily activities;
• Identify the structures, systems and institutions of the Australian health policy environment;
• Analyse a range of public policy issues so as to understand government process and political lobbying by organizations, individuals and communities;
• Discuss health policy issues on several fronts, including within the local, federal and international contexts;
• Explain the role of governments and their agencies, non-government organisations and the community in the development and implementation of health policy;
• Distinguish between power, authority and influence in the development of health policy;
• Discuss the role of evidence-based practice in setting policy agendas;
• Explore the policy cycle in the context of a National Health Priority Area;
• Design a targeted exercise program based on a National Health priority area.

Theme 3: Fundamental Knowledge in Health Science

• Explain structure and function of the cardiac, respiratory and circulatory systems;
• Describe the normal physiological processes of the cardiac, respiratory and circulatory systems;
• Describe pathology of arterial and lung disease and their impact on cardiac, respiratory and circulatory functions;
• Explain normal adaptations of the cardiorespiratory system to exercise in the presence of cardiorespiratory pathology;
• Explain principles of pharmacological management of cardiorespiratory disorders;
• Describe the physiology of exercise;
• Describe the use of relevant electrophysical agents in the management of cardiac and respiratory conditions;
• Adapt physiotherapy skills to acute care management in the emergency department and intensive care.

Theme 4: Applied Practice

• Take a patient history and perform a physical examination of the cardiorespiratory system;
• Demonstrate respiratory and cardiac management techniques relevant to the cardiorespiratory patient across the lifespan;
• Prescribe appropriate exercises and exercise progression for the acute and chronic cardiorespiratory patient;
• Demonstrate appropriate manual handling and positioning of self in performing tests and treatment techniques mindful of risk minimisation;
• Analyse normal posture and factors contributing to abnormal posture;
• Demonstrate satisfactory manual handling technique when working with clients with disorders of the thorax;
• Interpret basic radiographs of the chest and vertebral column;
• Apply the principles of exercise physiology to the health and well being of simulated clients;
• Use selected electrophysical agents in safe and effective manner for disorders of the thorax;
• Demonstrate clinical reasoning skills in the management of people with complex acute conditions;
• Apply first aid techniques at a Level 2 standard.

Theme 5: Research

• Develop a focussed question, aims, inclusion and exclusion criteria and search strategies
• Extend EndNote skills
• Write a protocol for a systematic review following Cochrane guidelines
• Gain advanced skills in Word
• Develop skills in quality assessment of trials of interventions and systematic reviews
• Identify and extract data relevant to the review question
• Use tables effectively to display data
• Calculate and interpret proportions, rates, risk, probabilities, incidence, prevalence, odds
• Calculate and interpret absolute and relative risk reduction, odds ratios and risk ratios.